Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu

The abbey displays multiple architectural features including a large church with fortified walls, stone vaulted ceilings, and a grand cloister with detailed stonework.

Saint Robert de Turlande established this Benedictine monastery in 1043, which expanded to oversee more than 300 monks and 42 priories by his death in 1067.

The church contains a remarkable 15th-century Dance of Death fresco depicting 24 characters from various social classes facing their mortality through skeleton figures.

The monument opens daily for visits from April to November, offering guided tours in French and English that include access to the church, cloister, and medieval tapestries.

Pope Clement VI, who started his religious career as a monk at this abbey, funded its Gothic reconstruction and selected it as his final resting place in 1352.

Location: La Chaise-Dieu

Inception: 1043

Architectural style: Gothic architecture

GPS coordinates: 45.32080,3.69610

Latest update: May 27, 2025 19:42