title: Montmerle Charterhouse
text: # Montmerle Charterhouse
  
  Montmerle Charterhouse (French: Chartreuse Notre-Dame de Montmerle du Val-Saint-Étienne, Latin: Mons Merula) is a former charterhouse, or Carthusian monastery, located in Lescheroux, in the arrondissement of Bourg-en-Bresse and the canton of Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes, in the department of Ain, France.
  
  ## History
  
  ### 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
  
  The monastery is in ruins, except for the main entrance and the mill.
  
  ## Sources
  
  * Genton, André, nd: Montmerle: la chartreuse oubliée.
  * Schwengel, Georg, nd (published 1981): Propago sacri Ordinis cartusiensis [per Franciam]; [pars 2:] de provinciis Burgundiæ, Franciæ, Picardiæ, Teutoniæ, et Angliæ [British Library London additional manuscript 17085, published in] Analecta cartusiana, No 90.2. Salzburg: Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik (in German and Latin)
  * Watercolour of Montmerle Charterhouse, late 17th or early 18th century, possibly by Louis Boudan (in French)
  * Gallica BNF: Same image, larger
  