The Command post of the Knight Templar
Built on a plateau 
overlooking the town, this collection of buildings built of sandstone and millstone was built by the soldier monks in the 12th century. The picture on the left shows the exterior of the church. The site shows the interdependence of agriculture and monasticism that was the life style of these soldier monks. The original land having been given to the monks in recognition of their services in the Crusades.
By 1307 the Knights Templar had become a real threat to the Crown following accusations of heresy the order was dissolved and the property handed over by the Pope to the Hospittaller Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who developed the hospital role of the site introducing over 250 vegetables and herbs which were used not only as food
but also medicine and for dyes. These gardens have been restored as part of the overall site development
Returning to the courtyard you pass the entrance down a flight of steps to the Templars' cellar with a fine example of the supports built into the foundations of the site. On your right is the chapter house with its round tower which contains 393 plaster nesting niches for doves.
The large building at the end of the courtyard was the Masters lodge and shows examples of building from both the 13th and the 15th centuries. The Restoration group have a web site in French which can be visited here