Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens — the surviving abbey at Joncels
The square bell tower gives the abbey church a fortified profile above the village. The surviving cloister arcades show a more intimate side of the former monastery.
From the source
Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens is a former Benedictine abbey at Joncels in the Hérault. The church, chapter house and part of the cloister survive, with building work from the Middle Ages and later centuries.
Editorial reading
The national register dates the choir bay and chapter house to the twelfth century and records later rebuilding in the nave. The regional inventory dates the north cloister gallery to the eighteenth century. Compare the size and rhythm of the surviving arches to see how the two sides of the cloister belong to different campaigns.
Recommendation
Start at Place du Pradel and look at the cloister from the square. Contact the town hall or Grand Orb tourist office in advance for an interior visit, which the tourist office lists as available on request.
Sources
Connected Landscapes, Terroirs & Living Heritage
Explore the historic gardens, remarkable villages, wine terroirs, and cultural itineraries intimately connected with this heritage landscape.
Château de Cazilhac
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Restes du château de Dio
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Château de Lavalette
Château de Lavalette is a château at Lavalette, Hérault, in the Occitanie region of France. The recorded building campaign dates from the 17th century. 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.