Priory of Notre-Dame de Contamine
Contamina / Condominium / Condaminio
(Contamine-sur-Arve, Haute-Savoie)
Now Sainte-Foy church
In 1083 the bishop of Geneva, Guy de Faucigny († c. 1119), granted the church of Sainte-Marie de Contamine to the Abbey of Cluny (Saône-et-Loire), represented by its abbot, Hugh (1024–1109). A priory was established there and enjoyed the protection of the lords of Faucigny. At the end of the 13th century the renewal of its buildings was promoted thanks to the support of Béatrice de Faucigny (1234–1310). Two other priories also depended on it: Thiez and Sillingy, both located in Haute-Savoie.
In the 15th century the commendatory regime was introduced, and in the following century misfortunes became frequent. In 1551 the prior Celse Morin took office; he is known for the debauchery into which he plunged the priory, which eventually led to his expulsion. In 1589 Contamine fell victim to the disorders of the time: an attack led to the looting and burning of the priory. The establishment was badly damaged and was never rebuilt. In 1616, when Francis de Sales was bishop of Geneva, the priory was definitively suppressed. In 1623 the Barnabites arrived and occupied the site until the Revolution.
Illustration from Le prieuré de Contamine-sur-Arve (1889)
- BESSON, Joseph-Antoine (1871). Mémoires pour l'histoire ecclesiastique des dioceses de Geneve, Tarantaise, Aoste et Maurienne. Moûtiers: Cane
- BOUCHAGE, François (1889). Le prieuré de Contamine-sur-Arve (Haute-Savoie). Chambéry: Drivet et Ginet
- BRUEL, Alexandre. (1888). Recueil des chartes de l'abbaye de Cluny. Tome 4. París: Imprimerie nationale
- COMTE, Henri; dir (2018). Millénaire de l'abbaye de Talloires : actes du colloque tenu à Talloires. Annecy: Académie
The priory stands on the banks of the Arve River (Contamine-sur-Arve, Haute-Savoie), to the south-east of Geneva