ABBAYE DE FONTCAUDE

Abbey classified as a historical monument. An abbey of the Premonstratensian order in the heart of Languedoc near a sacred spring and a stage on the road to Santiago. The last example of Romanesque architecture in the region. In the heart of a garrigue plateau, the valley of Fontcaude shelters a sacred spring where canons settled as early as 1154. Perfectly restored, the abbey is a jewel of Romanesque art in Languedoc. The abbey church, cloister, sculpture museum, bell foundry (12th century), and oil mill have been open to the public since 1969, when the "Friends of Fontcaude" association began restoring the site. A stopover on the way to Santiago de Compostela, the abbey hosts Gregorian chant concerts. Every July 25, the "Confrérie Jacquaire de Septimie" organizes its chapter during the festival dedicated to the apostle. This event, which is open to all, is part of the restoration of tradition and conservation.