Abbaye de Bohéries, Cistercian abbey in Vadencourt, France.
Abbaye de Bohéries is a former Cistercian abbey in Vadencourt, in the Oise valley four kilometres west of Guise. Its surviving monastic farm, built in the mid-18th century, is the only substantial building left from the abbey rebuilt between 1650 and 1740. It is arranged in two symmetrical wings around an octagonal dovecote, with a cellar, outbuildings and stables from the 17th and 18th centuries and part of the enclosing wall. Brick and stone construction, stone used for window surrounds, pilasters and string courses.
Founded in 1143 by monks from Foigny Abbey, a daughter house of Clairvaux, the abbey was rebuilt between 1650 and 1740 after repeated destruction in European wars. In the early 13th century the monk Arnulf of Bohéries wrote the Speculum Monachorum here. By the French Revolution only seven monks remained, and the abbey's stones were later reused to build the nearby village.
The site preserves typical Cistercian design features including drainage systems and a pond within the enclosure, which reflect how monks organized their daily life. These visible elements help visitors understand the community's approach to practical living and land management.
The site holds status as a classified historical monument and welcomes visitors during warmer months with group tours available. Those planning a visit should check conditions and access arrangements in advance.
The abbey's stone was reused to build the nearby village, and its organ was moved to the parish church of Hirson. At the start of the 13th century the monk Arnulf of Bohéries lived here and wrote the Speculum Monachorum. The site was classified as a monument historique in 1995.
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