The Abbey of Thoronet
Monument
The Thoronet abbey, a Cisterian monastery founded in 1146 by the Tourtour monks in a wild setting in the Var region, gathers its monastery buildings around a cloister which is protected by sturdy arcatures from the Romanesque period. Apart from the “palm tree” vault in the chapter house, the barrel vault predominates; its majestic volumes round out everywhere, from the church to the storeroom without forgetting the dormitory, which rose from the ruins brought about by the 18th century “improvements”. The state purchased the abbey progressively from 1854 onwards and it recovered its original appearance thanks to important renovation works.
Lodging
See the listing of the Hotels in Draguignan
Practical information
Abbaye du Thoronet
83340 Le Thoronet
Going there
From Aix-en-Provence: motorway A 8, exit n° 35, main road N 7 to Flassans, then secondary roads D 13 and D 79 to the abbey
From Cannes: motorway A 8, exit Cannet-des-Maures, main road N 7 towards Féjus then immediately secondary roads D 17 et D 79 (tunnel limited to 4 m in height)
North of the Cannes/Aix-en-Provence road
30 km southwest of Draguignan
Opening / Closing
Open
1 April to 30 September : 10 am to 6:30 pm (Sundays 10 am to noon and 2 to 6:30 pm)
1 October to 31 March : 10 am to 13 pm and 2 to 5 pm (Sundays 10 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm)
Closed
on January 1, May 1, November 1, November 11 and December 25