Prieuré de l'Enfourchure

Prieuré de l'Enfourchure is a former priory in the commune of Dixmont, in the Yonne department of Burgundy, tucked into a small valley on the edge of the Othe forest. Little remains of the original complex today besides a façade arcade, the ruins of a chapel, and the old prior's dwelling, but the site has been a listed historic monument since 1926 and remains a quiet stop for anyone tracing the region's monastic past.

Who founded the priory, and when?

The community was established in the early 13th century, in either 1205 or 1209, by the Order of Grandmont — a monastic order that originated in central France and was known for its austere rule and deliberately plain buildings. The land was donated by Guillaume, Count of Joigny, tying the priory's fortunes to the local nobility from its earliest days. Choosing a secluded valley at the forest's edge fit the Grandmontine preference for isolation, away from busy roads and towns.

What happened to the priory over the centuries?

The building's first real crisis came at the end of the Hundred Years' War, when fighting across the Yonne region left it in ruins. Reconstruction only began in the late 15th century and continued to roughly 1520, giving the main structures their flamboyant late-Gothic character. That renewal was short-lived: in 1589, during the Wars of Religion, Huguenot troops destroyed much of the rebuilt architecture.

A further blow came in the 18th century. The Order of Grandmont itself was suppressed in 1772, ending monastic life at Enfourchure for good. During the French Revolution the property was sold off as national land, and for decades afterward the abandoned buildings were quarried for stone by locals — a slow process that hastened the ruin visitors see today.

Who kept the priory from disappearing entirely?

The turning point came in 1838, when the Galicier family began reassembling the scattered plots and buildings of the former priory, by then already in a ruinous state. That consolidation made possible a later stabilization and partial restoration of the site in the early 20th century. In 1987 the commune of Dixmont took ownership of the property outright. Today the priory is cared for by the Amis du Patrimoine du Pays d'Othe (Friends of the Heritage of the Othe Country), an association that maintains the ruins and organizes events and gatherings there for residents and visitors.

What can visitors see on site today?

The surviving remains center on the arcade of the main façade, the roofless walls of the former chapel, and the old prior's house, which was altered and partly reoccupied in later centuries. The setting itself is part of the appeal: a calm valley at the forest edge, well away from traffic, that gives a sense of why the Grandmontine monks chose this spot. The priory sits close to the village of Dixmont and within easy reach of larger Yonne towns such as Joigny and Sens, making it an easy addition to a day exploring the department's rural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Prieuré de l'Enfourchure? The site is managed by a local heritage association that periodically opens it for events and open days. Because access depends on this schedule, it is worth checking Dixmont's local listings before planning a visit.

Which religious order built it? The priory was founded by the Order of Grandmont, a strict monastic order that originated in the Limousin region in the 12th century.

Why is the priory in ruins today? Several waves of damage account for its current state: destruction during the Hundred Years' War, a Huguenot attack in 1589, the suppression of the order in 1772, and the sale and stone-quarrying of the buildings after the French Revolution.

Is the site legally protected? Yes. Prieuré de l'Enfourchure has been listed as a monument historique (inscribed) since 1926.

Where exactly is the priory located? It stands in the commune of Dixmont, in the Yonne department, on the edge of the Othe forest, in a small valley near the village itself.