Benedictines The first monastery established here was a
Benedictine priory, founded in 1070 by Hugh d'Asnières des Bois. It was subordinate to
Seillon Priory, and both were later subordinate to
Joug-Dieu Abbey. Hugh of Colemi (
Hugo Coloniacum) in the
Kingdom of Jerusalem granted lands to found a
grange here exempt from feudal duties, in 1202.
Carthusians Like Seillon, Montmerle became a Carthusian community in 1210, following a
bull issued by
Pope Innocent III, the 36th Carthusian foundation. Montmerle Charterhouse was dissolved in 1792 during the
French Revolution, when some of its paintings, including a number by
Nicolas-Guy Brenet, were moved to the parish church of
Pont-de-Vaux. ==Present day==