The Priory of MEILLERIE

The site is a fortified medieval priory, consisting of a priory house, an old chapel of the 13th century forming the choir of the newer church, a tower of defense transformed into a bell tower, all hung on the slopes of the Alps and overlooking Lake Geneva, near Evian and facing Lausanne. Defensive strategic site of the time of the Dukes of Savoy on the road to Valais in Switzerland and the Aosta Valley in Italy.

For several centuries, it was the seat of the provost of the order of the Great Saint Bernard who secured the passages of the Alps.

The Priory requires a fairly complete restoration, but fortunately the roofs, carpentry and walls are in good condition.

But over the years and vicissitudes of history, the degraded facades must regain the integrity of yesteryear.

The magnificent vaulted cellars have to return to their original destinations: the wine press of the vineyards on the shores of Lake Geneva, the cheese factory and its maturing cellar where the vacherin of Savoie was already made (first handwritten mention of this cheese in the 13th century). century with the place of Meleria (Meillerie)

A large sundial punctuated the works and the offices, he only asks to find the shadow of the rays of the solar star.
North-South passage and stairway

                                           Powerpoint Presentation "click here"

Project display

• For 10 years, date of the creation of our association we have:

      - Removed the remains of rubble over two centuries in the tower belfry

•     - Cured ditches, to remove the maximum humidity of buildings

•     - Taken from the floor to the ceiling the former dormitory of the novices to create an archive and exhibition room

and we organize every year one or two cultural or recreational events (medieval, concerts, exhibitions, guided tours)

Medieval Concert 2018
"The English rose

Novelised history of the Priory written by Sidonie Bochaton

North facade

                                                       click on the picture

Who are we ?

Association of volunteers acting on the communal heritage.

Meillerie is a small town of 320 inhabitants without great resources but with an important past.

 The Priory of 1220

The famous boats of Meillerie which furrowed the Lake Geneva to deliver in Geneva, Lausanne, the stone of the quarries of Meillerie

The site of the pre-romantic novel La Nouvelle Héloïse by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The rock of loves in Meillerie

Meillerie remains a popular site for tourists

How to support this project?

Tier 1

Minimum target: € 5,000, which will allow us to finance ...

Rehabilitation of vaulted cellars

Redo a large sundial

Rehabilitation of a retaining wall in gardens

To help the research of a PhD student in Medieval Archeology to finish

his research and his memory on the Priory

If this goal is achieved:

Step 2

€ 10,000, which will allow us to finance ...

Redo the coatings on the east sid

Step 3                                                                     

• We thank in advance all the generous donors who want to support a heritage representing the achievement of our ancestors, whether modest or grandiose

• You can support this project:

      - by making a donation online by credit card on this page after registration on the Dartagnans website

•     - by making a bank transfer after registration on the Dartagnans website

•     - by sending a check, on the back of which you will include your e-mail address, worded in the following order "ARPM", sent to the following address:

supports

La Communauté de communes pays d’Evian - vallée d’Abondance

La commune de Meillerie propriétaire des lieux

                                       
Le Rotary club d'Evian - Thonon

Contact

[email protected]

 internet http://www.meillerie-prieure.com