Classified as a historical monument in 1925 with extensions of classification in 1949 and in 1951, the priory Saint-Cosme is mainly known for having been the last residence of the poet Pierre de Ronsard who died there in 1585 and is buried there. This famous occupant has earned this house, property of the Departmental Council of Indre-et-Loire since 1951, to be labeled «Houses of Illustres» in 2012.
Located on the outskirts of the city of Tours, in the town of La Riche, the Priory of St.Cosme, which was part of a larger monastery, was the subject of a thorough study and a complete redevelopment. The history of the place, and more generally of the site, is now better known and offers itself to the general public in a redesigned presentation.
This 7th issue of the Protected Heritage series is an opportunity to thank all those who worked on this project. This multidisciplinary collaboration, led by the departmental archaeologist Bruno Dufaÿ, was carried out under the scientific and technical control of the Regional Service of Archaeology and the Departmental Unit of Architecture and Heritage of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of the Centre-Val de Loire.
This meticulous work made it possible to carry out a synthesis on this remarkable site, considered in the time of Ronsard as one of the jewels of the Touraine, and which experienced great upheavals. This publication is therefore an opportunity to highlight the discoveries made and the methodology adopted for the various developments.
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Legal deposit: ISSN 2271-2895
Collection "Heritage in the Centre-Val de Loire region"
Protected Heritage n°7, December 2022, 92 p.