Sainte-Gauburge Priory, Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière, France

The Sainte-Gaubuge priory was originally a hamlet, which is very well preserved. All the houses are located around the priory. The church building dates from the 13th, 15th and 18th century. The canons of St. Denis are at the origin of the most beautiful architecture sites. Rich carved decorations (13th and 15th century), the house of the prior has magnificent chimneys listed (15th century), and the vaults (13th century) are worth of seeing. Guided tours are available.

References:

Normandy Tourism

User Reviews

pierre Mounier (2 years ago)
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Suzy Feuillet (3 years ago)
In the past all the work was manual except for a very old tractor it reminded of things used in the past like the billhook a pleasant place to visit

séverine lemoigne (3 years ago)
Very interesting museum with many tools and objects to illustrate the different Percheron trades in the past

Gilles Bataille (3 years ago)
Small, very nice and affordable museum (free for children under 18) which allows visitors to discover the history and know-how of a territory and a bygone era. The priory and its orchard are to be discovered! Friendly and attentive welcome, thank you!

Ophélie Delaby (3 years ago)
Very friendly welcome, The visit to the museum is interesting, the explanations are well notified, the rooms are interesting, my partner and I love the floor, the objects are well presented because the universes are very distinct. The visit of the priory is instructive but .. It still lacks explanatory panels on certain things, especially in the courtyard behind, on the trees, etc. In any case we loved this visit, we will definitely come back.

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In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

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As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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