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Clairvaux Abbey

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Aube

Clairvaux Abbey - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Aube
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Founded in 1115 by St. Bernard, then turned into a prison in 1808, Clairvaux Abbey has seen centuries of history go by. In the heart of the humid Champagne region, in Ville-sous-la-Ferté, this Cistercian complex of majestic buildings stands amid an ocean of greenery.

The guided tour begins with the Ladies' Hostelry, a magnificent 16th- century building designed to accommodate the wives of visitors to the abbey.

The exploration of the site continues all the way to the lay brothers' building, dating from the 12th century and dedicated to the lay brothers who looked after the abbey's estates. Admire the storeroom with its rib vaults, a room devoid of all furniture where silence reigns supreme.

The frugal Cistercian style gave way to opulence a few centuries later, in the 18th century. As the abbots were wealthier by then, they decided to create a vast refectory within the Great Cloister. A few elements remain of the lavish decorations created at that time, and you can still admire the arcades featuring painted medallions, as well as the immaculate floor adorned with black cabochons.

Under Napoleon I, Clairvaux Abbey became the biggest prison in France with around 3,000 inmates. Known as "the chicken coops", the old cells measuring 1.5 by 2 metres, where prisoners were detained until 1971, are a reminder of this dark episode in the abbey's history. Not for the faint of heart.

Other areas are open to the public, like the Great Cloister built in the 18th century, an immense architectural complex surrounding a large square courtyard, or the lay brothers' barn, a stone structure whose reflection can be seen in the river. This river's source is at Fontaine Saint Bernard, in a very scenic clearing in Clairvaux Forest. A walk there is highly recommended for nature-lovers!

Opening timesMonday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Tuesday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Wednesday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Thursday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Friday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Saturday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM   •   Sunday: 10:15 AM – 12:30 AM, 01:30 PM – 06:30 PM
Telephone+33 3 25 27 52 55
Official sitewww.abbayedeclairvaux.com

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