On our way to Nice on a rainy day we stopped at at an interesting abbey, the Abbaye du Thoronet. The abbey was started by Cistercian monks who moved here from another abbey around 1140. The abbey buildings, church and cloisters were built in 1160-1190. In the 14th century, religious wars and politics resulted in the abbey being abandoned. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that the abbey started to be used again, and then during the French Revolution it was sold off and abandoned again. In the 1850's, the state bought the abbey and began rebuilding it. The rebuilding has continued, slowly, until the present day.
The abbey is all stone, and includes a church, adjoining chapter house, dormitory and store room, and cloisters. The church is built of stone blocks, cut and assembled by hand, without the use of cement or mortar.
The interior is stark and austere, but has a simple beauty. We heard some singers before the mass and the acoustics were excellent.
We saw the chapter house and the cloister.
Of interest also was the lavebo, a fountain in a hexagonal structure on the far side of the cloister. It was here that the monks washed their hands.
In the information center, there was a model of the abbey and other buildings.
On y va to Nice