Commanderie de Jalès, Medieval commandry in Berrias-et-Casteljau, France.
Commanderie de Jalès is a medieval military-religious order's settlement in Berrias-et-Casteljau, built around a central interior courtyard with east and west wings. The structures contain residential rooms on the first floor, offering insight into how the order's members lived and carried out their daily functions.
The site was founded around 1140 by the Knights Templar as a military and administrative outpost. In the 14th century it transferred to the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, marking a shift in how the place was managed and used.
The chapel shows how spiritual life was organized at this military-religious order's settlement, with its 12th century vaulted apse and small Romanesque windows creating a focused space for worship. Visitors can see how the architectural design reflected the community's devotion and daily religious practice.
Today the site hosts a research unit of the CNRS connected to the Archéorient Laboratory in Lyon, conducting archaeological and scholarly work on the property. Visitors should be aware that ongoing research activities may affect access, so it is wise to check in advance what visiting arrangements are available.
In 1782, Commander Pierre André de Suffren, a large and broad-framed man, had a specially notched table made to seat himself comfortably during meals at the commandry. This personal modification shows how the knights adapted their surroundings to fit their individual needs.
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