Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu

The Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu is a Benedictine monastery in south-central France with a large church displaying Gothic style and surrounded by fortified walls. The site features vaulted stone ceilings, a spacious cloister with detailed stonework, and a collection of medieval tapestries.

A saint named Robert de Turlande founded this monastery in the 11th century, after which it quickly grew into a major center of the Benedictine order. It was later rebuilt in the Gothic style under the patronage of a future pope.

The church displays a remarkable 15th-century fresco showing the Dance of Death, where figures from different social ranks encounter skeleton forms. This imagery speaks to human mortality and was a common theme in medieval religious spaces.

The site is open daily during spring through fall and offers guided tours in multiple languages. Visitors can explore the church, cloister, and a collection of medieval artworks that illuminate the grounds.

A historical figure who worked here as a young monk later rose through the church hierarchy and chose this location for his tomb. His decision prompted major architectural changes and made the abbey an even more important religious center.