Prieuré de Trouhaut

Prieuré de Trouhaut is a former Benedictine priory in the village of Trouhaut, in the Côte-d'Or department of Burgundy, France. Linked from its foundation to the abbey of Cluny, the site has passed through nearly nine centuries of change, from a small monastic outpost to a ducal possession and, eventually, a privately owned house restored in the twentieth century.

How did the priory come to exist?

The story begins in 1108, when a knight named Aymon granted his allod — church, land, springs, livestock and the people living on it — to the abbey of Cluny. On that basis a priory was established in the 12th century, dedicated to Saint Eutropius (Saint-Eutrope). It was never a large community: records describe only two monks living there, headed by a prior.

Who controlled the priory during the Middle Ages?

Ownership of Trouhaut shifted repeatedly with the fortunes of the Dukes of Burgundy. In 1235 the property passed to Duchess Alix of Burgundy, wife of Duke Eudes III. It reverted to Cluny in 1251, then came under the authority of Duke Robert II in 1306. Despite these transfers, the prior kept the title of lord of the village until 1789, the year of the French Revolution.

A fire in 1350 caused serious damage to the buildings. The choir was not rebuilt until the 15th century, and most of the present main building — recognisable by its timber roof frame with rafters and tie beams — also dates from that century.

What happened to the priory after the Revolution?

In 1728 the estate was bought by a certain Guillaume Ricard. During the Revolution, in 1789, it was seized as church property and sold off as a national asset. It later passed to Auguste Théodore Bazard, and in 1935 ownership moved to the Debost family.

By the mid-20th century the buildings had fallen into disrepair. Restoration of both the interior and the exterior began in 1962, carried out largely through the voluntary efforts of the local municipal council and the Trouhaut Fromenteau cultural association. The work was not completed until 2005.

What can visitors see today?

The priory complex, dedicated to Saint Eutropius, is marked by two towers — one round, one square — the latter bearing a small carved figure. Close to the main building stands a round 16th-century dovecote, roofed in stone slabs, which still preserves its original nesting holes and a rotating ladder once used to reach them.

On 30 April 1999, the façades, roofs, staircase and dovecote were listed as historic monuments of France.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the priory of Trouhaut? Its origins trace to 1108, when the knight Aymon donated his land to the abbey of Cluny; the priory itself was built in the 12th century.

How many monks lived there? Historical accounts mention only two monks and their prior — a modest community by monastic standards.

What survives from the medieval priory today? The main building with its 15th-century roof frame, a round tower, a square tower, and a 16th-century dovecote with intact nesting holes.

Is the priory a protected monument? Yes. Since 30 April 1999 its façades, roofs, staircase and dovecote have been registered as French historic monuments.

Can the priory be visited? The building is privately owned, so anyone wishing to visit should check directly with the owners or the town hall of Trouhaut.