The abbey of Cadouin is located in the commune of Buisson-de-Cadouin, in Dordogne, halfway (35 km) between Bergerac in the west and Sarlat in the east.
Step on the way to Santiago de Compostela, it was founded at the beginning of the twelfth century and quickly falls under the Cistercian order.
Very prosperous until the Wars of Religion, it is famous after having kept a shroud reported Crusades which will remain exposed until the beginning of the XXIe century (a replica is now visible) and which revived in the XIXe century the attraction of the site with pilgrims. However, the experts have established that the fabric dates back to the 10th century.
Property of the department since the nineteenth century, the abbey has preserved its abbey church and sacristy of original Romanesque style. However, it is famous for its exceptional flamboyant or Renaissance Gothic cloister built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The richness of its ornamentation alone justifies a visit (various keystones, historiated capitals, galleries forming arabesques on the ground at sunset...).
As for the chapter house of the abbey, it now houses a museum of the Shroud, which traces ten centuries of religious fervor and pilgrimages.
Classified as a Historic Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the abbey has a natural scenery service for many films. As for the works of its exceptional library, they are now preserved in the Departmental Archives.
Free visit or audioguide. Price: from 7 euros.
Open every day except December 25 and January 1 and the first weekend of January to the first weekend of February. Information on +33 5 53 63 36 28.
