Auberive Abbey, Auberive, France

The Cistercian Abbey of Alba Ripa, founded in 1135 by 12 monks from Clairvaux, has played a key role in French history, influenced by notable figures.

Built in the typical Bernardine style, it features a church with an east-facing flat-walled chevet, sections for choir monks and lay-brothers, and a communal north wing. Situated in a remote area, the monks mastered water resources, diverting the Aube River for self-sufficiency.

After flourishing in the 13th century, the abbey declined during the 100 Years’ War. It endured religious wars in the 16th century and underwent reconstruction in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Following the dissolution of monastic orders in 1790, the abbey saw industrial and residential use before becoming a prison in 1856, housing female prisoners, including the communard Louise Michel. Later, it served as a reform school and returned to religious use between 1925 and 1960.

The Solvay company owned it from 1960, using it as a holiday camp until 2004.

User Reviews

Tasha G (5 months ago)
Lovely gardens next to the Aube River, will preserved ancient Abbey buildings with interesting contemporary history.

Bob Daniels (20 months ago)
Lovely village based around the old Monastery. Very photogenic and peaceful

Nawar (3 years ago)
It was great.. I like the decorations with all the sculpture

Jeroen Verhoeven (3 years ago)
Nice site, multilingual brochures for visitors. History of the building well described. On site contemporary art (sculptures/paintings) somewhat sinister or obscure

J L (3 years ago)
sometimes a few doors seem closed but they actually arent so I'd recommend trying them just so you don't miss anything

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright gwpics

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).

Auberive Abbey

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges