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Origin and history

The Benedictine monastery of Marsat is a former Benedictine priory located in the village of Marsat, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Founded in the 13th century, it depended on Mozac Abbey and was dedicated to a community of Benedictine nuns. Today, there are only two sides of the cloister, which once formed a full quadrilateral. This cloister, vaulted with ridges, is characterized by bays in full hanger resting on double columns decorated with hooked capitals and claws carved bases. It is dated to the first half of the thirteenth century.

The monastery was protected under the title of historical monuments: the remains of the cloister were inscribed by order of 23 May 1925, and the large door was inscribed on 4 April 1931. These remains bear witness to the medieval religious architecture of the region and the importance of female monasticism in this period. The cloister, although partially destroyed, remains a remarkable example of early Gothic art in Auvergne, with its arches in the middle of the curve and slender columns.

The monastery is located in the heart of the village of Marsat, close to Riom, a historic town of Puy-de-Dôme. Its cloister, now shared property between the municipality and individuals, offers an overview of monastic life in the Middle Ages. Although the south and west sides have disappeared, the preserved elements make it possible to imagine the spatial and spiritual organization of this priory, linked to the neighbouring abbey of Mozac, a major religious center of the region.

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