Abbaye du Thoronet

Address

83340 Le Thoronet
Tel. : +33 (0)4 94 60 43 90

With its sister abbeys, Silvacane and Sénanque, Thoronet Abbey is one of three Cistercian abbeys in Provence.

Construction of the Notre-Dame-du-Thoronet abbey began in 1160 and was essentially complete by 1175. In the early 13th century, the monastery housed some 20 monks and approximately twice as many lay brothers. But within two centuries the abbey had fallen into decline.
Its Romanesque architecture was of a purity never seen before, and creates a feeling of unity and great serenity. The church, the dormitory and the cloister are all built from hewn stone, laid without mortar.
Seven elderly monks were still living there in 1790. In the 19th century, Prosper Mérimée saved the abbey by bringing it to the attention of Revoil, an architect of historic monuments, and restoration work has continued ever since.  

Rates

Entry €9. Under 18s free of charge. Groups (+20): €7.50 - Reduced price (18 to 25 years): €6.50.

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Opening times

Open 10am - 6:30pm from april to september and 10am-1pm /2pm-5pm from october to march (closed Sundays from 12pm to 2pm, and on January the 1st, May the 1st, and November the 1st and 11th,  December the 25th).