At the gateway to the Montagne-Noire, Caunes-Minervois stands amidst vineyards, some twenty kilometers northeast of Carcassonne.
Since the 17th century, the town has been famous for the quality of its marble, which adorns the Trianon at Versailles and the Paris Opera.
The Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre et Paul de Caunes-Minervois was founded by Anian, a friend of Saint-Benoît d'Aniane, at the end of the 8th century.
Originally under the direct protection of the king, the monastery passed into the hands of the Counts of Barcelona before falling to the Trencavels, who renounced their rights in 1195.
During the crusade against the Albigensians, the abbot of Caunes received the Pope's representatives on several occasions, who came to preach Catholic orthodoxy.
In 1227, Pierre Isarn, Cathar bishop of Carcassès, was burned at Caunes.
The establishment of the commendation in 1467 marked the culmination of a long period of relaxation of monastic values at Caunes.
It was not until the early 17th century that Abbé Jean d'Alibert initiated a series of reforms.
In particular, he restored the buildings and rebuilt the abbey dwelling.
In 1663, the Saint-Maur congregation took possession of the abbey and renovated the monastic buildings.
The abbey was sold in 1791, with the exception of the church, which became communal property.
The present conventual buildings and cloister were rebuilt by the Maurist monks in the 18th century, but stand alongside much older buildings. The Abbey is renowned for its Romanesque chevet, said to be the oldest in Languedoc. Other highlights include the 12th-century bell tower, the 13th-century porch of the abbey church and the 12th-century apses.
Between 2002 and 2007, archaeological excavations uncovered an ancient gallery beneath today's cloister: the remains of the first medieval cloister, built around the 12th century, with its characteristic calade (pebble paving) floor. Today, visitors can explore and stroll around the cloister, while research continues into other parts of the eight-century-old cloister. In the church, the remains of the primitive church founded in 790 have been discovered and made available to visitors in a crypt beneath the choir.
The church was listed as a historic monument in 1916, and the abbey buildings in 1948.
Caunes-Minervois Abbey
Place de l'Eglise,
11160 Caunes-Minervois
Tel/fax: 04 68 78 09 44
abbayecaunesminervois@orange.fr
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