HOLY MARY ABBEY

Discovering its hidden treasures, we take time to explore the building and walk in the footsteps of a monastic community of the medieval era. The Benedictine abbey of Sainte-Marie was founded in 804. The cloister and part of the monastic buildings having been destroyed during the wars of religion, only the abbey church remains today. This monument of Romanesque architecture is listed in the inventory of historical monuments and is one of the most remarkable in the department. During excavations carried out in 1972, archaeologists unearthed the foundations of a Gallo-Roman villa. From 1972 to 1999, several campaigns of archaeological research followed one another, allowing in particular the redevelopment of the square and the chevet of the building and the discovery of the necropolis. Among the treasures that were brought to light were a 12th century monastic tribune and 13 capitals. To see, the magnificent bestiary of the crypt, vestiges of frescos and a mosaic of the XIIth century. If the old village can be discovered freely, the abbey church can only be visited with a heritage guide who will know how to fascinate you. The schedules of the visits vary according to the days and the seasons. Since 2021, a new animation is proposed, a journey in time to live in family. Using your smartphone, explore the site in search of architectural treasures. You will have to use your intuition and observation skills to solve the riddles that will appear in your path!