Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Ardorel

Payrin-Augmontel

The story of Ardorel begins at the end of the 11th century as a modest Benedictine establishment, nestled in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. In 1124, under the influence of Cecilia of Provence, the community joined the order of Cîteaux and became a fully-fledged Cistercian abbey. It soon sent out offshoots: as early as 1138 it founded the abbey of Valmagne, then Sira the following year, proof of its vitality in the heart of the 12th-century Albigeois. But the 16th century proved fatal: in 1586, at the height of the Wars of Religion, a relative of the abbot who had converted to Protestantism opened the monastery gates to Huguenot troops. The monks were massacred and their bodies thrown into the abbey well – a tragedy brought to light by 20th-century archaeological digs, which exhumed from the well a skeleton still wearing an abbatial cross and a crozier. The survivors took refuge in a grange at Lempaut, where monastic life continued for a time. Today nothing remains of the site but a well, a few footings, the foundations of the church and chapter house, and stretches of wall overrun by brambles – for the land now belongs to the army and is no longer accessible to the public. A few carved stones from the abbey have found refuge in the museum of Mazamet and in the walls of the village of Augmontel.

Getting there : Near Payrin-Augmontel, close to Mazamet (Tarn); ruins cannot be visited

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

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