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Origin and history

The priory of Saint-Genest, located in Perrusson (Indre-et-Loire), was founded by Cormery Abbey around the ninth century, as evidenced by the foundations of the walls in small stone apparatus. The walled openings, still visible, date back to the 11th century, when the chapel was probably built or rebuilt. This priory, now in ruins, keeps only the walls of its polygonal apse, as well as dilapidated windows and foothills. The upper parts of the chapel were rebuilt in the 15th century, marking a second major architectural phase.

The site also houses a 16th-century well, decorated with pilasters and mascarons, located close to the remains. This well, with its decorated margin, illustrates the stylistic evolution of the Renaissance, contrasting with the austerity of medieval ruins. The remains of the chapel, the only protected elements, were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 16 June 1928, highlighting their heritage value despite their state of degradation.

The history of the priory remains closely linked to Cormery Abbey, the mother house on which this modest religious establishment depended. Architectural transformations reflect the liturgical needs and varying resources of the monastic community over the centuries. Today, the site offers a fragmentary but evocative testimony of religious life in Touraine between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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