Le Puits Davy

This well-preserved public well is set into the stone wall of the former priory. Dating back to the Middle Ages, it now features an iron gate designed by Maurice Digot and forged by Colbert Guibert, a local master locksmith, in the 1960s.

In the Middle Ages, there were 4 public wells in the village of Les Moutiers, including the Davy well. The Davy well is located in an old square in the village, at the end of the pedestrian alleyway bearing the same name: le passage du Puits Davy. The name refers to a former rector of the parish. It should be noted that in 1882, the well was renamed Sainte-Marguerite and the passage was then called venelle du Vieux Presbytère. The cross at the top of the well was found inside it when it was cleaned out. It had probably been thrown in during the Revolution. Today, it is one of the oldest crosses in the village of Les Moutiers.

HISTORY OF THE RUE DU PRIEURÉ :
Rue du Prieuré, where this well is located, is one of the oldest streets in the village, as evidenced by the low houses with low doors and few windows. This street ran alongside the priory and ended at Place du Puits-Davy, a well at the edge of the village in the Middle Ages. In 1909, it was named rue du Vieux Puits and took on its current name in 1946.

HISTORY OF RUE DE LA COHUE :
The word "cohue" comes from a Breton word meaning "covered market". The cohue was therefore a public market held here. In 1265, the Duke of Brittany granted the right of cohue to the prioress of Madame priory. This weekly open-air market sold fish and poultry... In the middle of the market stood a pillory, a sort of post bearing the prioress's coat of arms, with a shackle to which "certain convicts or blasphemers, people of ill repute or women of lesser virtue" were tied. The public often threw rotten fruit at them. The cross or calvary in the street was the last stop before mass at Saint-Pierre church. All these calvaries were beautiful, cleaned and decorated with flowers by local residents for the occasion! They took advantage of the occasion to prepare a few fouti-massons (doughnuts) and bottles, hidden nearby, to refresh the procession.

Source: *Extract from Monique Albert's book "Flaneries aux Moutiers-en-Retz".