Loc-Dieu Abbey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Loc-Dieu Abbey, view of the west wing, in front of the monks pond

Loc-Dieu Abbey is a Cistercian abbey located near Martiel, 9 km west from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the department of Aveyron in France.

Founded in 1123 in a place formerly called Locus Diaboli (Latin for Devil's place) due to the large amount of dolmens around it, it was renamed Locus Dei in Latin by the monks, which in French became Loc-Dieu, both meaning the place of God.

Burnt by the English in 1409, it was rebuilt in 1470 and the abbey was fortified.

The abbey was sold by the French government during the French revolution in 1793, and the Cibiel family bought it in 1812. Cibiel descendants still live in it.

The buildings were restored in 1840 (the east wing) and in 1880 (the south and west wings).

In the summer of 1940, paintings from the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa, were hidden in Loc-Dieu to keep them safe from German troops.

The abbey and its large park are now open to visitors.

[edit] Architecture

Church: built between 1159 and 1189, the church remains intact. This is one of the first Gothic buildings in southern France, designed by architects from Burgundy. Cistercian rules are followed, i.e the greatest simplicity possible, with no decorations other than the stone and light.