Abbey of Valsaintes
Stroll around the Abbey of Valsaintes and discover this exceptional natural, historical and spiritual site.
Valsaintes Abbey is an unusual place in the heart of Haute Provence.
Its remarkable garden transforms with every season, offering visitors a different experience with every visit
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.
Lieu dit Boulinette
Jardin de l'Abbaye de Valsaintes
04150
Simiane La Rotonde
+33 49 27 59 419
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:
The paths take you through terraces edged with 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 and 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 contains 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, inspired by Pierre Rabhi's agricultural and philosophical movement, aims to introduce visitors to a garden whose vegetable growing methods respect nature’s cycles. There is also a human ecology dimension to the movement based on sharing, sobriety, non-waste, harmlessness and all the other humanist values.
The Cistercian church:
The only convent building that can be visited is a 17th century Cistercian church, whose choir was built upon a primitive cave. The church has a plethora of impressive features, such as a 12th-century Romanesque portal, listed as a “monument historique”, an octagonal dome and conches recalling the passage of the Compostela pilgrims. It is also embellished with contemporary stained-glass windows which repeat the symbolism that has characterised this building since its earliest foundations.
Practical information - there is ample free parking, a shop and plant sales where you can buy roses, dryland plants and 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
Animals are welcome but must be kept on a short leash.
Horaires d'ouverture
- February - March and November - December: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm
- April and October: Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 6pm
- May to September: daily (except Monday) from 11.30am to 7pm
Thematic of the place
Parks and gardens
Public price
Tarif unique : €8.00Price with the pass
Tarif unique : Free/7106ba321d2543c8a28c034bc84989a2 "Garden of Valsaintes Abbey")
Accessibility
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The terrace at the top of the garden is wheelchair accessible as well as the church. Disabled toilets, Accessible restaurant and shop