Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

Origin of the name Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

Name origin: the priory takes its name from its church dedicated to Saint Peter and from the village of Môtiers, attested as « de Mostier » in 1267. The sources consulted give no etymology for Môtiers.

Founding of Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

The priory stands at Môtiers, a former municipality now in the municipality of Val-de-Travers (merger of 1 January 2009). It is said to have been founded between 909 and 1032 by the abbey of Cluny and one of the kings of Burgundy. Excavations in 1997 uncovered the foundations of an older church, which may date from the 7th or 8th century. The priory depended on the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, which exercised spiritual and temporal authority over it; a mayor administered its property and rights. The monastic site had two churches: Saint-Pierre for the monks' office and Notre-Dame for the faithful.

History of Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

7th-8th century. Construction of a first church, whose foundations were found in 1997; the cultural property inventory dates it to the 6th-7th century (to be cross-checked).

Carolingian period. The first church of Saint-Pierre is enlarged.

909-1032. Presumed foundation of the priory by the abbey of Cluny and one of the kings of Burgundy.

11th-12th century. The church of Saint-Pierre is replaced by a Romanesque building, whose nave is partly preserved today.

12th century. A parish church dedicated to Notre-Dame is built right next to the priory, for a growing population.

1267. The place is mentioned as « de Mostier ».

1514-1517. Construction of the Gothic choir of the church of Saint-Pierre.

around 1519. The Romanesque building south of the courtyard is remodelled.

1537. The priory is secularised after the adoption of the Reformation.

1538. The secularised church of Saint-Pierre is turned into a granary.

1829. A sparkling wine business settles in the former priory.

1859. Louis-Edouard Mauler takes over the sparkling wine house in the former priory of Saint-Pierre, today Mauler.

1898. Construction of an industrial hall by Eugène Colomb.

1997. Excavations reveal the foundations of a church older than the priory.

Historic sites in Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

The church of Saint-Pierre. Former priory church, with a partly preserved Romanesque nave and a Gothic choir of 1514-1517. Turned into a granary in 1538.

The conventual buildings. Romanesque building south of the courtyard, remodelled around 1519 and in the 18th century; 16th-century middle wing flanked by a late 19th-century stair turret; industrial hall of 1898. Since 1829 they have housed a sparkling wine house, today Mauler.

Remains in Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

Romanesque nave and early foundations. The Romanesque nave of the church of Saint-Pierre partly survives. The 1997 excavations uncovered the foundations of a church that may go back to the 7th or 8th century.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Môtiers (NE) »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vautravers »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mauler »
• Inventaire suisse des biens culturels d'importance nationale et régionale, « Prieuré » (KGS 4055)

Other villages near Prieuré Saint-Pierre de Môtiers

• Môtiers (NE)
• Boveresse (NE)
• Couvet (NE)
• Monlési (NE)
• Fleurier (NE)