“A little chateau” some might say as they glance at the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult. But this charming structure has a rich history. It is far more than just a pretty building.
Let’s step back in time to 1125. Monks from the priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs settled in Marolles. They continued building the church started in the 11th century. Six monks lived here. They farmed two plots of land. They also built the priory initially dedicated to Saint-Julien-de-Brioude. This marked the humble beginnings of the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult.
Fast forward to the 18th century. The Prieuré Saint-Arnoult was rebuilt. The prior of the time oversaw the construction. It started as a central structure. Later it was expanded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Two new additions were added to the south facade. This gave it the appearance of a small chateau.
The French Revolution brought upheaval. The Prieuré Saint-Arnoult was sold as national property. Émira Marceau purchased it. She was the sister of General François Séverin Marceau. He was a general of the French Revolution. Her husband Antoine-François Sergent also lived here. He was a designer and engraver. Under the Revolution he was a conventional figure. He was a friend of Marat and Robespierre. He voted for the death of Louis XVI. He was involved in the September 1792 massacres. Émira Marceau hid her husband. He was infamous for his actions during the massacres. He then went into exile in Italy and Nice.
Later between 1834 and 1849 the Marquis and Marquise de Lavie owned the property. Their nephew Henri Rochefort spent part of his childhood here. He was a journalist playwright and politician. He was known for his radical political views. He was nicknamed “the man with twenty duels and thirty trials.” He was even sentenced to prison in Nouméa but escaped in 1874. The walls of the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult could tell many tales of this era.
In 1996 the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult underwent restoration. It was a new chapter for the historic building.
Until 2009 Monsieur and Madame Molinié owned the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult. They possessed a manuscript by Henri Rochefort titled “Ali Baba and the 40 ministers”.
Today the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult stands as a testament to its past. It is a classified historical monument. The Prieuré Saint-Arnoult is located in a beautiful English park. It was built in the 18th century on an earlier 12th-century building. It is a private property not generally accessible to the public. However it is used as a reception hall for weddings and corporate events. So while you can’t always wander its halls you can admire its beauty from the outside.
During heritage days the association “Friends of Marolles” offers free guided tours. These tours include the church of Saint-Julien-de-Brioude. Occasionally the gardens of the Prieuré are exceptionally open to the public.
So next time you pass by remember the monks the revolutionaries the journalists and the families who shaped the Prieuré Saint-Arnoult. Its walls hold centuries of stories waiting to be discovered.