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Origin and history

The Priory of the Primaudière, founded in 1207 by the monks of the order of Grandmont, extends over two communes: Armaillé (Maine-et-Loire) and Juigné-des-Moutiers (Loire-Atlantique). Its origin dates back to a joint donation by the lords of Pouancé, Châteaubriant and La Prévière, who gave way to the estate with urban incomes and privileges. The chapel Our Lady, built in the 13th century, becomes a medieval pilgrimage site, while the priory, organized according to Grandmontan architecture, houses up to six monks in the 14th century. The site, situated on horseback on Anjou and Brittany, symbolizes the historical tensions between these provinces.

In the Middle Ages, the priory was an active religious centre, linked to local conflicts such as Gauthier Hai's takeover of the estate around 1095. The monks welcomed refugees from the priories of Monnay and Bercey in the 14th century. In 1317 he was reunited with Montguyon. The dissolution of the Grandmont Order in 1772 led to the transfer of his income to the Séminaire Saint-Charles d'Angers. The buildings, sold as national goods during the Revolution, were transformed into glassware in 1836, then a barn in the 20th century, before restorations revealing original architectural elements.

The architecture of the priory reflects its grandmontain heritage: the chapel, classified as a Historical Monument in 1965, features a unique nave vaulted in a broken cradle and a chorus with a dogive cross, decorated with mural paintings and floral motifs. The openings, like the door of the faithful in red sandstone, and the remains of the cloister illustrate this tradition. The convent buildings, rebuilt in the 18th century, preserve traces of the 15th century, like a bay in blue sandstone. The site, surrounded by the forest of Juigné, is now partially protected, with an inscription in 2005 for the convent wing and the square of the cloister.

The place's toponymy evolves from Primauderia (1095) to Primaudière (1544), probably from the Latin name Primaldus. The priory, built above the Nymphe River — an ancient border between Anjou and Brittany — embodies the cultural and political exchanges of the region. After its religious dislocation, the site experienced industrial and agricultural uses before its contemporary preservation, testifying to its adaptation to successive periods.

Historical sources, such as the charters of 1207-1208 or the notarial acts of the sixteenth century, document its economic and social role. Local lords, such as Guillaume de la Guerche or Geoffroy de Châteaubriant, are associated through gifts and privileges. Today, the priory combines architectural heritage, monastic memory and forest landscapes, offering a rare example of the greatmontain heritage in the Pays de la Loire.

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