Fontefroide de Abbey

A concise guide to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide near Narbonne, France, written by a family member of its private owners rather than a professional historian. D’Andoque, who managed the abbey from 1982 to 2014, provides a personal perspective, drawing on his over two decades of dedication to the site’s preservation and promotion.

The book briefly outlines the abbey’s history, from its founding in 1093 as a Benedictine monastery, its transition to the Cistercian order in 1145, and its growth through land donations from figures like Viscountess Ermengarde of Narbonne. It covers the abbey’s role in opposing Catharism during the Albigensian Crusade, its decline after the Black Death and the French Revolution, and its revival after being purchased by Gustave Fayet in 1908. The text then tours the abbey’s key spaces—its church with modern stained glass, Romanesque cloister, chapter house, monks’ dormitory, and chapels—complemented by numerous photographs to aid visitors in recalling or planning their experience. It also touches on the abbey’s exterior, including its terraced gardens and rose garden with 2,500 bushes, which d’Andoque helped restore.