Discover La Chaise-Dieu, a tourist hotspot in the Puy-en-Velay region, nestled on a granite promontory at more than 1080 meters, a true haven of peace. The village enchants with the beauty of the place and its visits, also renowned for its famous Saint-Robert Abbey Church and its sacred music festival.
The museum tour of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey
La Chaise-Dieu Abbey offers a new paid and immersive discovery tour through 1000 years of history and architecture. Visitors rediscover the restored spaces: Gothic cloister, echo room with astonishing acoustics... but also new rooms like the lodge Clement VI, an optical theater installed in the old renovated kitchens with a film on the historical context of the construction of the abbey church by Pope Clement VI.
The Notre Dame du Collège chapel, discovered during the work, optimally presents the exhibition of 14 Flemish tapestries from the 16th century, a true national treasure classified as a Historic Monument since 1840, linking scenes from the Old and the New Testament, the History of Builders, the fac simile of the Danse Macabre as well as of course the grandiose St Robert abbey church where the famous Music Festival takes place each year at the end of August...
schedule
Robert Doisneau exhibition
From June 1 to September 29, 2024
Visitors to the museum trail at La Chaise-Dieu Abbey have the opportunity to discover photographs by Robert Doisneau in the room known as the “antechamber of tapestries”.
These photos highlight the workers of the Aubusson Manufactures working on making tapestries. As a nod to these images, a major temporary exhibition by the famous photographer will be offered from June 1 to September 29, 2024: “Fingers full of ink”
PRICES
| Admission fees | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Full price |
11 € | - |
| Reduced price |
6 € | - |
| Kids |
6 € | - |
| Family package |
25 € | - |
Imposing masterpiece
Saint-Robert Abbey
At the heart of La Chaise-Dieu beats a monumental masterpiece of religious history. On the highlands, the Saint-Robert abbey church is an essential part of your stay. A 144th-century Gothic abbey church housing the tomb of the famous Pope Clement VI surrounded by XNUMX carved oak stalls.
It invites contemplation and meditation around the famous fresco of the Danse Macabre, 2th century wall painting. The sumptuous rood screen separates the nave into XNUMX parts, at the foot of which is the tomb of Saint Robert, founder of the XNUMXth century Benedictine abbey “La Casadei”.
The Chaise-Dieu
La Chapel of the Penitents
The room is beautiful with its slender vaults. It was built under the abbey of Abbot Jacques de Saint-Nectaire, whose arms can be seen on the keystones. On the platform, symbols of the passion, used every Good Friday in the 19th century for the Passion ceremony, are exhibited. A Stations of the Cross painted by Robert Falcucci adorns the walls of the chapel.
Former monks' refectory built in the 15th century, it was transformed into a chapel at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the chapel of the Brotherhood of Penitents. Today, this chapel is used for mass in winter and the offices of the Brothers of Saint-Jean in the summer.
le cloister
The cloister is the center of the monastery. That of La Chaise-Dieu only has two sides: to the north, giving access to the church and to the west, alongside the hotel. You have to imagine the south side running alongside the refectory and the east side giving access to the dormitories and cells. They were destroyed first by a fire shortly before the Revolution, then by simple vandalism during the 19th century.
Built in the 15th century and completed by Abbot Jacques de Saint-Nectaire in the 16th century, this cloister replaces the old Romanesque cloister wanted by Saint Robert. Flamboyant Gothic style, it looks great. In the southwest corner, we see the location of the sink which was used for ablutions by the monks before entering the refectory, the door of which we can see.
The cloister is now part of the museum tour of the abbey for a fee.
THE ECHO ROOM
The Echo room of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey is a real mystery for its visitors. In this 17th century room, if you stand in a corner and whisper, the person standing in the diametrically opposite corner hears this whisper as well as if you were right next to them. According to legend, the room, the last of its kind still present in the abbey where there were three, would have been used for the confessions of lepers, thus allowing them to confess their sin without risking contaminating the priest...
In addition to this almost miraculous appearance, the room itself is beautiful with its painted friezes on the ceiling. This room can now be visited on the abbey's new museographic tour for a fee.
La Clementine Tower
A true fortified keep, the Clémentine Tower is the highest point of La Chaise-Dieu. It dates from the 1562th century. In XNUMX, its interior well allowed the monks to survive the three-week siege by the Huguenots. She also protected the treasure and the tapestries. It now houses the sacristy.
It is not possible to visit this site for security reasons… On the other hand, you can admire its silhouette while visiting the town.
To discover
During your stay at La Chaise-Dieu
Find below the guided tours and highlights of La Chaise-Dieu which will punctuate your stay in the Puy-en-Velay region.
Le walkway and medieval village
Discover the history of La Chaise-Dieu through its stones, its facades decorated with mascarons, bretèches, fortifications and coats of arms. The walkway of the Saint-Robert Abbey Church is a covered balcony which connects the 2 bell towers on the facade. All around the imposing granite abbey a medieval village was born. You will be charmed by the facades and houses from the Middle Ages at the bend of the streets, the city promises you many surprises.
Around La Chaise-Dieu
bodies of water
Having your feet in the water…
Around the village, the bodies of water will refresh you and the deep coniferous forests are ideal for hiking.
The village is surrounded by bodies of water: that of La Tour has a small beach designed for unsupervised swimming with a pontoon, picnic tables under the nearby pine forest, a volleyball court... Pedal boats are available. rental at the Chaumière du plan d'eau whose terrace is very pleasant in the summer season. The Breuil pond on the Bonneval road is reserved for fishing.
Numerous marked and labeled hiking trails also dot the surrounding area.
tourist trains
Two railway lines are still used in the summer season by local associations: the Agrivap panoramic train coming from Ambert on the Puy-De-Dôme side and the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Forez coming from Estivareilles on the Loire side. These trains operate every Sunday from June to September as well as several weekdays in July and August.
Your accommodation
at the god chair
Gîte des 3 étangs
Le Moulin du Vialard
La Maison sous les étoiles
La maison aux volets bleus proche de l’abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu
Meublé de M. René RABASTE
Gîte La Crova
Les gîtes du Bois de Chelles – Logement C4
