Poleteins Charterhouse

Poleteins Charterhouse, also known by its French name Chartreuse de Poleteins and sometimes referred to as Poletains or Poletins, was a monastic community of Carthusian nuns situated in Mionnay, within the department of Ain, France. The charterhouse was established in the ancient province of Bresse in the 1230s, with the founding gift made by Marguerite de Baugé, the wife of Humbert V de Beaujeu. Their daughter, Jeanne de Beaujeu, later served as the first or possibly second prioress of the community.

History and Significance

The charterhouse held particular renown for its fourth prioress, Marguerite d'Oingt, who served from 1286 to 1310. Marguerite d'Oingt was a distinguished figure, recognized as a poetess, mystic, and scholar, contributing to the intellectual and spiritual life of the community.

Poleteins Charterhouse endured significant challenges throughout its history. In 1457, the community faced a severe crisis in the form of an epidemic of the Black Death, which tragically claimed the lives of twelve nuns. A further significant disruption occurred in 1562 when the nunnery was invaded by Huguenots, compelling the nuns to seek refuge in the nearby town of Montluel.

With the restoration of peace following the Edict of Nantes, the community's structure evolved. In 1605, the remaining members of the reduced community were incorporated into the community of Salettes Charterhouse. Concurrently, the premises and assets of Poleteins were transferred to the administration of Lyon Charterhouse, which subsequently gained outright control of its revenues in 1639.

Following the French Revolution, the charterhouse premises were sold into private ownership. The physical remnants of the monastery gradually disappeared, with the last surviving building, a chapel, being demolished in 1873. Today, the site of the former charterhouse is occupied by a 19th-century château known as the Château de Polleteins, with adjacent buildings belonging to the Haras de Polletins (Polletins Stud Farm).