Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Priory of Notre-Dame de Salagon, located in Mane in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is a Romanesque monument dating back to a Gallo-Roman villa of the 1st century, transformed into a funeral basilica between the 5th and 6th centuries. The first written texts mentioning the site date from the 11th century, when the tithe of Salagon was ceded to the chapter of Forcalquier. At the beginning of the 12th century, Salagon became a priory dependent on the abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The present Romanesque church, with two naves, is rebuilt in the last quarter of the 12th century, marking the beginning of its visible structure today.

Between the 13th and 17th centuries, the priory enriched with a prioral home, a barn and a wall. In the 16th century, it is given in commende, a common practice at the time for abbeys and priories. The chapel, classified as a historical monument in 1922, and the convent buildings, registered in 1980, bear witness to this architectural and religious evolution. A major restoration between 1983 and 1992 replaced the glass windows with abstract stained glass windows created by Aurélie Nemours in 1998, adding a contemporary touch to this medieval heritage.

The western facade, made of cut stone, is distinguished by its richly decorated portal with torsadized columns and acantha-leaf capitals, as well as a central oculus with quadrilobed motifs. Inside, the nave, rhythmized by arches, and the choir, decorated with canned columns, reflect the influence of Provencal Romanesque art. The stained glass windows of Aurélie Nemours, using an innovative selenium red, interact with natural light to create a unique atmosphere. Since 1981, the Priory has housed the Departmental Ethnological Museum of Haute-Provence, offering a journey through local and regional history.

The history of Salagon is also that of a continuous occupation, from the Gaulish farm to the medieval priory, passing through the Gallo-Roman villa. This place, marked by architectural and religious transformations, illustrates the social and cultural changes of Provence throughout the centuries. Today, it combines heritage preservation and museum enhancement, while remaining a living witness to art and medieval spirituality.

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