Le Thoronet

Le Thoronet Abbey (1160-1230) is located in the Var departement, between Brignoles and Draguignan. With its sister abbeys Silvacane and Sénanque it is one of three Cistercian monasteries in the Provence and one of the purest examples of romanesque style in the area. The abbey church is in the form of a Latin cross and has a perfectly rounded chevet.

The cloister

The cloister formed the heart of the abbey, linking the church with the living quarters. In the middle ages Le Thoronet was really isolated in the northern part of the Maures. Even today, it gives a good idea what an oasis of peace it must have been.

The cloister

The thick walls pierced by simple arcades and the absence of ornamentation give the cloister a sense of sobriety and austerity fully in tone with the Cistercian spirit. The Mediterranean sun reflecting on the stones creates an always changing palette of colors.

The cloister

The cloister was built on uneven terrain. The east gallery follows the downward slope.

Arcades

The arcades of the cloister have double arches with an oculus in the tympanum over the central column.

The church

The nave is covered with a pointed barrel vault and has three bays and two aisles. The absence of decoration emphasizes the purity of the interior's lines.

The church

The nave towards the west façade.

The cloister

The uneven terrain is shown in this view from the cloister towards the church.

The dormitory

In this large hall, located on the upper floor on the east side of the cloister, a monk slept in each bay. In the early 13th century the abbey was home to around 30 monks and 30 lay brothers.

The chapter house

The monastic community met daily in this hall to read a chapter of St. Benedict's rules and discuss everyday matters. The architecture is in the early gothic style with cross-ribbed vaults.

The western façade of the church

The simple façade with no central entrance, but doors leading to the aisles. The right door was used by the monks, the left one by the lay brothers. While the decline had already started centuries earlier, the abbey was still occupied in 1790. After the French Revolution the buildings were saved from ruin by Prosper Mérimée, gradually restored and bought by the state.