Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque
The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a lovely religious site and the place to see Provence's famed lavender fields.
The best time to visit the Abbaye de Sénanque is in July and August, when the sea of lavender surrounding the abbey is in full bloom.
History
Located in a wild valley just north of Gordes, the Romanesque Abbey of Sénanque was founded by the Cistercians in 1148.
The abbey flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries, when it owned a large section of land and four mills. It was severely damaged in 1544 during the Wars of Religion, and was sold to the state during the Revolution in 1791.
The Abbey of Sénanque was restored and once again inhabited by Cistercian monks in 1854, but in 1903 new laws against religious congregations forced the monks to leave.
In 1988, Cistercian monks returned to Sénanque and a monastic community still lives and worships there today. The upkeep of the abbey is financed by the entrance fee, sales of products in the gift shop, and the monks' cultivation of lavender and honey.
What to See
Lacking in any decoration that might distract the monks from their prayers, the abbey is lovely in its austere, organic beauty. Next door to the church, the enormous vaulted dormitory contains an exhibition on the abbey's construction. The refectory shelters a display on the history of Cistercian abbeys.
Quick Facts
| Location: | 4 km (2 mi) north of Gordes on the D177, Provence, France |
| Phone: | 04-90-72-05-72 |
| Hours: | Mar.-Oct., Mon.-Sat. 10-noon and 2-6, Sun. 2-6; Nov.-Feb., weekdays 2-5, weekends 2-6. |
| Cost: | €4.75 |
Sources
- Abbey Notre-Dame de Sénanque - Official Website
