The St. Mary's Abbey Rieunette is located in the municipality of Ladern-sur-Lauquet in Aude, 15 km south of Carcassonne.
It was founded in 1162, consisting of religious then under the Cistercian order, and dependent on the Abbey of Tart in Burgundy. Due to the geographical distance, is the abbot of St. Mary of Villelongue, 20 km northwest of Carcassonne, which is entrusted the protection of the abbey.
After three centuries of prosperity, the abbey is a victim of religious wars. The nuns took refuge in Carcassonne since 1528 for fear of the Calvinists in fact looted several times, the abbey was burned in 1568.
In 1648, a new abbess tries to restore the monastic life on the site but must contend with the opposition of the monks of Villelongue who in the meantime had sold the land and buildings. The abbey was destroyed again in 1761 and, by decision of the Bishop of Carcassonne, the nuns join a priory in the Gers.
Following a long period of escheat to the abbey, which after the Revolution serves farm and is occupied by the Water and Forests.
After the Second War, volunteers are involved in various projects to save what can be, only the twelfth-century church has been preserved. In a sober architecture, a rectangular plan, its walls supporting a barrel vault slightly broken. At the northeast corner of the nave, a square tower which rises inside contains a spiral staircase. This is the basis of the old fortified tower. The side door of the nave is in turn breakthrough in the northeast wall and gave access to the cloister. Bought in 1994 by the Cistercian community of Boulaur (Gers) that make the reconstruction of some buildings, the abbey is occupied since 1998 by nuns of the Cistercian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception.
Always surrounded by a bucolic environment, the abbey is being protected as historical monuments. Open for guided tours throughout the year except on Tuesday afternoon, December 25 and during the weekend of Easter. Timetable as offices. Free access. Information +33 4 68 69 69 06.
