Exploring the abbey

You cannot help being dazzled by the delicacy of the sculptures which decorate the porch of Charlieu Benedictine Abbey. It is a wonder of Roman art, and made using the region’s yellow stone. These monastic buildings, with their unique architectural qualities, will certainly surprise you The Philippe Auguste tower, the abbey’s defensive keep, and the town’s medieval houses make Charlieu a unique site.

A little bit of history

The history of Charlieu began in around 875 with the foundation of its Benedictine Abbey.

The monastery, which had been attached to Cluny in the 10th century and was reduced to priory status in around 1040, flourished. It saw a commercial town grow up around it, which surrounded itself with fortifications in order to protect itself from feudal rivalries and the Hundred Years’ War. Excavations have led to the discovery of the foundations of three churches, all built on the same site (9th-10th-11th centuries).

All that remains of this latter 11th century place of worship is a bay, the façade and the 12th century porch, a masterpiece of Roman art. A fine series of Gothic buildings (15th-16th centuries) rounds off the tour with the cloister, the chapter house, the chapel and the prior's quarters’ courtyard. The parlour and former cellar house lapidary items and statues. The commune of Charlieu has been listed as a “Village de Caractère” and has an amazing heritage which makes it one of the “places in France you really should go out of your way to see”.

The porch and its roman gate

The plentiful, incredibly detailed decoration of the 12th century porch makes it a masterpiece of Roman art. A 19th century life-size copy is actually kept in the main moulding gallery at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris. Its gate dates from the second quarter of the 12th century. It has sculptures of rare delicacy, with rinceaux, foliages, pleated ribbons, elderly musicians, apostles, etc.

The abbey’s shared garden

A walk in the cloister garden encourages you simply to wander around guided by its paths and flowerbeds. This is a “shared garden” put together by pupils from Charlieu, where medicinal plants, flowers, berries and vegetables all rub shoulders. You can enjoy yourself recognising them, although there are little slates boards to help you with this.

Things to explore

The remains of its church and its 11th century gate

• Its 12th century porch, a masterpiece of Roman art with its sculptures

• Its cloister and its 15th century chapel

• The chapter house

• The lapidary and religious art rooms

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