Chartreuse d'Arvières, Medieval Carthusian monastery in Arvière-en-Valromey, France
Chartreuse d'Arvières is a Carthusian monastery situated at over 1,200 meters elevation on the slopes of Grand Colombier mountain. The remains show three separate zones that once served different monastic functions including prayer, living quarters, and supply operations.
The monastery was founded in 1122 and relocated to its present location in 1135, when Count Amadeus III of Savoy granted it extensive fir forests and valuable grazing rights. This noble support helped the community establish itself in this remote mountain region.
This was a center of Carthusian monastic life, and the physical layout still reflects the separation between spaces for prayer, daily work, and support functions. The arrangement of remaining buildings reveals how monks organized their withdrawn life in this mountain setting.
The ruins are located within the Arvière State Forest, part of a larger woodland area managed by authorities since the 19th century. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and natural surroundings, as the site sits in an open mountain setting without modern facilities.
The foundation structures of the monastery and its Notre-Dame church received official historical monument protection status in 1995. This formal recognition was a key step in preserving these high-altitude remains.
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