Chinon L’Île Bouchard
Chinon has kept nothing of his commandery or of the mill in the chapel of Saint Leonard which depended on it. Chinon nevertheless occupies a special place in the history of the Templars thanks to its castle which dominates the city. In 1308, Pope Clement V who has not yet abandoned the Templars, asked to meet the dignitaries of the order in Poitiers. A convoy leaves Paris and on August 17, stops in Chinon. Jacques de Molay, Hugues de Payraud, Geoffroy de Gonneville and all the others were imprisoned at the Fort du Coudray… for several years, interrogated and tortured. Molay will confess, then retract.
During their detention, they cover the walls of their cell with drawings and words, some of which are signed by the head of the Order. Crosses, instruments of passion, radiant heart, triple enclosure, grid, etc., we have all said these drawings. Tradition even says that Joan of Arc before recognizing the Dauphin, had spent the night in this cabinet.
Remember, however, that some drawings were made after the Templars. If their meaning remains a mystery, it remains a moving testimony.
A house, located at 36, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, bears graffiti resembling those of Coudray. The Argent Tower Grall appears to be posterior. The St Jean chapel and a house on rue Buffon are also attributed to the Templars.
The main commandery in the region was not Chinon but L’Ile Bouchard. The commandery stood in the commune of Brizay. In a place called the Commandery, there are only cellars and undergrounds.
Ballan Miré and Tours
In the southwest suburbs of Tours at a place called the commandery, a Renaissance manor indicates the location of the great commandery of Ballan Miré, founded in June 1219. If the traces of the Hospitallers are still visible (chimneys, ceilings, coats of arms) the Templars have left us only a few walls, the large arched arch of the chapel and many underground passages that extend towards Savonniéres and Villandry, where a treasure would be hidden, in the form of a golden goat.
A Savonniéres cellar is said to contain strange graffiti.
According to tradition, the day of their arrest, all the Templars of Ballan Miré managed to flee except for a serving brother.
The Templar settlements of Tours were numerous: House of the Hospital and the Temple (Probably located at the site of the Cloister of the Abbey of Saint Martin) and commandery of Saint Cyr sur Loire. It was in Tours, in the cathedral, in May 1308 that Philippe le Bel united the States to decide on the condemnation of the order of the Temple.
Source: La France des Templiers Jean Luc Aubarbier.
Photo: Art in the city
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