Sénanque Abbey — a Cistercian house in a Provençal valley
Sénanque’s stone buildings sit close together on the valley floor. Their arrangement makes the abbey a place to read how a Cistercian community organised work and prayer.
From the source
The Cistercian abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque was founded in 1148 in a valley near Gordes. The French heritage register identifies building phases from the twelfth and nineteenth centuries and records partial protection as a historic monument. The abbey’s own history identifies the ground before the façade as the site of the medieval monks’ cemetery.
Editorial reading
Look at the way the group of buildings sits within the narrow valley. The abbey describes a final medieval building campaign that began in 1215. The cultivated ground in front of the buildings also has a history of its own. It is worth comparing the familiar view of the abbey with the community’s account of how the site was used in the Middle Ages.
Recommendation
Check the abbey’s current visit arrangements and reserve if required. The abbey provides directions for the visitor car park on its access page. Follow the route set out for visitors and observe any restrictions during services.
Sources
Connected Landscapes, Terroirs & Living Heritage
Explore the historic gardens, remarkable villages, wine terroirs, and cultural itineraries intimately connected with this heritage landscape.
Gordes
Gordes is in Vaucluse, on the edge of the Luberon. Its limestone houses descend from a rocky spur, forming a compact settlement above the surrounding countryside. Steep lanes connect the upper centre and château with the lower parts of the village. The château combines earlier origins with a major Renaissance rebuilding. Dry-stone architecture is another feature of the area, presented at the separate Village des Bories site. Sénanque abbey is also nearby, outside the village centre, and has its own history and access arrangements. Gordes belongs to Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. The village, abbey and bories are related by geography but should be understood as distinct places.
Château de Gordes
Château de Gordes is a château at Gordes, Vaucluse, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The recorded building campaign dates from the 16th century. It is protected as a monument historique at the higher of the two levels (classé). Details are drawn from the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture.
Château de Cabrières
Château de Cabrières is a château at Cabrières-d'Avignon, Vaucluse, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The recorded building campaigns date from the 12th, 16th and 17th centuries. It is protected as a monument historique at the second level (inscrit). Details are drawn from the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture.