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Origin and history

La Foucaudière was founded in 1349 by Adam de Soissons and his wife Catherine de Chavanyers. This priory, erected in 1366, was deeply marked by the devastation of the Hundred Years' War, which reduced its church and hospital to ruins as early as 1379. The reconstruction began at the end of the 15th century, with the completion of the choir in 1493 under Commander Laurent Imbert, illustrating the flamboyant Gothic architecture of the period.

In the 16th century, wars of religion aggravate destruction: a fire in 1569 destroyed much of the buildings. At the beginning of the 17th century, Commander Laurent Astruc undertook rehabilitation work, but the nave remained largely ruined. The command office was finally deserted in 1777, before the village of Saint-Sauveur was rebuilt around it after the Revolution. The church, now parish, was dedicated to Saint-Sauveur and Saint-Antoine.

The site preserves remarkable remains, including the entrance gate and a corner turret inscribed in the Historic Monuments since 1932. These elements, as well as the traces of an ancient defensive enclosure and funeral monuments on the perched site of Hupelup-la-Foucaudière, testify to its strategic and religious importance throughout the centuries. Today, the Commandory embodies a preserved medieval heritage, linked to the order of the Antonins and the historical upheavals of Vienna.

The evolution of the site also reflects the social and religious transformations of the region. After its decommissioning as commandary, the buildings were partly reused, such as the chapel of the Virgin built on a crypt, or the remains of the cloister integrated into the rectory. The stained glass of the choir, representing the Adoration of the Magi, and the 17th century altarpiece recall its artistic and spiritual heritage.

The geographic context of Senillé-Saint-Sauveur, marked by rolling plains landscapes and streams such as Chaudet Creek, also influenced the site's development. Close to Châtellerault, the command office enjoyed a strategic position on ancient Gallo-Roman routes, still visible today. These roads, as well as the remains of ancient villas, highlight an ancient and continuous human occupation in the region.

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