Abbaye du Moutier, Romanesque abbey in Thiers, France.

The Abbaye du Moutier is a former Benedictine abbey in Thiers, built of light tan ashlar blocks beside the Durolle. Its square tower rises above the roofline, topped by an open arch section with two louvered openings; a wide rounded arch doorway holds dark wooden doors, with a small arched niche above. A cylindrical tower with a dark conical roof, a balcony on diagonal braces and green-shuttered windows mark the other wing.

The abbey is first mentioned in writing in 1011, when it passed under Cluny's control and adopted the Benedictine rule; the church's first construction phase dates to the 11th century. Decline began after Thiers was ceded to the Count of Forez in 1301, and the community fell from 24 monks and an abbot in 1332 to two monks in 1751. In 1568 Huguenot troops set fire to the abbey and church.

The name "Moûtier" comes from the medieval word moustier, meaning monastery, which also names the lower Thiers district on the left bank of the Durolle. The abbey is a private property opened to the public in July and August, with guided tours of the exterior and interior by reservation, and it belongs to the Route Historique des Châteaux d'Auvergne.

The site is situated on sloped terrain and requires navigating several stairs to fully explore the different levels and structures. Access is best during summer months when guided tours are available to help understand the layout and architectural details.

The western tower features two distinct building phases: its lower level dates to the 13th century while the upper section was rebuilt in the 19th century. This layering reveals centuries of repairs and how the abbey was adapted after water damage.