Lucelle Abbey

Lucelle Abbey is a Cistercian monastery near the Swiss border in the Haut-Rhin department that has preserved remains of its original structures. The site includes remnants from different periods and has been protected as a French historical monument since 1996.

The monastery was founded in 1124 as a daughter house of Bellevaux Abbey and grew into a significant religious community. It was dissolved in 1792 during the French Revolution when many convents across France were closed.

The monastery shows the simplicity and function that defined Cistercian buildings, with plain rooms and straightforward details reflecting the religious values of its founders. Visitors can still see this clear building style today, designed to avoid distraction and focus on spiritual life.

The abbey grounds are open to visitors interested in religious heritage and exploring the preserved structures on site. Wear comfortable walking shoes as the grounds have uneven surfaces and allow for free exploration at your own pace.

The monastery was once the center of a large network of religious communities across the region before its closure. Today only scattered traces remain of this once powerful system, offering insight into the major changes that religious upheaval brought to the landscape.