The Abbaye de Montmajour in Arles
Monument
Above the plain to the northeast of Arles, the Saint-Peter abbey was founded on the “Mount Majour” (the big mountain) in 948. Until 1790, Benedictine monks lived there according to the rules of Saint Benedict of Nurcie.
They built two series of monastic buildings. From the first series (St. Peter monastery, built between the 10th and 15th centuries), St. Peter hermitage is still to be seen (10th and 11th centuries).(this part of the monument is closed). It was partly built in the southern rock and the capitals were built during the first Romanesque Age. On top of the hill, the rupestral necropolis was built around the Sainte Croix feretory (12th century). This feretory is a real treasure from the past as far as architecture is concerned. The crypt is the only building of its kind in Provence and it is a genuine lower church. It has a rotunda, an ambulatory and radiating chapels. Marks left by the stonecutters are apparent on the vaults. The crypt supports the upper church (also called abbey church), the heart of monastic life. Abbey churches are characteristic of the Romanesque buildings from the middle of the 12th century.
Next to this place of worship dedicated to Our Lady (Notre Dame), the cloister restored in 1872 leads to the convent buildings: the chapter house, refectory, cellar, library, kitchen… The ornaments of imaginary animals, secular faces, plants and human faces is remarkable. The Pons de l’Orme tower stands above this first group of buildings. There is a very nice view from the top of the tower on Arles, Tarascon, la Crau and the Alpilles.
The Saint-Maur monastery (2nd series of buildings) was built in the 18th century (between 1703 and 1736) under the instructions of the architect from Avignon Pierre Mignard. The reformed Benedictine community that had settled in Montmajour in 1639 lived there.(this part of the monument is closed)
Lodging
See the listing of the Hotels in Arles
See the listing of the Hotels in Avignon
Practical information
Main entrance to the Abbaye de Montmajour
Route de Fontvieille
13200 Arles
Free admission each first sunday by month between november to march : (day/month) 5/11; 3/12; 7/01; 4/02; 4/03.
Reservations guided and unaccompanied tours of the Abbaye de Montmajour
Reservations tours with commentary of the Abbaye de Montmajour
Office du tourisme
Place de la République
13200 Arles
Open
from Monday to Friday: 9-12:30 and 1:30-6 (5 on Friday)
Going there
From Lyon: motorway A 7 to Avignon, main road N 570 to Arles and secondary road D 17 to Fontvieille
From Marseilles: motorway A 7 to Salon-de-Provence, motorway A 54 and main road N 113 to Arles, then secondary road D 17 to Fontvieille
From Montpellier: motorway A 9, exit n° 26, main roads N 313 and N 572 to Arles, then D 17 to Fontvieille
37 km southwest of Avignon