PRIEURE DE MAYANNE

Listed as a Historic Monument since 2010. Awarded the VMF and Fondation du Patrimoine labels, this former manor house, built of wood and cob, was first used as a barn and then as an administrative building in the 16th century.

Formerly the administrative centre of Saint Vincent du Mans Abbey, this private lordship, then Benedictine castellany, has preserved its Romanesque chapel (11th-15th century), its Great Hall (Aula)/judicial auditorium (12th century), dormitory or hospitality room, with late 15th century roofing, its rare loggia-hall on wooden posts circa. 1450 (dated dendro) - "an unprecedented structure" in the current state of knowledge, "both in terms of the structural choices made and the organisation of the spaces" (Rapport d'études du bâti, 2012); its framework is characterised by the adoption of a principle of load-bearing rafters and purlins laid on false stays - "to date, the oldest dated example of this type of framework".
The chapel's remarkable apse with its "opus spicatum" stonework (1060-80).
Certain Sundays in summer: Festival of chamber music and theatre organised by the priory association.
Guided tours by appointment every day from 2.30pm to 5pm except Tuesdays and concert days.
5/adult, €3 for schoolchildren, free for children under 12