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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The priory of Chanceaux-sur-Coisille was founded in the 11th century under the dependence of the Abbey of Saint-Julien de Tours. This religious site, now a parish church, has seen its convent buildings transformed into agricultural premises over the centuries. Two medieval buildings still remain today, forming the northeast corner of the current quadrilateral. These structures, originally for domestic use, illustrate the functional adaptations of the monument throughout the eras.

The first building, dating from the middle of the 12th century thanks to its preserved geminous bays, houses a 14th or 15th century structure and was converted into a stable-grange. The second, in return for square, although very reshaped, preserves remains of 14th or 15th century murals on its gable wall. These elements demonstrate the artistic and architectural importance of the priory, despite subsequent transformations. The other buildings (hangars, barn, fuye) are posterior and have all undergone significant changes.

Ranked a Historic Monument, the priory sees its two medieval buildings protected by a registration order in 1998. These remains provide a rare insight into the spatial organization and uses of a rural priory in Touraine, between religious, agricultural and community life. Their preservation allows us to study the architectural and social evolutions of the region, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

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