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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The priory Saint-Michel de Cons-la-Grandville was founded around 1065 by Dudon de Cons, before being given around 1090 to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Hubert d'Ardenne. From this medieval period, only the crypt remains, used as burial by Lambertye's family. The oldest architectural remains, such as the gardener's house (1566) and the dovecote (1688, restored in 1788 after a fire), bear witness to the successive changes of the site.

In the 18th century, the priory underwent important works: the monks' house and the prioral church were rebuilt in 1732, while the northern gate of the nave, dated 1702, could come from a re-use. After the Revolution, the church became parish in 1792 under the name of Saint-Hubert, and the other buildings were sold as national property in 1794. The family of Lambertye, owner of the nearby castle, bought the whole and undertook restorations, especially between 1944 and 1950 for the vaults and roofs of the church.

Today, the priory consists of a single-vessel church vaulted with dogives, a two-storey house, a square dovecote, and agricultural buildings (grange, stables). The ensemble, partially classified as Historical Monument in 1987, illustrates the architectural evolution of a Benedictine priory between the Middle Ages and the modern era, marked by its link with the local nobility and historical hazards.

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