Grandselve Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Bouillac, France
Grandselve Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Bouillac featuring stone buildings and structures arranged across the landscape typical of 12th-century religious communities. The complex includes various buildings and spaces that once housed monks and supported agricultural and economic activities.
The monastery was founded in 1114 as a hermitage and later became affiliated with Clairvaux, a major Cistercian house. This connection brought the community into a broader network of religious influence and administrative oversight.
The abbey established the College of St. Bernard in Toulouse, contributing to theological education and regional intellectual development during medieval times.
Visitors can walk through the ruins and experience the layout of a medieval monastic community at their own pace. Taking time to explore different areas of the site allows for a better understanding of how the buildings related to one another.
The site served as a burial place for several members of the local noble family, including two Counts of Montpellier. This demonstrates the monastery's importance in the regional aristocratic world.
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