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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Commanderie de Villemoison, located in the Nièvre in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a Templar establishment founded before 1180. From its creation, it spread rapidly thanks to local gifts, such as those of Guillaume de Donzy in 1189 (part of the Bois de Gastine) or d'Hugue d'Arquien in 1190 (Earth of Escueli and Nesli mill). These acquisitions allowed its development until 1240, the date of the last donation known to Hugues de Saint-Fargeau.

In 1294 Geoffroy de Charnay was mentioned as a preceptor, marking his importance in the Templar hierarchy. After the dissolution of the Order in 1312, the commandary passed to the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, who kept it until the Revolution. In 1792 his property was sold as ecclesiastical property, putting an end to his religious role.

The Romanesque chapel, built in the 12th century, is characteristic of the Templar buildings: rectangular, massive, with a cul-de-four apse decorated with a fresco of Christ in majesty. Its western portal, richly decorated with floral buildings and capitals, reflects medieval craftsmanship. Ranked in 1907, it embodies the spiritual heritage of the site.

The house of the knights, in the shape of "L", organizes around a staircase tower serving floors with oversized windows, offering remarkable brightness. The weapons of the hospital commander of Ancienville (1528-1535), visible on the second floor, testify to the transition between Templiers and Hospitallers. The building, which was registered in 1987, illustrates the architectural and functional evolution of the command office.

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