Abbaye de Clairmont

Tip for an even more exceptional visit.

Clairmont Abbey offers a peaceful interlude in medieval monastic history, its true appeal lying in understanding its Cistercian purity and its journey through time. Founded in the 12th century by the Clairvaux order, it retains much of its original architecture—the impressively sized abbey church, the cellar, the lay brothers' refectory, and the gatehouse—making it a prime example of Cistercian settlement far from the main tourist routes. The key to a successful visit is to take the time to experience the austerity and serenity of the place, to read the stones and the volumes to perceive the monastic life of bygone days, and then to appreciate how time has transformed the site over the centuries, from its monastic period to its abandonment and restoration by passionate volunteers.