Abbaye de La Chaise-Dieu

Since 2007, the abbey of La Chaise-Dieu has been at the heart of a major rehabilitation and enhancement project carried out by the Syndicat Mixte Projet Chaise-Dieu (made up of the Department of Haute-Loire, the Community of Agglomeration of Puy-en-Velay and the municipality of La Chaise-Dieu).
This large-scale project aims to "give back to seeing" the abbey in its entirety, by allowing visitors to understand its functioning and architectural organization.

The abbey of La Chaise-Dieu, founded in the middle of the 11th century under the Latin name “Casa Dei” by Robert de Turlande, former canon Count of Brioude, has spanned the centuries, bequeathing us a prestigious heritage highlighted by recent restorations. The museum trail, open since 2018, offers visitors the opportunity to rediscover these spaces through modern and immersive scenographies…
The abbey complex is made up of several buildings gathered around a cloister including a magnificent 14th century Gothic abbey church housing the tomb of Pope Clement VI, 144 carved oak stalls, a flamboyant Gothic rood screen and a sumptuous organ case as well as the famous Danse Macabre fresco, a 15th century wall painting; the 17th century convent building which formerly housed the old dormitories, now houses 16th century Flemish tapestries originally made to decorate the church choir, a scenography on the dance of death and the famous echo room, a real mystery for its visitors who, each placed at a diametrically opposite angle, can hear each other perfectly even when whispering... Place Lafayette at the apse of the church is dominated by the imposing Clementine Tower from the 14th century and the stables located there were transformed into an auditorium to host shows and concerts during the cultural season. The former refectory of the abbey has become the Chapel of the Penitents.

Some of these spaces are freely accessible all year round: the St-Robert abbey church, the Chapelle des Pénitents, Place Lafayette, Porte du For, Place de l'écho and its renovated sundial...
The paid tour is open from April to October and allows you to discover the new renovated and themed spaces: the cloister, the echo wing with the nave of the 14 tapestries classified as Historic Monuments in 1840, the echo room, the Builders' space, the old kitchen renamed “Loge Clément VI” and the scenography on the danse macabre.
Since 2022, the visitor route has offered an original visitor experience, a sensory circuit accessible to people with visual, hearing or mental impairments, developed by the AcceSens association as part of the “Massif Central for all” project.

The Abbey of La Chaise Dieu has been awarded 3 stars in the prestigious Michelin Green Guide.

audio guides in French, English, German and Spanish

The abbey church, the Chapel of the Penitents and the exteriors of the Abbey are freely accessible all year round.
The paid museum tour includes the cloister, the Builders' space, the 14 Flemish tapestries, the Echo room and several immersive scenographies
The nominative and individual season pass costs €20 (€15 reduced rate on presentation of proof).
Access to the temporary exhibition alone for €7 (from May 1 to September 21, 2025)