History of Beaulieu-en-Rouergue Abbey

To the origins

The community of Beaulieu was founded in the 12^th century. It is attested in 1151 by a document mentioning a gift of land to the monks. The first monks were probably hermits who later joined the Cistercian order.

Why this place? The presence of water was a determining factor in the community's choice of location. The enchanting setting of this small, remote valley where the Seye flows convinced the monks. The place was quickly identified by the term Belloc .

Aerial view of Beaulieu Abbey — Aerial view of Beaulieu-en-Rouergue abbey
Éric Sander / Centre des monuments nationaux

A Cistercian community

Community life is governed by the Rule of St. Benedict. What does it mean? Established in the 6^th century, it contains 73 chapters and developed in the 12^th century thanks to Bernard de Clairvaux, who spread throughout Europe the precepts established by Robert de Molesme at Cîteaux Abbey.

For the Cistercians, respect for the vows of poverty and humility is essential. They renounced all material possessions and translated these values into simple, sober architecture.

Did you know that all Cistercian abbeys are designed in the same way? They are organized around the cloister, placed at the center of the monastery. The galleries that surround it serve as the main thoroughfares, leading to each of the building's rooms. Thechurch is to the north, with its chevet facing east. To the east are the chapter house, where the monks' chapter meets every day, and the monks' dormitory.

To the south are the functional rooms (kitchen, monks' refectory, boiler room), while the west wing is reserved for lay monks . Each area had its own specific function.

Beaulieu Abbey's Gothic cloister was destroyed during the Wars of Religion (1562 - 1598), when it was sacked by Protestants. The monks abandoned the abbey for ten years, from 1592 to the early 17^th century.

View of the interior of the church with the shadow cast by the western rose window on the ground and the triptych by the artist Serpan in the apse — Interior of the Beaulieu abbey church
Éric Sander / Centre des monuments nationaux

Commendatory abbots

Under Cistercian rule, the abbot is elected by the monks. But in the 16^th century, most Cistercian abbeys came under the commendatory system: the abbot was appointed by the King and confirmed by the Pope. This new organization altered the day-to-day running of the abbeys, with the abbot benefiting from the abbey's revenues and most often delegating his temporal and spiritual administration to a prior .

This upheaval and the damage caused by the Wars of Religion prompted restoration and refurbishment work in the 17^th century: the abbey dwelling was raised by one floor, the monks' dormitory was replaced by individual cells with wardrobes, and salons for the use of the abbot and prior were created and decorated with gypseries. and painted decorations.

View of part of the abbey dwelling, in a green setting — Logis abbatial seen from the garden
Éric Sander / Centre des monuments nationaux

The French Revolution and the 19th century

The French Revolution marked the definitive end of monastic occupation of Beaulieu-en-Rouergue Abbey. It was sold as national property to Joseph Perret, a former captain in the merchant navy who became a justice of the peace in Saint Antonin. He bequeathed the estate to the municipality of Saint Antonin Noble Val.

In 1842, the municipality of Saint Antonin decided to build a new church. The architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc proposed removing the Beaulieu abbey church stone by stone and rebuilding it in the village. Despite opposition from Prosper Mérimée, work began in 1844, with the roof and then the framework of the nave being dismantled...

But the project was too costly! To finance it, the estate was sold to Auguste Coste in 1845. But this was not enough, and the project was definitively halted, with the church also sold to Costes in 1872. He transformed the property into an agricultural estate.

Sketched plan of the abbey church, with part of the roof removed. By Viollet-le-Duc — Drawing of the Beaulieu abbey church by Eugène de Viollet-le-Duc
Ministry of Culture (France), Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie, diffusion RMN-GP

The revival of Beaulieu

It was in an advanced state of disrepair that Geneviève Bonnefoi and Pierre Brache, the patrons of the arts who brought Beaulieu back from the ruins, discovered the abbey in 1953. After purchasing it in 1960, it would take them 10 years to save it from ruin!

Right from the start, they were struck by the strange decorative signs found in the chapter house. These motifs so closely resemble the modern art that Pierre and Geneviève have been collecting for the past ten years. Beaulieu Abbey is the perfect setting. The works are regularly presented at exhibitions held in the church.

Graphic drawing, white line on a red background. Detail of a vaulted arch in the chapter house — Graphic design of the chapter house
Thomas Rothé / Centre des monuments nationaux

In 1973, Pierre Brache and Geneviève Bonnefoi separated. To preserve the integrity of their project, they donated part of the collection and the site to the Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques. The abbey continues to welcome exhibitions and visitors.

Paintings hung on the wall of the abbey church, with a wandering public and a shadow cast by the western rose window on the floor of the church. — Inauguration of the exhibition "Autour d'une Collection. 1945-1980..." in the abbey church
Reproduction Camille Padilla / CMN

Pierre Brache made Geneviève his heir at the time of his death in 1998: she recovered the works Pierre had kept when they separated. She in turn died in 2018, bequeathing her entire estate to the Centre des monuments nationaux. They were inventoried and a vast rehabilitation project enabled the presentation of the modern art collection within the abbey. The museum space is complemented by a vast landscaped park where a garden of a thousand roses delights visitors!

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