Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Abbey Notre-Dame de Sénanque
Thisstill-functioningandbeautifullysituatedCistercianabbeywasbuiltin1148asaback-
to-basics reaction to the excesses of Benedictine abbeys. The abbey is best appreciated
from the outside, and is worth the trip for its splendid and remote setting alone. Come
early or late, stop at a pullout for a bird's-eye view as you descend, then wander the ab-
bey'sperimeter.The abbey church (Eglise Abbatiale) is always open(except duringMass,
but you're welcome to attend) and highlights the utter simplicity sought by these monks.
In late June through much of July, the lavender fields that surround the abbey make for
breathtaking pictures and draw loads of visitors. Most of the time, visiting the abbey itself
requires a 50-minute, French-only tour with an English handout.
