Chartreuse de Prébayon, Carthusian monastery ruins in Sablet, France

Chartreuse de Prébayon is a ruined women's monastery at the Trignon spring in Sablet, in the Dentelles de Montmirail. What remains is a long, low stretch of mortared rubble wall in grey, tan and brown stone, patched with moss and climbing plants, its top edge buried under earth and vegetation. Darker recesses open in the masonry, and tall weeds and broad-leafed plants grow in front of it.

Founded in 611 by Germilie, a relative of Radegonde, at the request of Rusticule, abbess of Saint-Césaire d'Arles, with the backing of Bishop Artemius of Vaison, the women's abbey at Pratum Valicum held 18 nuns by 614. Saracen raids destroyed it in 787 and again in 850, and Aredius, bishop of Vaison, had it rebuilt. Around 1145 the nuns adopted Carthusian customs under Jean d'Espagne, prior of Montrieux.

The name evolved from Pratum Valicum to Parvalon and then Prébayon. A local legend tells that the devil, disguised as the bishop of Vaison, built the stone bridge over the Trignon in one night in exchange for the nuns' souls; the bridge was said to survive the flood that destroyed the abbey.

The site is not freely open to visitors because the buildings are badly damaged and unsafe. If you want to explore it, you need to get permission beforehand and should be careful about where you step.

The community was founded in 611 by Germilie, a relative of Radegonde, at the request of Rusticule, fourth abbess of Saint-Césaire d'Arles; five noble young women joined her. By 614 the abbey held 18 nuns following the Rule of Saint Caesarius, and they had planted vines on their domain.