Chapelle du Puy-Gauthreul

The Chapelle du Puy-Gauthreul is a chapel with neo-Romanesque design built from stones sourced from regional quarries at Crazannes, Thénac, Jonzac, and Saint-Savinien. The complex includes cloister buildings and a fortified tower that form a connected ensemble.

The priory was founded in the second half of the 13th century and entrusted to monks from Saint-Savin de Taillebourg. The current structures began reconstruction in 2010 following the vision of a former military officer.

The chapel was part of a larger complex with a cloister and fortified tower that served both religious and community purposes. These buildings functioned as gathering places for local people and show how important the site was to everyday life in the area.

The site is reached via a public path through private woodland near departmental road D124 between Les Chaumes and Pontreau. Visitors should be aware of the wooded surroundings and stay on marked routes.

The current building was initiated by Jean-Michel Méchain, a retired gendarme colonel, and represents an ongoing restoration of the medieval priory by a private individual. This unusual reconstruction shows rare dedication to preserving historical structures.