to fructify, decided to transform the church into
a farm building. The choir of the ancient church became a kitchen with
a fireplace built in the apse; the nave became a barn and a stable; the
tower itself was used: the base as a cellar, and the floor was divided
into a room and an attic, and topped with a chimney." The priory
remained a farm for a long time, as evidenced by the cow behind the
fence. This old photo was digitized by Claude Rayon. [Claude-48]

[Illustration]

161. Saint-Leonard-de-Vains. The priory church is still a private
property in the late 20th century, but no longer a farm. In cooperation
with the (French) Historic Monuments, the owner has turned the nave
into a house by opening rectangular windows and revamping the interior.
In 1985, date of this photo, the tower and the choir are still in bad
shape. Photo by Alain Dermigny. [Alain-086]

[Illustration]

162. Saint-Leonard-de-Vains. The priory church. The nave has become the
owner's house in the late 20th century, which explains the rectangular
doors and windows. The building has retained its original form though,
with a nave strengthened by buttresses and a two-row choir with a flat
apse. The tower, between choir and nave, is topped by a saddleback
roof. In 1985, the tower and the choir have not been restored yet.
Photo by Alain Dermigny. [Alain-087]

[Illustration]

163. Saint-Leonard-de-Vains. The priory church. On this Photo by the
1980s, we still see the stairs leading to the first floor of the tower
(they doesn't exist any more), as well as the rectangular openings of
the tower and the choir, and the chimney above the choir. Photo by
Marie Lebert. [Marie-19]

[Illustration]

164. Saint-Leonard-de-Vains. The priory church. On this recent Photo by
2009, the large rectangular openings pierced in the choir and the tower
have been replaced by small bays of Romanesque style. The stairs
leading to the first floor of the tower were removed, like the chimney
above the choir. The building is back to its former beauty. Photo by
Claude Rayon. [Claude-49]

[Illustration]

165. Saint-Leonard-de-Vains. The plan of the priory church. Regularly
oriented from west to east, the building is formed of a nave and a
two-row choir with a flat apse. The whole building has an external
length of 32.75 meters and an external width of 9.65 meters (width of
the front). The tower rises between choir and nave. Plan by Marie
Lebert.