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Origin and history

The Priory Saint-Michel de Crouttes, located in the commune of Crouttes in Normandy, is a former Benedictine priory founded at the end of the tenth century. It initially depended on the Abbey of Jumièges (Seine-Maritime). The site was donated around 994 by Gautier to Jumièges Abbey, and this donation was confirmed in 1027 by Richard II, Duke of Normandy. The priory experienced a period of great economic prosperity at the end of the 13th century, marked by an important construction campaign, notably that of the monastic barn, dated from the late 13th or early 14th century.

In 1267, during a visit by the Archbishop of Rouen Eudes Rigaud, it is mentioned that the buildings of the priory, where two monks of Jumièges lived, were in ruins. Despite this, the priory continued to evolve, with additions such as a cider press built at the end of the 15th century, where there is still an apple tower and a long-knit press. The chapel, probably dating from the same period as the barn, bears traces of murals and was redesigned in the 18th century.

The buildings of the priory were purchased in 1791 by P. Pellerin Desfondis, receiver of the estate. At the beginning of the 19th century, they were organized around a square courtyard, surrounded by walls and accessible by two doors. The prioral house was rebuilt in 1771 and renovated in the 19th century. Among the remarkable elements are the house, increased by a central forebody in 1856, and the cider press, dated by 15th century dendrochronology. Some elements, such as the pantry cover, were redone in 1846.

The Priory Saint-Michel de Crouttes was partially protected as historical monuments. The chapel, the fronts and roofs of the press, as well as the walls of the former prioral enclosure, were inscribed by order of 1 October 1989. The monastic barn, for its part, was classified by decree of 22 November 1990.

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