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Origin and history

The command office of Chanonat, located in the Puy-de-Dôme, is attested as possession of the Hospitallers of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem as early as 1250, although its Templar past remains uncertain. It belonged to the great priory of Auvergne and was included in the accounts of the royal baili Jean de Trie in 1293. Its exact origin remains unclear, for the Order's archives, compiled in 1779-1780, do not mention its foundation. The current buildings, visible on the 1808 cadastre, reflect a typical organization: east-west oriented chapel, housing of the Commander, barns, stables and a central courtyard.

The chapel, today devoid of its comb tower and its original vaults, preserves traces of its hospitable architecture, as the low triplet to the east and full openings. The commander's house, in the shape of L, shows medieval elements (window, thick stone and earth walls) and Renaissance modifications, like a window without cross. The agricultural buildings, partially renovated, include a large vaulted opening in the stables and the remains of an entrance porch demolished before 1939, where there was a patté cross.

In 1726, the Commandory managed five "members" or dependent domains, including Aulnat, Bessamorel, and La Bastide (old Templar possession). The list of Commanders, documented since 1359, reveals figures like Jean Bellon dit Favras (1526-1561) or Charles de Crémeaux (1643-1673), also Commander of Mâcon. The whole, fragmented after the abolition of the Order in France, was partially protected by an order of 1965 for its facades and roofs, although some adjacent buildings remain in dispute.

Historical sources highlight contradictions, such as the Templar Attribution advanced by Ambroise Tardieu (19th century) but not confirmed by the archives. The royal accounts and pastoral visits reveal an active commandery, dedicated to the knights of Malta "servants of arms" before 1789. The architecture combines defensive elements (heavy walls) and symbolic elements (orientation of the chapel), typical of rural hospitals.

Building materials, such as the use of soil as cement and pottery as filling, illustrate local techniques. The eight-paned staircase turret, decorated with medallions and ionic capitals with angel heads, dates from the 16th century and bears witness to an architectural embellishment. Despite the transformations, the set offers a rare overview of hospital orders in Auvergne, between agricultural, religious and military functions.

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