chartreuse Sainte-Marie du Val-Saint-Georges

Chartreuse Sainte-Marie du Val-Saint-Georges is the ruined remains of a former Carthusian monastery, standing about one kilometre south of the village of Pouques-Lormes, in the Nièvre department of Burgundy. The site occupies the floor of a valley that once bore the name of the surrounding Espesse forest, land the monks themselves cleared for farming and building.

When was the monastery founded?

The charterhouse was established in 1235, during the second quarter of the 13th century. Its founders were Hugues III de Lormes, baron of the area and lord of Château-Chinon, and his wife Elvis de Montbard, lady of Espoisse. Like many noble founders of the period, the couple endowed the monastery "for the remedy of their souls" and those of their family, living and dead, in exchange for the monks' perpetual prayers.

What happened to the buildings over the centuries?

The monastery's history was far from peaceful. A fire destroyed it in the 16th century, and the community rebuilt in the 17th century. The final blow came with the French Revolution: in 1792 the charterhouse was destroyed and its monks dispersed. At the time of the dissolution, fifteen monks were living there. That same year, the monastery's archives were burned in the public square of Corbigny, which is why so little detailed history of the community survives today.

What remains on site today?

Only fragments of the original complex still stand: the former prior's lodging, remnants of the conventual church, and part of the gatehouse that once marked the entrance to the monastery grounds. Everything else was lost to fire, upheaval, or demolition over the following centuries. The site is now private property and closed to visitors - the ruins can only be viewed from the road running through the valley.

Where exactly is Val-Saint-Georges?

The ruins lie within the commune of Pouques-Lormes, in the heart of Burgundy, close to the Morvan - a region known for its forests, hills, and numerous medieval monastic foundations. The geographic coordinates are 47.307045 N, 3.770156 E.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors tour the Val-Saint-Georges charterhouse? No. The site is private property and the interior is not open to the public. The ruins can only be seen from outside, from the road running through the valley.

Who founded the monastery? It was founded in 1235 by Hugues III de Lormes, baron of the area and lord of Château-Chinon, together with his wife Elvis de Montbard, lady of Espoisse.

Why do so few original buildings survive? The monastery burned down in the 16th century, was rebuilt in the 17th century, and was then destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution. Only the former prior's lodging, parts of the church, and a section of the gatehouse remain today.

How many monks lived there before it closed? Fifteen monks were living at the charterhouse when the community was dispersed in 1792.

Why is so little known about its history? Because the monastery's archives were burned in the public square of Corbigny in 1792, at the same time the monks were dispersed - erasing much of the community's detailed record along with the documents themselves.