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Origin and history

The cloister of Chalais, located in the south of the Charente, initially depended on the parish church of Saint-Martial. Founded by the abbey of Saint-Martial de Limoges, this priory was first regular, then conventual, with up to twelve members in the 13th century. Conventuality ceased in the 15th century, after the resumption of Chalais by Charles VII in 1453, marking the end of the English occupation.

In 1569, the priory was devastated by Protestants during the religious wars. In 1629 he was ceded to the monks of the order of Saint-Augustin, thanks to Françoise de Montluc, widow of Daniel Talleyrand, Count of Chalais. It offered them a home and an annuity in exchange for their commitment to administering the sacraments, preaching and educating the young. This support allowed the foundation of a convent.

After the Revolution, the building served as a gendarmerie until 1850. The cloister and church were restored around 1869. In 1879 Hélie Roger Louis Talleyrand bequeathed him to the hospice of Chalais, then became a retirement home run by the town hall since 1984. Enlisted as historical monuments in 1991, it illustrates 17th century religious architecture, with its arched galleries and stone balustrade.

Architecturally, the cloister forms a square around the church of Saint-Martial, with an apse added in the 19th century. The arches in the middle of the hanger, decorated with bosses, close the lower gallery, while a high gallery, open and equipped with square pillars, supports the roof. This monument reflects the religious and social transformations of the region, from the Old Regime to the present day.

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