Grand prieuré de Saint-Gilles, Medieval Hospitaller headquarters in Saint-Gilles, France.
The Grand Priory of Saint-Gilles is a religious complex with buildings arranged around central courtyards in the town. The structure combines medieval elements with later modifications, with the northern and eastern sections showing visible traces of the original construction.
The complex was founded in 1109 and became the first European house of the Hospitaller order in the Mediterranean region. It quickly grew into one of the primary administrative centers for the religious military order in southern France.
The priory served as a spiritual center where daily religious life unfolded within its walls for centuries. Visitors could witness the routines of the religious community and experience the sacred spaces that defined the order's presence in the region.
The complex is best explored on foot, allowing visitors to discover the various courtyards and building sections at a leisurely pace. Allow enough time to view the different areas without rushing through the site.
The religious order operated vast estates throughout the region and produced wines there that remain known in southern France today. This economic activity was a crucial part of the order's power and influence in the area.
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