Foundation of the Priory 1097 (≈ 1097)
Priory Saint-Madeleine founded, dependent on Saint-Aubin d'Angers
vers 1100
Construction of church
Construction of church vers 1100 (≈ 1100)
Romanesque church built from the beginning
1751
Church renovation
Church renovation 1751 (≈ 1751)
Works led by Jean Tournier
1858
Adding a pottery oven
Adding a pottery oven 1858 (≈ 1858)
Prefectural authorization for a second oven
1984
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1984 (≈ 1984)
Inscription of the chapel in title MH
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Chapel (Box F 379): entry by order of 21 December 1984
Key figures
Jean Tournier - Architect
Redesigned the church in 1751
Origin and history
The Priory of Madeleine de Cizay-la-Madeleine is a religious monument founded in 1097, dependent on the Abbey of Saint-Aubin d'Angers. Its church, built around 1100, illustrates the Romanesque architecture of the region. The site includes a 15th century sacristy and a house dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting its evolution over the centuries.
In the 18th century, the church was rebuilt in 1751 by architect Jean Tournier, then transformed into a pottery workshop in the 19th century, with the addition of ovens (one authorized in 1858). Agricultural buildings and the home are also being modified in the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting local economic adaptations.
Ranked a historical monument in 1984 for his chapel, the priory preserves traces of his religious and artisanal past. Its history combines medieval monastic life, architectural redevelopment and industrial conversion, typical of the changes of the Angelian countryside.
The site, located at 14 Rue du Prieuré, remains an example of a versatile heritage, where religious, agricultural and artisanal strata overlap. Its inclusion in the inventory of historical monuments underlines its importance in the cultural landscape of Maine-et-Loire.
