Abbey of Valsaintes
Valsaintes Abbey is an invitation to marvel, stroll, relax and enjoy the pleasure of discovering an exceptional natural, historical and spiritual site.
Valsaintes Abbey is an unusual place in the heart of Haute Provence.
Its remarkable garden offers visitors a different face every season.
The church, the last vestige of the 4th Cistercian abbey in Provence, is open to visitors and comes alive to the rhythm of Gregorian chant.
Opening times
- February - March and November - December: Wednesday to Sunday, 1.30pm to 5pm
- April and October: daily from 1.30pm to 6pm
- May to September: daily from 10am to 7pm
Lieu dit Boulinette
Jardin de l'Abbaye de Valsaintes
04150
Simiane La Rotonde
+33 049 27 59 41
info@valsaintes.org
www.valsaintes.org
Garden of Valsaintes Abbey
The garden at Valsaintes Abbey is an unusual place in the heart of Haute Provence.
The remarkable garden offers visitors a different face each season. A rose garden, a dry garden and a permaculture vegetable garden can all be discovered along the terraces.
The church, the last vestige of the 4th Cistercian abbey in Provence, is open to visitors and comes alive to the rhythm of Gregorian chant.
Guided tours (included in the price) are available throughout the year, as well as events for adults and children. Information is available on the abbey website.
During your visit you will discover :
The rose garden:
Following the rhythm of the terraces, you'll be able to wander through floral areas containing a thousand spring bulbs and 550 varieties of rose, whose history you'll discover as you stroll along the "Rose Path", combined with spontaneous or introduced flora. The rose is given pride of place every year during "l'abbaye en Roses" from mid-May to mid-June.
The dry garden :
The dry garden with its 250 species and varieties of dryland plants, not forgetting its 35 varieties of lavender and soon a collection of succulents.
The permaculture vegetable garden:
The permaculture vegetable garden is inspired by Pierre Rabhi's agricultural and philosophical movement, with the aim of introducing visitors to the garden to vegetable growing methods that respect nature's cycles.To this must be added a human ecological dimension based on sharing, sobriety, non-waste, harmlessness and all the other humanist values.The Cistercian church :
A 17th-century Cistercian church (the only convent building that can be visited) whose choir was built over a primitive cave.You'll admire its 12th-century Romanesque portal, listed as a Historic Monument, its octagonal dome, its conches recalling the passage of the Compostela pilgrims, and its contemporary stained-glass windows, which nevertheless repeat the symbolism that has characterised this building since its earliest foundations.Practical information- Ample free parking- Shop and plant sales (roses, dryland plants, herbs).
- Restaurant on site and picnic area (picnics are not permitted outside the area)- Guest rooms and gîte- The restaurant, shop, church and upper garden terrace are wheelchair accessible.- Dogs on a lead are welcome.
- The garden is classified as a "Remarkable Garden", "Quality Tourism" and "Accueil Vélo".
Animaux acceptés
Les animaux sont les bienvenus mais doivent être tenus en laisse courte.
Horaires d'ouverture
Horaires d'ouverture
- Février - mars et novembre - décembre : mercredi au dimanche de 13h30 à 17h
- Avril et octobre : tous les jours de 13h30 à 18h
- Mai à septembre : tous les jours de 10h à 19h
Thematic of the place
Parks and gardens
Public price
Tarif unique : €7.00Price with the pass
Tarif unique : Free/7106ba321d2543c8a28c034bc84989a2 "Garden of Valsaintes Abbey")
Accessibility
-
The terrace at the top of the garden is wheelchair accessible as well as the church. Disabled toilets, Accessible restaurant and shop