A place out of this world

The current location of Le Thoronet Abbey was not chosen by accident. A first site was quickly abandoned in favour of the current location, which offered more suitable living conditions. Discover the three factors that were decisive in this change...

A first installation: Notre-Dame de Florielle

Founded in 1136, Notre-Dame de Florielle became the first Cistercian settlement in Provence, located in the Tourtour area, a day's walk north-east of what is now Thoronet (around 24 km).

This settlement was followed by that of Silvacane in 1147 and Sénanque in 1148, thus creating a swarm of cistercian abbeys in the south of France, known today as the three sisters of Provence.

Triptyque : abbaye du Thoronet, abbaye de Silvacane, abbaye de Sénanque — Les 3 abbayes sœurs de Provence
©Jean-Marc Bouré (1ère photo), Canva (autres photos)

The 3 sisters abbeys of Provence

Abbaye de Silvacane, église abbatiale, collatéral nord
© Marc Tulane / Centre des monuments nationaux

Abbaye de Silvacane, nef de l'église abbatiale, vue en direction du sanctuaire
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux

Abbaye de Silvacane, église abbatiale, façade occidentale
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux

Abbaye de Sénanque, église abbatiale, nef
© Étienne Revault / Centre des monuments nationaux

Abbaye de Sénanque, cloître
© Jean Feuillie / Centre des monuments nationaux

A necessary move: the genesis of Le Thoronet Abbey

Despite the donation of land by the Castellane family, which formed the first nucleus of Notre-Dame de Florielle, and the subsequent transfer of other estates by the Counts of Provence, the abbey did not seem to find the ideal conditions for its development in this very arid and windy environment.

Nevertheless, the cistercian tradition is characterised by the quest for isolation: the abbey's location therefore had to be remote.

The cistercian community therefore settled in Le Thoronet on land they already owned. The transfer took place around 1157.

Vue sur l'abbaye du Thoronet depuis le sud-ouest — Vue depuis le sud-ouest sur l'abbaye du Thoronet
© Philippe Berthé / Centre des monuments nationaux

Fundamental elements of life

Le Thoronet was an essential choice. This land produced indispensable natural resources: abundant water sources, fertile rock and the cover of a generous forest. Water, stone and wood were the three elements essential to the monks' survival. After the success and development of the community on the site of today's Le Thoronet Abbey, Florielle became a simple priory .

If you would like to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing place, you can already buy your tickets to visit the abbey!