Commanderie de Celles, Religious commandry in Neussargues en Pinatelle, France

The Commanderie de Celles is a stone building complex in the Cantal, 46 km northeast of Aurillac. Its rough grey stone walls include a round-arched doorway framed in lighter stone, while a taller section of reddish-brown masonry rises above. A rounded stair turret with slit windows projects from the corner of the steep-roofed main building.

The commandry was established around 1260 as a Templar holding and came under Hospitaller control following the Templar dissolution in 1312. This change in ownership shaped its role and management for centuries to come.

The commandry's four main annexes were Allanche-Pradiers, Auriac, Narnhac and Tempel, the last holding a communal oven and tithes around Bonnac. By the early 18th century, 358 tenants paid cens and rents to the commander across twenty-five hamlets in seven parishes, from Celles and Coltines to Talizat and Virargues. Tithes were gathered at the granges of Ribbes, Giraltat and La Rivière.

The commandry stands in the hamlet of Celles, in the commune of Neussargues en Pinatelle, about 46 km north-east of Aurillac in the Cantal. It is a classified monument since 1990, but the sources give no opening times or visitor facilities, so arrange access in advance. The buildings are private property; view the stone facades and the stair turret from the surrounding lanes.

In the early 18th century, 358 tenants paid cens and rents to the commander of Celles, spread across twenty-five hamlets and holdings in seven parishes, from Baynac and Ribbes to Coltines and Talizat. Tithes were gathered in three tithe barns: Ribbes, Giraltat and La Rivière.