Templar Hospitaller Heritage
The mythicals Knights Templar and Hospitallers have left their mark on our region and this heritage deserves to be rediscovered. These are the traces of commanderies, built on land donated by the great lords of the region: the Comborn, the Ventadour, the Turenne or the Hautefort.
The region's tourist offices offer promotion of the Templar and hospital heritage through a network of 14 sites. Each of them offer visits to churches, commanderies, sacred fountains, barns, remarkable crosses and various remains. Discover them as you travel along the Vézère valley.
1
Courteix
12th century church belonging to the Templars. Numerous symbolic lapidary traces, crosses
remarkable, burial slab. Open every day.
Contemporary statue of Huges de Payens.
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Courteix episode!
2
Bellechassagne
12th century church belonging to the Templars. Numerous symbolic lapidary traces (church and
village), remarkable crosses. Open every day.
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Bellechassagne episode!
3
Feniers
13th century church belonging to the Hospitallers. Free visit on opening days.
Sacred fountain: free access
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Féniers episode!
4
Chavanac
13th century church belonging to the Hospitallers, numerous symbolic stone traces, statues
remarkable, burial slab. Open on Saturdays during the day.
Traces in the village of the commanders' houses.
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Chavanac episode!
5
Saint-Merd Les Oussines
Parish church, remarkable medieval tomb, open every day.
Outdoor fire: free access
Church of Fournol of the Canons of the Holy Sepulcher then Hospitaller, numerous lapidary traces
symbolic, remarkable crosses, burial slab. open every day.
Sacred fountain: free access.
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Saint Merd les Oussines episode!
6
Lestards
12th century church belonging to the Order of the Antonines and then the Hospitallers. Many traces
symbolic lapidaries, burial slab, remarkable crosses, thatched roof unique in France.
Open every day.
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast: Lestards episode!
7
Sudden Lavinadière
Remains of the priory of the Holy Sepulcher then of the Hospitallers. Free access.
Church Historical Monument, frescoes, numerous symbolic stone marks, burial slab,
remarkable crosses. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Information 05 55 98 07 53
Archaeological pieces, Treignac media library.
8
Labenche
Lapidary deposits from local commanderies. Open everyday save Monday.
9
Varetz
Sacred fountain St Rémy, free access.
Chapel of the Templars and Hospitallers: information at the town hall 05 55 85 06 19
Commandery of the Templars: visits possible during Heritage Days.
10
Saint-Robert
Sacred St Maurice fountain, free access.
11
The Cassagne
Tithe barn from the 13th century, supposedly Templar. Private site open to visitors from July 15 to August 31.
Prices 10€. Parking indicated.
Contact: o.choppin.de.janvry@orange.fr
12
Condat-sur-Vezere
Commandery of Saint John of Jerusalem. Contact and information: Commanderie de association
Condat Confluence Hospitalière
Ω Follow the adventures of these orders in podcast : Condat-sur-Vézère episode!
Θ Guided tours and conferences:
- Saturday 16 March: The Troubadours, Of Love and War by Maurice Moncozet.
- Sunday April 14: The small vernacular heritage of the territory by Michel Chanaud.
- Saturday April 27: Underground and peasant life in the Middle Ages by Patrice Conte.
Renseignements: https://commanderiecondat.fr
13
Laguyon Temple
13th century church belonging to the Templars, modified in the 18th century (fresco and main altar)
Church open Thursdays during town hall opening hours. Information at the town hall.
14
Times
12th century church, supposedly Templar. Open every day.
Remains of the cloister and necropolis. Medieval traces in the village. Free access.
14th century castle, open to visitors in August. Information at the town hall.
Who were the Templars and Hospitallers?
Two innovative religious orders were created in the XNUMXth century in Jerusalem to welcome, treat (hospitals) et protect the pilgrims (the templars).
Their birth accompanied the revival of pilgrimages after the liberation of the city in 1099.
What heritage is this?
Life and settlement in the new Latin States of the East (fortified castles, protection of holy places, maintenance of men-at-arms) were expensive.
The orders will be organized with rear bases, “rental farms”, today called “commanderies” spread across the entire European continent, they provide logistical and financial support for the Orient. These commanderies have outbuildings several kilometers around, which multiplies the land holdings and buildings of both orders, reinforcing local roots,
close to the populations. These lands were gifts from local lords, a reflection of the power of baronies or viscounties such as Hautefort, Ventadour, Turenne or Comborn.
What remains of the heritage?
Not all commanderies have survived the perils of time. Despite everything, many very diverse traces dot our countryside and tell this whole story. Thanks to the effort of communities, enthusiasts and with the support of tourist offices along the Vézère, rediscover today the richness of this heritage through the places where these mythical people lived
knights.
A program of exceptional visits
We offer 4 dates for visiting the Commanderie de Mons in Varetz (occupied by the Templars from the 12th to the beginning of the 14th century then by the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Malta until the Revolution) Fridays February 2, March 15, April 5, May 1 (visit to the commandery only) and May 17, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
On reservation only
Ω A dedicated podcast!
The discovery of Templar and Hospitaller heritage of the Vézère valley is also accessible by podcast-broadcast ( in podcast so for English speakers!).
Des lectures enrichies et mises en son, accessibles directement sur cette page. Vous avez sans doute vu dans les fenêtres de la carte interactives ci-dessus, des liens pour écouter à chaque étape de votre périple un commentaire audio ! Nous vous proposons dans ce paragraphe l'épisode introductif qui va vous éclairer sur le contexte global qui voit ses deux ordres de prêtre/soldats se glisser dans nos territoires, nos histoires et nos imaginaires !
