Lagrasse - Abbaye Sainte-Marie

Lagrasse (pop. 550) is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France" ("The most beautiful villages of France").

The village developed around the famous abbey Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse. 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 governed over territories from Beziers to Urgell.

The decline started 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 remained unfinished.

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

The Pont-Vieux (aka "Pont de l’Abbaye") was erected in 1303. Only pedestrians cross the river via that old bridge. A new one exists to deal with the all the cars.