Abbaye de La Celle, Romanesque abbey in La Celle, France.
Abbaye de La Celle is a Benedictine monastery in Provence featuring vaulted stone galleries arranged around a cloister. The complex includes a dormitory, kitchen, and refectory, along with two distinct church buildings situated on the grounds.
The monastery was built between the late 12th and early 13th centuries, replacing an earlier 11th-century structure. Archaeological finds reveal that a Roman villa once occupied this same location.
The name comes from the Latin word for cell, reflecting its role as a secluded monastic community. Today visitors can walk through spaces that show how monks lived and worked together in daily religious practice.
The grounds are open to visitors who can explore the various rooms and buildings at their own pace. Spending time walking around the exterior helps you understand how the different spaces relate to one another.
During the 1950s, a section of the abbey operated as a guest house where French leader General Charles de Gaulle wrote parts of his memoirs while staying there. This surprising modern use of a medieval space left its mark on how visitors experience the place today.
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