Abbaye de Clermont, Cistercian abbey in Olivet, France.
Abbaye de Clermont is a Cistercian abbey in Olivet built with substantial stone walls and vaulted ceilings. The church displays the typical Romanesque structure of the region with clear lines and functional design.
The monastery was founded in 1152 by Guy IV de Laval and served as a burial site for the Lords of Laval during the medieval period. Its founding coincided with a time of major monastic expansion across France.
The abbey displays the plain architectural language of the Cistercian order through its large windows and absence of ornamentation, reflecting the austere ideals of monastic life.
Visitors will find a quiet setting for exploring the church and surrounding buildings. It is advisable to allow time for a walk through the entire grounds to experience the full extent of the complex.
The abbey houses one of the largest preserved medieval wine cellars in western France, demonstrating how monks produced surplus for trade and managed resources. This underground facility reveals the economic sophistication of the monastic community.
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