Prieuré de Marast, Romanesque priory in Marast, France.
Prieuré de Marast is a Romanesque priory in Marast featuring a church marked by three windows above its portal. The building is surrounded by an enclosed courtyard with farm buildings.
The priory was founded in 1117 through donations from Richard de Montfaucon and Thiebaud de Rougemont and received confirmation from Archbishop Anseric in 1122. This early recognition helped the priory establish itself in the region.
The church was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary but was rededicated to Saint Mary Magdalene in the 13th century, reflecting local devotion practices of that time. This change shows how the religious habits of the people in the region evolved over the centuries.
The church is open to visitors and features facilities for people with reduced mobility. A scale model of the entire complex provides a helpful overview of how the original site was structured.
Eight burial stones from the former Villersexel chapel were relocated to the church choir, including the tomb of Isabeau de Mailly from the 13th century. These stone records preserve memories of earlier inhabitants in the surrounding area.
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