Valbonne

Valbonne is a Carthusian monastery in Saint-Paulet-de-Caisson with a church, two cloisters of different sizes, and several chapels enclosed by stone ramparts. The building combines different areas for monastic life with open courtyards that create a network of spaces for prayer and daily work.

The monastery was founded in 1204 and served monks for over 700 years before changing purpose in the early 1900s. This shift to a leper colony marked a major turning point in the site's story.

The baroque church shows careful craftsmanship typical of its era, with detailed stonework that visitors can observe on the walls and ceilings. People used this space as a spiritual center, and the layout still reflects how monks organized their daily prayers and work.

The monastery offers guided tours to explore the buildings and their different functional areas. Some former monk cells have been converted into hotel rooms if you wish to stay overnight.

The monastery sits within a national forest between the Ardèche gorges and the Cèze valley, surrounded by vineyards producing regional red wines. This location merges monastic history with the wine culture of southern Rhône.