 |
| the cloister |
Cadouin is a small village in a valley in the forest of the Périgord Noir in the Dordogne region. Cadoun means “ quince tree” in Occitan, the original language of the south of France.
 |
| market day just finishing |
The abbaye has survived the Hundred Years War (
though the region changed hands from French to English and back a number of times ), the
Wars of Religion and the Revolution.
 |
| the church facade - very grand looking, but a simple interior |
Géraud de Salles and his followers settled in the
valley in 1113 and, thanks to some generous donations, were able to commence
building in 1115. The abbaye became Cistercian in 1119 and so the monks wore
the white habit of this order.
The abbaye became famous as the home of “ the
shroud of Christ’s head “ and attracted visitors
for over 600 years. The shroud was examined by experts in 1934 and found to be linen
from the Nile delta, but made around 1100AD. It is believed it was brought back
from the 1st Crusade so yet another example of a smooth talking
souvenir seller. It is now kept in a safe place as a “curiosity “ only.
A plethora of doors within the cloister ......
The buildings are constructed of pale yellow stone
from nearby La Couze on the Dordogne river and have been added to and
refurbished many times. There are a number of architectural styles including
the original Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance.
 |
| ceiling detail |
 |
| the abbot's seat - the monks have a simple stone bench |
 |
 |
| the only surviving mural so that's where these english tourists choose to sit oblivious to all ( they were on their phones, of course) |
 |
| extremely detailed stonework |
 |
| I think he's picking his teeth (?) |
The complex was abandoned in 1790 during the
Revolution and was later used by local farmers as storage and the cloister as a
pigsty. It was bought by the Department
of Dordogne in 1839 and restoration began. The work continues today and the
site is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The church interior is simple but the cloister is
fabulous. Well worth a visit to this charming little village off the beaten
track.
passe une bonne semaine
Great photos of a very attractive and interesting place ... and a great account; but for me, a plethora of doors is never enough!
ReplyDelete