Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Sainte-Claire monastery in Poligny was founded in 1415 by Colette de Corbie, a major figure in the reform of the Clares. Thanks to the support of Jean sans Peur, Duke of Burgundy, she obtained the arsenal of Poligny to establish her third foundation in Franche-Comté. This monastery became a central place for order, sheltering even the relics of Sainte-Colette in 1783, after its extension to the eighteenth century.

The site experienced two forced exiles: first in 1638, during the war of Ten Years, where French troops burned Poligny and his monastery; Then in 1792, during the Revolution. The Clares returned to the Restoration (1820) and rebuilt the church in 1838, after its destruction. The well of Sainte-Colette, preserved in the courtyard, bears witness to this turbulent history.

The current architecture is the result of work in the 17th and 18th centuries, with elements such as a vaulted refectory, a capitular hall, and a terraced cloister. The monastery, still active, houses 21 nuns (in 2021) dedicated to contemplative prayer. He lives from donations and was classified as a historical monument in 2006, protecting buildings, courtyards, gardens and archaeological remains.

The vocation of the place has remained unchanged since its foundation: a monastic life centered on poverty and spirituality. Documentaries (France Culture, 2015; 5 continents, 2003) and films highlighted this discreet community but rooted in local heritage. The monastery also symbolizes resilience to conflict, from the Ten Years' War to the Revolution.

External links