Lagrasse - Abbaye Sainte-Marie

A convent existed in the valley of the River Orbieu already in the 7th century. In 779 Charlemagne sponsored the convent that became the Abbaye Sainte-Marie. Donations from the regional nobility made the abbey wealthy and powerful. In the 12th century, the monks governd over territories from Beziers to Urgell.

The decline started to decline end of the 13th century, when due to the numerous wars and feuds, the buildings had to be reinforced and fortified. The octagonal bell tower remaining unfinished.

The abbey existed upto the French Revolution. In 1789 the buildings were sold in two lots.

Since 2004 a part of the former abbey was "revitalized", as a convent of the "Chanoines réguliers de la Mère de Dieu" ("Canons Regular of the Mother of God") settled here.

I had visited the abbey already earlier, so this is the only photo..