Preuilly Abbey, the fifth daughter house of
Cîteaux Abbey, was founded in 1118 by
Stephen Harding on a site provided by
Theobald of Blois, Count of Champagne. The first abbot was Arthaud. The abbey soon became prosperous and founded its own daughter houses,
Vauluisant Abbey (1129) and
Barbeau Abbey (1148). In 1146
La Colombe Abbey, founded some years previously, joined the Cistercian Order and put itself under the supervision of Preuilly. In the 14th and 15th centuries the monastery was sacked and laid waste several times, and occupied by English troops. In 1536 it passed into the hands of
commendatory abbots. It was plundered again in 1567 during the
Wars of Religion and in 1652 during the
Fronde. The buildings were restored at the beginning of the 18th century. After the dissolution of the abbey in 1791 during the
French Revolution the church was used as a
saltpetre factory, and the other buildings were sold off at auction to different owners. Considerable demolition took place, which was brought to an end only in the years between 1829 and 1846, when a Dr. Husson bought up the site in small portions. The surviving buildings have been protected since 1927 as a
Monument historique. == Buildings and precinct ==