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Origin and history

The Commanderie de Féolette, located in the commune of Saint-Etienne-de-Brillouet in Vendée, is a historical monument dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. It was originally attached to the Order of the Temple, a military and religious order created in the early twelfth century to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. This type of establishment, called the Commandory, served both as an administrative, religious and economic centre for Templar knights in the region.

After the dissolution of the Order of the Temple at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the Order of Feolette was incorporated into the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Order of Malta. This transfer marked a new phase in its history, with a continuation of its charitable and religious role. The chapel of the commandory, the central element of the site, was enlarged in the 15th century, then undergone further transformations in the 17th century, reflecting the architectural and liturgical evolutions of these epochs.

The chapel of Feolette, classified among the protected elements of the monument, was listed as a Historical Monument by order of 30 November 1994. This status underscores its heritage and architectural importance. Today, although the practical information on the site's current visits or uses is limited, its history remains closely linked to that of the military and religious orders that marked the Middle Ages and the modern era in Europe.

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