The priory has been in our family since 1900. From the time he arrived in Saint Jean du Grais in 1926 until 1955, Raymond Darrasse, my grandfather, devoted himself to restoring the place and bringing it back to life. Today, it is our turn, his grandchildren, to carry on the family legacy.
The main monastery buildings remain: the chapter house, dormitory, refectory and prior's house, all dating back to the 15th century. All that remains of the church, which was destroyed during the Revolution, is the bell tower. A remarkable group of buildings surround the priory, forming a small traditional Touraine hamlet, built by my grandfather using materials salvaged from abandoned or demolished farms. The priory buildings and a mural depicting Christ in majesty were listed as historic monuments in 1928. In the early 2000s, the windows of the refectory, dormitory and chapter house were fitted with 39 monochromatic stained glass windows, contemporary art pieces entitled "L'Éveil" (The Awakening), created by the visual artist Sarkis.
The priory of Saint-Jean-du-Grais was founded in 1127 by Foulques V, Count of Anjou and future King of Jerusalem (1131) and Hugues de Payns, founder of the Templar Order. In 1184, it became dependent on the Holy See of Rome by decision of Pope Lucius III, who ordered the monks to follow the Rule of Saint Augustine, whereas before they had adopted the less strict Rule of Saint Benedict. An exceptional site, the priory encapsulates the entire history of medieval Touraine, not just that of the 12th-century monks, but also that of the Counts of Anjou and the Plantagenets.
A Cistercian priory, listed as a Historic Monument since 1928, nestling in a green setting, offering an exceptional authentic historic setting for private or professional events.
The site is close to the châteaux of Chenonceau and Amboise. It is close to the banks of the River Cher and the "Coeur de France" cycle route: an area dedicated not only to cyclists but also to walkers, with the start of several hiking trails, as well as to fishers, who have a fishing pontoon, a boat slipway and a family fishing trail. In the summer, take the "Moments de Loire" river shuttle between Montlouis-sur-Loire and Vouvray for a moment on the water, aboard a traditional boat in the company of a bargeman.
The rooms in the 12th-century historic monument that are available for filming and photography are the chapter house, refectory, dormitory, cellar and inner courtyard with a well. An en-suite bedroom is available if required.
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The owner offers guided tours from April to November for groups of 20 or more, by prior arrangement.
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