Commanderie d'Arville

Commanderie d'Arville is a medieval order building in the Perche region. The estate is defined by a gateway with two brick and stone towers, behind which stand a church, stables, a tithe barn, and a dovecote from different centuries.

The estate was founded in the 12th century to prepare pilgrims and fighters for their journey to the Holy Land. Over the centuries it remained an important base for religious and craft activities.

The site carries the name of a medieval religious order and shows how visitors can today understand the spiritual life of that era. The buildings themselves tell through their layout about the daily work and priorities of that period.

The site is easily accessible, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the grounds consist of several separate buildings. It is helpful to allow time to explore both interior and exterior spaces.

The dovecote still preserves all its original nesting places today and has a cart door that shows how medieval farmers kept animals. This detail makes it a rare, complete example of agricultural architecture from that era.