Thoronet Abbey

Founded in 1146, Thoronet Abbey in Var is one of three Cistercian abbeys in Provence, along with those of Silvacane and Sénanque.

Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean forest, in an isolated spot in the hinterland of the Maures Massif, it is a real architectural gem. It's interesting to note that it was built according to an ancestral technique, which consisted in laying cut stones without mortar. This construction process has helped to give the place a sense of serenity that is very conducive to meditation...

The beauty of the church with its clean lines, the cloister with its twin arches and the chapter house with its sculpted capitals, is particularly striking. Yet that is not the Romanesque abbey's only attraction. Indeed, the acoustics in its church create a very long resonance time - one of the longest in the world! - and make it a major centre for Gregorian chant. The concerts held there are always highly acclaimed.