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Origin and history

The Prefecture of the Temple of the Nouée, located in Yvignac-la-Tour in the Côtes-d的Armor, is a former Templar settlement founded in the 12th century. Its origin dates back to an alms confirmed in 1182 by a charter of Duke Conan IV of Brittany. This site, originally owned by the Templars, passed into the hands of the Hospitallers in 1313 after the dissolution of the Order of the Temple. Today, there remains a part of the Hall House, mainly dating from the seventeenth century, as well as the Romanesque chapel, marked by a ruined nave and a semicircular choir.

The chapel, built in the 12th century, features a typical Romanesque architecture, with a unique nave in ruins, a forerunner and a semicircular apse illuminated by three windows. The axial bay retains its original Romanesque dispositions, while the other openings show subsequent influences. The choir, covered with frames, is closed by a sprocket wall pierced by a door in the middle of the hanger. Archaeological excavations carried out in 1981 revealed a cemetery fence around the abside, as well as graves aligned in the nave, confirming the funeral use of the site.

The history of the commandary is marked by its gradual connection to other religious establishments. In 1395, it was incorporated into the commission of La Guerche, and in the 16th century, an annual fair was established by Henry III. In the 17th century, the mansion of the Halls was built to replace that of La Guerche, partially destroyed. The chapel, still active, was described in 1747 as well maintained, with an altar decorated with statues and regular offices. The estate was finally sold as a national good in 1798, marking the end of its religious use.

The commandory has been partially classified as a historical monument since 1976, protecting the choir of the chapel. Archaeological remains, such as the foundations of the nave and the graves uncovered, testify to its past importance. Today, the site offers a rare overview of templar and hospital architecture in Brittany, as well as the evolution of medieval religious and funeral practices.

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