Baume Abbey, Benedictine abbey in Baume-les-Messieurs, France
Baume Abbey is a monastery complex built from stone structures near the source of the Dard River in eastern France's Jura region. The site comprises residential areas, outbuildings, and the church arranged together to form a connected whole that developed over many centuries.
The monastery was founded around 901 and rose to prominence under Abbot Berno, who later founded Cluny, one of Europe's most influential abbeys. This connection to the Cluniac movement shaped its subsequent development.
The Church of Saint-Pierre displays a striking sixteenth-century retable that shows the religious craftsmanship of the era. You can see how artisans of that time expressed their skills through carved wood and stone details.
Guided tours are available from April through September, while the outer courtyards remain accessible year-round. Visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain and stairs within the historic structures.
The monastery sits within a natural amphitheater formed by limestone cliffs that significantly influenced its medieval architecture and building placement. This geological formation created a unique setting that offered both protection and striking views.
Location: Baume-les-Messieurs
Inception: 10 century
GPS coordinates: 46.70778,5.64861
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Burgundy-Franche-Comté encompasses a varied heritage that spans several millennia. The region houses prehistoric sites such as the Roche de Solutré, monasteries founded as early as the 6th century like Baume Abbey, as well as medieval fortresses and Renaissance homes. Natural formations include the Osselle Cave, open to the public since 1751, and the Hérisson Waterfall, which features seven cascades over nearly 2.5 miles in the Jura mountains. The area is characterized by diverse terrain, from vineyards and mountain foothills to valleys and limestone plateaus. Visitors can explore the Cormatin Castle with its formal gardens, observe the ongoing construction of Guédelon Castle using 13th-century techniques, or explore the underground galleries of the Osselle Cave. These sites attest to human habitation and geological changes over the centuries.
Cascades des Tufs - Cuisance
21.9 km
10 55
5.8 km
Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs
2.9 km
Cascade de Baume-les-Messieurs
2.1 km
Château du Pin
5.5 km
Abbaye de Château-Chalon
5.5 km
Retable
65 m
Château fort de Chateau-Chalon
5.5 km
Église Saint-Pierre
5.4 km
Jurafaune
768 m
Pont sur la Seille
4.4 km
Vieux pont sur la Seille
350 m
Église Saint-Jérôme de Briod
5.4 km
Chapelle Saint-Vernier De Château Chalon
5.4 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Baume-les-Messieurs
1.2 km
Église Saint-Antoine de Granges-sur-Baume
689 m
Église Saint-Gilles de Blois-sur-Seille
4.8 km
Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Crançot
2.7 km
Église de la Sainte-Trinité de La Marre
4.9 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Vevy
4.9 km
Église Saints-Jacques-et-Philippe de Pannessières
4 km
Maison de chanoinesse bénédictine du belvédère de la Rochette
5.4 km
Cave of Baume-les-Messieurs
2.2 km
Chapelle Gindre de Baume-les-Messieurs
470 m
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette de Lavigny
3.6 km
Belvédère des Roches
2.3 km
Chapelle de la Sainte-Trinité-et-du-Saint-Esprit du Louverot
5.5 km
Monument aux morts de Granges-sur-Baume
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