The Augustinian Cloister

Historic site and monument

Place de la Nation
38460 Crémieu

This 17th-century cloister, built in the classical style, was originally a place of contemplation. Its flowerbeds, pond, and ambulatory still make it an oasis of tranquility today. The gate, a work of artistic ironwork, dates from 1715.

Before entering this cloister, which is classified as a historic monument, take a moment to admire the
monumental entrance gate, built in 1831 to facilitate access to Place de la Nation. The
city had this masterpiece of ironwork installed here; it was created by master blacksmith Antoine Burnoud
in 1739 and originally came from the enclosure of the Chapel of the White Penitents. The original opening is located on the
north side and consists of a gate whose paneled jambs, beneath a curved pediment, are adorned with a door knocker in the
shape of a dolphin. The cloister’s classical architecture is characteristic of the 17th century. Indeed, the vaults,
marked by utter simplicity, follow one another in a regular rhythm.

The cloister is, above all, a place dedicated to meditation where the monks walked in silence along the
ambulation. The ornamental flowerbeds and the murmur of water in the pond fostered a sense of
contemplation. To the south, the upper floor above the former chapter house housed the monks’ cells, which once
had narrower openings. The Cluniac bell tower, raised in 1508, stands on top of an old
watchtower; to its left stands the 14th-century bell turret. The slate roof is impressive for its thickness
and the technical sophistication of its “dovetail” valley. The south staircase bridges the difference in level with the
chapter house, which became the council chamber in 1793. The inscriptions on the floor come from tombstones
that were relocated in 1882, indicating the order or trade of the deceased, such as the heart symbol of the Hermits of
Saint Augustine or the footed knife of the tanners.