Abbaye de Florièyes, Medieval Cistercian abbey in Tourtour, France
The Abbaye de Florièyes is a 12th-century Cistercian abbey in Provence with remaining chapel structures that include a preserved apse and former monastic buildings such as a sheepfold and stables. The ruins blend into the rural surroundings and reveal the straightforward construction typical of the order.
The abbey was founded in 1136 and marked the first Cistercian settlement in Provence. It remained a significant location for religious ceremonies until the monks relocated to another monastery in the middle of the 12th century.
The abbey served as a religious center where monks gathered and worshipped until the community moved away. Visitors can sense how deeply spiritual life shaped this location and its remaining walls.
The ruins are accessible from Tourtour village by following marked trails that pass through oak and pine forests. The walking path is straightforward to navigate and moves through open countryside.
Archaeological excavations reveal that people lived at this site from the Bronze Age through the medieval period. Near the river, a 13th-century bridge still stands and once connected important trade routes across the region.
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