CISTERCIAN ABBEY SAINTE-MARIE

It is one of the most beautiful monuments in the Gers. Founded in 1142 by the abbess of Fontevraud, the archbishop of Auch and the count of Astarac, the abbey of Sainte-Marie de Boulaur takes its name from the Latin Bonus locus , meaning "good place". The first abbess was Longuebrune, widow of the Count of Astarac, who took holy orders on the death of her husband, as was the custom among nobles in the Middle Ages. The abbey boasts a magnificent Romanesque church, whose choir vaults are covered with frescoes dating back to the ^14th century. The church has undergone several alterations and extensions over the centuries. Three of the bays are Gothic, while the next two date from the Renaissance. The cloister dates from the ^17th century. A ^14th-century statue of the Virgin and Child was found under a tiled floor during renovation work. A monastery still in activity, the sisters obey the rule of Saint Benedict. They open their doors to the public to let them discover the building. The store sells cheeses, pâtés and jams made by the sisters from animals they have raised and fruit they have grown. All services are open to the public. The monastery has some twenty rooms for those wishing to make a retreat or do voluntary service. Many students come here during exam periods to study in peace and quiet.