Priory of Cézas

The Saint-Martin priory of Cézas is a 12th century priory.

The priory comprises a chapel, an old building partially in ruins, and a still-active cemetery. It is surrounded by an estate of terraces that were once cultivated as a garden, vineyards, meadows, fruit trees, and chestnut trees, and are now populated with Montpellier maples, sessile oaks, dogwoods, and other local species, supplemented by cedars and conifers planted by the National Forestry Office (ONF) to combat soil erosion. The priory was affected by the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, as well as the Camisard War in the 17th century. The furnishings and part of the presbytery were burned during these periods. During the French Revolution, the church was preserved as a historical monument, and the rectory was purchased by the last secularized prior, Jacques Roman Aigoin, the first elected mayor of the town. In the 19th century, the church remained in use until 1867, and the presbytery buildings were converted into a farm, which was abandoned in the 20th century.

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