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A glorious example of Cistercian architecture
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To the south-west of Narbonne, in a rocky vale of the Corbières, this glorious Cistercian construction is hidden in the hollow of a valley. The abbey quietly shelters in a typical Mediterranean landscape, surrounded by trees such as cypress, box tree and pine.
The Abbey's origins go back to the end of the 11th century. Having originally followed Benedictine rule, Fontfroide finally adopted the Cistercian order in the middle of the 12th century. The monastery rapidly came to hold an immense estate which spread as far as Catalonia. As early as the beginning of the 13th century, Fontfroide had set up eight subsidiary abbeys.
During the Crusade against the Albigensians, Fontfroide rose as a powerful stronghold of Catholic orthodoxy confronting the Cathar religion which it fought against virulently. Two monks of Fronfroide stand out particularly at that time: Pierre de Castelnau and Raoul, who were appointed Papal Legates by Innocent III.
Of all the famous abbots, it is also necessary to mention Jacques Fournier who became Pope under the name of Benoît XII (1334-1342).
After a slow decline, Fontfroide fell under commendam from 1476 to 1764, when it finally lost its abbatial title and thus its subsequent income.
During the 18th century the conventual priors carried out many adjustments before the monastery's adjudication in 1791. The buildings were relatively untouched by the French Revolution, and were occupied once again by the Cistercians of the Immaculate Conception from 1858 to 1901. Since 1908, the monument has been the property of the same family whom we thank for Fontfroide's general rehabilitation.
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Abbaye de Fontfroide
11 000 Narbonne
phone: (+0033) 04.68.45.50.71
fax: (+0033) 04.68.45.18.31
e-mail: info@fontfroide.com
site : www.fontfroide.com
Take the N113 direction Narbonne, follow the sign posts « Abbaye de Fontfroide »
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