Saint-Martin-le-Vieil - Abbaye de Villelongue

In 1149 monks from the Cistercian Abbaye de Bonnefont (Comminges) settled in Compagnes, north-east of Saissac. Some decades later the convent moved to the hamlet of Villelongue and in 1170 the construction of the Abbaye de Villelongue started here.

During the Albigensian Crusade the abbots strongly supported Simon de Monfort, what paid off. The abbey became proprietor not only of the chateau, but also of the entire village of Saint-Martin-le-Vieil.

The abbye was rich and powerful, but decline started with the ravages of the Black Plague and the wars of religion. During the French Revolution the last three monks left the by now ruined abbey. In 1791 the Abbey of Villelongue and all its lands are dispersed and sold as public property.

The abbey is still privatly and even offers a B+B, but at it was closed over noontime (12-14), I did not enter.

The "Association des Amis de l’Abbaye de Villelongue" has created a very informative website.

www.abbaye-de-villelongue.com/association-amis-abbaye-vil...