NOIRLAC ABBEY
Noirlac Abbey, south of Bourges, has become a center of cultural and artistic exchange and can be visited all year round.
Noirlac Abbey is one of Europe's major Cistercian sites, located 40 km south of Bourges, in the heart of a bocage shaped by the Cher River. Built from 1150 by a small group of monks, Noirlac Abbey represents the monastic asceticism of the Cistercian order founded by Saint Robert and developed by Saint Bernard. From the 16th century until the French Revolution, the few monks who lived there devoted themselves as much to managing the community's property as to their spiritual life. In 1791, the abbey was confiscated as national property. It was then occupied by a porcelain factory for much of the 19th century. The monument became the property of the Département du Cher in 1909. Between 1950 and 1980, it underwent a remarkable restoration that restored the authenticity of its original layout and brought it up to date with modernity, thanks to the stained glass windows commissioned in 1977 from visual artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud. Managed by an Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle since 2007 and awarded the Centre Culturel de Rencontre label in 2008, it is now a recognized center for cultural and artistic exchange, while remaining a major tourist attraction open to visitors all year round. The monument organizes numerous events. Mark your calendars for the Rendez-vous aux jardins: in June, the abbey invites visitors to discover its natural environment through visits, games, concerts and site lighting.
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