Commanderie du Ruou

Villecroze

Founded in the mid-12th century, the commandery of Le Ruou became in the 13th century one of the three most important Templar houses in France, controlling nearly 1,000 hectares of land across thirteen communes of the Var. Passed to the Hospitallers after 1307, it declined after being pillaged in 1360 and fell into ruin by the 15th century. The site enjoyed an unexpected second life in 1843, when a factory making tomette floor tiles and glazed ceramics set up among its ruins and operated until the early 20th century — a rare industrial conversion for a Templar site. Abandoned and then sold at auction in 1981, it is now preserved by a local association; the chapel, listed as a monument historique as early as 1929, was restored in 2008.

Commanderie du Ruou — Wikipédia ↗

Getting there : private property, not normally open to visitors; occasional openings by the association "Empreintes et Traditions du Ruou"

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound