Monastic Vestiges

The double colonnade.

To the south of the church in Preuilly, an alley in the shadow of the buttresses leads to a long building which housed the monks' dormitory. On the ground floor, near a short arcade, are the remains of the cloister. The dormitory was redesigned in the 15th century to become the chapter house, with a ceiling of four rib vaults supported by a central column. The far wall is decorated with an interesting 12th century bas relief crucifixion, unfortunately very damaged. Further along two more arcades were updated to a double colonnade resting on a platform, and surmounted by capitals with vegetal decoration.

The base of one of the ceiling ribs.

The bas relief crucifixion (Bernard de la Motte, president of the
local archaeological society, pointing out details).

Susan