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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former Priory Saint-Nicolas de la Rochotte came into being around 1094, when it was founded under the influence of Saint-Léon Abbey in Toul. This religious site, located in Pierre-la-Treiche, illustrates the influence of medieval monastic establishments in the Lorraine region. Although its beginnings date back to the Middle Ages, today's buildings date mainly from the 2nd quarter of the 16th century, a period marked by significant reconstruction.

In 1537, Jean Forget began the succession of the priory, giving birth to two major buildings: the house, completed in 1541, and a contemporary chapel. The house retains a 16th-century staircase, the only visible vestige of this period, characterized by a square cage and a central column on base. The chapel, on the other hand, houses 19th-century murals in the basement, as well as a 1946 work by a German prisoner, Spychalski, in the eardrums of the arches.

Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 31 July 2000, the priory sees its facades, roofs, and the interior staircase of the house protected. This site bears witness to several historical strata, ranging from its medieval foundation to its Renaissance transformations, to more recent artistic additions. Its state of conservation and location, noted as "very satisfactory" (8/10), make it a remarkable heritage of the Great East.

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