The reconstruction of the buildings of the priory at Varennes-sur-Amance is attributed to Prior François de Montarby around 1540, creating a very attractive ensemble in the early Renaissance style. The doorway features pilasters decorated with lozenges and capitals. As for the staircase, it is rare because of its unusual dimensions: the door is 194 cm high, the steps are between 140 and 190 cm wide (polygonal staircase) and there are 20 steps per floor. Similarly, the windows here are real windows, measuring 95 cm by 60 cm for the first and 81 cm by 60 cm for the second (the average being generally around 50 cm by 40). The underside of the steps is semi-rounded, indicating a Comtoise or Lyonnaise influence. The seigniorial nature of the priory and its staircase can be explained by the fact that François de Montarby held both positions (canon of Langres cathedral and prior of Varennes-sur-Amance), so he had sufficient resources to finance the construction. Inside, the high ceilings and the huge Renaissance fireplace still in place confirm the need for substantial funding.
Porte et escalier de l'ancien prieuré de Varennes-sur-Amance
