Prieuré de Lavoûte-Chilhac, Gothic abbey in Lavoûte-Chilhac, France

The Prieuré de Lavoûte-Chilhac is a former Benedictine priory founded in 1025, standing on a high stone retaining wall above the Allier riverbank. Its long pale stone building has a red tiled roof and two rows of 14 tall rectangular windows with dark grilles, set in recessed stone surrounds. A central section rises into a curved pediment above a doorway, and a square tower with a lower arched-window wing continues to the right.

Odilon de Mercœur, abbot of Cluny, signed the foundation charter on 14 September 1025, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on his native land called La Volte; construction ended in 1045. In 1365 a band of 2,000 routiers seized the Mercœur castle of Saint-Cirgues to raid the region; the prior called on the Polignac family, the castle was destroyed, and the abbot of Cluny then ordered three defensive towers for the monastery. The Romanesque church was rebuilt in Gothic style between 1460 and 1472 under priors Barthélémy de la Farge and Jacques de Moussiac, keeping part of the south walls.

The Gothic church, rebuilt from 1460 to 1471 under priors Barthélémy de la Farge and Jacques de Moussiac, replaced a Romanesque predecessor whose south walls were partly reused. The left leaf of a Romanesque door survives, inscribed "Hic tibi, rex regnum, condidit Odilo templum". Since 1496 the priory has venerated Notre-Dame Trouvée, a small Virgin found in a pebble in the Allier near the bridge by two children.

The site sits along the river and is easily found by following the main village paths, with the waterside location providing clear orientation points. Visitors should note that portions of the buildings house active public functions, so access may vary depending on the area.

The statue found in 1496 in a river pebble near the bridge is venerated as Notre-Dame Trouvée, a name meaning "Our Lady Found". The left leaf of a Romanesque church door survives, inscribed with a verse saying Odilon built this sanctuary for the king of kings.