Commanderie de Saint-Étienne-de-Renneville, Medieval commandery in Sainte-Colombe-la-Commanderie, France
The Commanderie de Saint-Étienne-de-Renneville is a medieval commandery in Normandy with several buildings, including a large barn with an elaborate timber frame. Two rows of pillars support the structure, creating a central nave and side aisles similar to a chapel's layout.
Richard of Harcourt established this Templar commandery around 1140, which transferred to the Knights Hospitaller following the Templar order's dissolution in 1307. This transition marked a turning point in the site's history and led to new uses and modifications.
The site displays Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements that reflect the evolution of religious military architecture in medieval Normandy. Visitors can observe these layered building styles as they move through the different structures on the grounds.
The site is only open during certain months of the year and guided tours are offered at regular intervals. It is worth checking in advance whether tours are available in your preferred language and how long a typical visit takes.
The building complex preserves an 18th-century bakery with three bread ovens, showing how the community was self-sufficient. These ovens remain intact and reveal the daily life of the people who lived here.
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