Abbaye du Thoronet

In 1136, monks left the Mazan Abbey in Ardèche to found a monastery on the lands of Tourtour. Fifteen years later, the monks moved about twenty kilometers away, near Lorgues, to a wooded area.
Construction work on the Notre-Dame-du-Thoronet abbey began between 1160 and 1190 and was largely completed in 1250.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the monastery housed about twenty monks and a few dozen lay brothers. Less than two centuries later, the decline of the abbey had already begun.
In 1660, the prior reported “the great need that the buildings of this abbey have to be repaired since they are in a pitiful state”. In 1699, cracks and collapses of the roofs, broken doors and dilapidated windows were reported…
In 1790, seven elderly monks still lived there. The abbey was in danger of disappearing when, upon discovering it, Prosper Mérimée saved it by reporting it to Revoil, architect of historical monuments.
The latter began restoring it in 1873. This restoration was resumed after 1907 by his successor Formigé, and has continued ever since.

In its bareness, the abbey perfectly illustrates the Cistercian rule which proclaims: “the monastery will be built, if possible, in such a way that it brings together within its enclosure all the necessary things, namely: water, a mill, a garden, workshops for various things in order to prevent the monks from going outside…”. The Romanesque style there achieves a rigor hitherto unknown.

Visit the abbey website for all prices and discounts.
https://urlr.me/MdPAn6

– Self-guided tour at your own pace using a leaflet or audio guide, an introductory room for the tour welcomes you.
– Guided tour (50 min) to discover the history and architecture of the monument, Cistercian monasticism, the Middle Ages. The visit is enhanced by songs in the abbey church. All year round, morning and afternoon (subject to availability).
– Themed visits: dates and times on:
https://www.le-thoronet.fr/agenda

Game booklet to download from our site (family visit page).