Abbaye de Boulbonne

Cintegabelle

In 1129, Count Roger III of Foix founded at Mazères a monastery that would become Cistercian around 1150: the abbey of Boulbonne, named after the fine forest that stretches between Cintegabelle, Mazères and Pamiers. It stands out for an extraordinary destiny: one of its monks, Jacques Fournier, received his spiritual training here before becoming, in 1334, Pope Benedict XII — one of the popes of Avignon. The abbey also sheltered within its walls, before the battle of Muret in 1213, the redoubtable Simon de Montfort, leader of the Albigensian Crusade. In 1567, Protestant troops razed the monastery to the ground; the monks took refuge in Toulouse, before returning from 1652 to settle on their estate of Tramesaygues, at the confluence of the Hers-Vif and the Ariège, near Cintegabelle. The rebuilding, spread over 86 years, produced one of the finest buildings of the Cistercian order, described as early as 1717 as being of great splendour. The Revolution destroyed two thirds of the new complex, but a magnificent gilded wooden organ was saved and transferred to the church of Cintegabelle. Today, the property of the Moulas family since 1842, the abbey retains a brick gateway, a chapter house, a refectory, two cloister galleries and dovecotes — an ensemble opened to the public during the European Heritage Days.

Getting there : At the confluence of the Hers-Vif and the Ariège, commune of Cintegabelle (Haute-Garonne)

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

Ambient sound