Fontfroide Abbey, France.

English: The Cloisters,

Fontfroide Abbey, France.

Français: Cloitre de Fontfroide.

Photo: 23 April 2011.

Source: Own work.

Author: J-f.desvignes

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: The Cloisters, Fontfroide Abbey, France.

Français: Vue en panorama du cloître de Fontfroide

Photo: 9 September 2011.

Source: Own work.

Author: J-f.desvignes

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: Cistercian Monks at Fontfroide Abbey.

This photo was taken between 1858 and 1907.

Français: Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide à Narbonne (Aude). Entre 1858 et 1907. Vue d'un groupe de moines à l'intérieure du cloître de l'abbaye. Au premier plan rangée de moines, vue de dos, regards vers extérieur, costumes religieux, cape, ; au second plan colonnes, arcades, plafond. Mention manuscrite : « C. abbé Laborie ». Etiquette imprimée : « E. Trutat N° ».

Collection: Archives municipales de ToulouseThis photograph is part of the Fonds Eugène Trutat, preserved by the City archives of Toulouse.

It was provided to Wikimedia Commons as part of a co-operation project with Wikimédia France.

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: The Cloisters, Fontfroide Abbey, France.

The same view, today, as the previous photograph (above)

showing the Monks in the Cloisters.

Français : Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide.

Photo: 3 May 2014.

Source: Own work.

Author: Tournasol7

(Wikimedia Commons)

Fontfroide Abbey (French: Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide; Latin: Fons frigidus) is a former Cistercian Monastery in France, situated fifteen kilometres South-West of Narbonne, near to the Spanish border.

It was Founded in 1093 by Aimery I, Viscount of Narbonne, but remained poor and obscure, and needed to be re-Founded by Ermengarde, Viscountess of Narbonne.

In 1144, it affiliated itself to The Cistercian Reform Movement. Shortly afterwards, The Count of Barcelona gave it the land in Spain that was to form the great Catalan Monastery of Poblet, of which Fontfroide counts as The Mother House, and, in 1157, the Viscountess Ermengarde of Narbonne granted it a great quantity of land locally, thus securing its wealth and status.

English: The Cloisters and Garden, Fontfroide Abbey, France.

Deutsch: Abbaye de Fontfroide,

Kreuzgang, Zwillingssäulen der Arkatur.

Photo: 27 August 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Jochen Jahnke

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Abbey fought, together with Pope Innocent III, against the heretical doctrine of The Cathars, who lived in the region. The Abbey was Dissolved in 1791 in the course of The French Revolution.

It was re-Founded in 1858 by Monks from Sénanque Abbey. The Community was driven out of France by French legal changes in 1901. The premises, which are of very great Architectural interest, passed into private hands in 1908, when the artists Gustave and Madeleine Fayet d'Andoque bought it to protect the fabric of the buildings from an American collector of sculpture. They restored it over a number of years and used it as a centre for artistic projects.

It still remains in private hands. Today, wine is produced here of the AOC Corbières quality under the French appellations system. It also has a small working farm, bookstore and restaurant and takes paying guests.

The Web-Site of Fontfroide Abbey can be found HERE