Novalesa Abbey, Benedictine abbey in Novalesa, Italy.
Novalesa is a Benedictine abbey in the Alps featuring a monastery complex with a central courtyard, 16th-century cloister, and bell tower. The site includes an archaeological museum displaying artifacts from excavations and restoration activities at the abbey.
The abbey was founded in 726 by the Frankish nobleman Abbo of Provence and soon received privileges from King Pepin the Short and Charlemagne. This royal support made it an important religious center in the Alpine region.
The chapels display wall paintings that reveal how medieval monks and pilgrims experienced spiritual life at this mountain location. These artworks show what people valued and found meaningful during their time of worship here.
The site is best accessed by local paths leading into the valley from nearby roads. It is worth allowing time to explore slowly, as the complex is compact and reveals details upon close observation.
This abbey was the first of its kind built within the Alps, marking the edge of human settlement at the time. It arose along the Mont Cenis Pass route, a strategic location where trade paths converged.
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