Commanderie de Saint-Maurice

Commanderie de Saint-Maurice is a cluster of medieval buildings near the lower Verdon gorges, comprising a residence, agricultural storage, a chapel, and auxiliary structures. The layout reflects the practical needs of a monastic military order managing extensive territories.

The commandery was founded around 1160 and first documented in 1164 when a local lord donated significant lands to establish its operations. It served as a functioning administrative center for centuries afterward.

The commandery functioned as a management hub for monastic military orders, overseeing agricultural lands and settlements across the region. You can still sense the authority this place held over the surrounding territory.

The site preserves multiple structures that show how daily operations were organized across separate buildings. Allow time to walk through the different areas and understand the layout of the entire complex.

The commandery once housed relics of Saint Marcel that arrived in the late 1100s, making it a pilgrimage destination. These sacred remains were moved away in the 1300s, changing the site's religious importance.