Vauclair Abbey

Vauclair Abbey is a Cistercian monastery whose stone ruins stand on the northern slope of Chemin des Dames, where three historical French provinces meet. The remains include preserved foundation walls along with an orchard of fruit trees and a medicinal herb garden.

The monastery was founded in 1134 by Bishop Barthélémy de Jur and developed as a Cistercian community over centuries. During the French Revolution, the abbey was dissolved and sold at auction in 1791, marking the end of its religious function.

The name Vauclair comes from the Latin words Vallis clara, which represents a deliberate reversal of its mother house Clairvaux. This linguistic connection reflects the close relationship between this monastery and its parent order.

Visiting this site requires no special preparation as the ruins are open for walking exploration. The paths are straightforward to navigate and the location allows ample time to wander and view the different areas.

A monk named Father René Courtois spent 39 years excavating and studying the abbey ruins while living on the site until 2005. His work was essential in documenting the archaeological features of the location for future generations.