Abbaye Saint-Vincent de Chantelle

The origins of the monastery date back to 937, when Ainaud and Rothilde founded a community dedicated to Saint Vincent of Valencia for regular canons. The founding charter, now preserved in the archives of Puy de Dôme, was witnessed by Odo of Cluny. In the late 11th century, the monks erected the Romanesque church, still preserved today, a structure of remarkable clarity and balanced proportions. In the 15th century, the monastery buildings were extensively renovated in the late Gothic style. A special feature was the monastery's location on a rocky outcrop above the Bouble River, surrounded by the fortress of the Bourbon dukes, from where Anne de Beaujeu ruled for her underage brother Charles VIII between 1483 and 1491. The ducal castle was razed in 1635 by order of Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu, with only some fortress walls, two towers, and remnants of the moat remaining, which now serve as gardens. The monastery itself was spared. During the French Revolution, it was dissolved and the church was used as a warehouse. Only on October 11, 1853, was monastic life revived by 17 Benedictine nuns from Pradines, who restored the dilapidated monastery. They initially ran a girls' school, but this ended in 1905 with the law on the separation of church and state. During World War II, the sisters supported children from Paris. For 165 years, Benedictine nuns have lived in Chantelle, cultivating hospitality alongside choral prayer and producing natural cosmetics since 1954 to support themselves and maintain the listed buildings.

The Abbaye Saint-Vincent de Chantelle is located in the commune of Chantelle in the department of Allier, in the Auvergne region of France. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 306 meters above sea level.

The monastery is accessible to visitors and can be toured. The community of Benedictine nuns continues to live within the historic walls and maintains the buildings.

• Château de Fourilles (castle), approx. 3.5 km away
• Château de Blanzat (castle), approx. 4.6 km away
• Château de La Rivière (fortress), approx. 5.2 km away
• Château de Douzon (castle), approx. 6.0 km away