The Priory of the Ladies of Marcigny

A major site of the order of Cluny

You are now in St Nicholas Church, which was part of the former Women’s Monastery of Marcigny. Only monks were allowed to celebrate divine service in the church, as women were not permitted to do so.

In 1055, Hugues the Great, then Abbot of Cluny, and his brother Geoffroy de Semur decided to found at Marcigny the first women’s priory belonging to the order of Cluny. Thanks to the fame of St Hugues and to the power of the order of Cluny, the monastery developed quickly in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Side view of the priory tower

For the most part, it accepted highly aristocratic ladies who brought it status, as well as fame to the modest town of Marcigny. From the 14th century, the priory went into slow decline, suffering serious damage in the Hundred Years War, then during the Wars of Religion, and finally on its disestablishment during the French Revolution.

View of an arch behind the priory

Even though its sale as ‘property of the nation’ led to the destruction of most of the monastery buildings, important parts have survived to the present day: the south transept of the former Priory Church (12th century); St Nicholas Church (12th century); the Prior’s Residence (18th century); and the Mill Tower (15th century) now a museum.

To carry on with the tour

• Musée de la Tour du moulin
  9, rue de la Tour
  71110 Marcigny

• Less than 5 km

• — Romanesque church of Saint Martin-du-Lac :
  Go South, in Roanne's direction
• — Église romane de Baugy :
  Go North, in Paray-le-Monial's direction
• — Romanesque church of Semur en Brionnais
• — Château Saint Hugues :
  71110 Semur-en-Brionnais
  Tél : 03 85 25 13 57
  Go East, in Semur-en-Brionnais' direction

• Less than 10 km

• — Romanesque church of Iguerande :
  Go South, in Roanne's direction
• — Romanesque church ofAnzy-le-Duc :
  Go North, in Paray-le-Monial's direction

• Tourist office

• Marcigny, place des Halles
  Tél : 03 85 25 39 06

More info to carry on the tour on the Bourgogne du Sud's website

Map

Restaurants & Hotels

• Where to eat?

• — Crèperie - Pizzéria "Côté Cours" :
  18, place du Cours
  71110 Marcigny
  03 85 25 46 56
• — Le Terroir :
  29, place du Cours
  71110 Marcigny
  03 85 25 23 65
• — Le Vieux Puits :
  11, place du Cours
  71110 Marcigny
  03 85 25 11 05
• More info on restaurants on the Bourgogne du Sud's website

• Where to sleep?

• — Hôtel Restaurant "Le Relais de Saint-Julien" :
  Le Bourg
  71110 Saint-Julien-de-Jonzy
  03 85 84 01 95
• — B&B Hôtel :
  ZAC du Champ Bossu
  71600 Paray-le-Monial
  03 92 70 75 71
• More info on hotels on the Bourgogne du Sud's website