In 12 km in the Southwest of Narbonne
was based at the end of the XI-th century, in a lone place, the abbey called abbey of Fontfroide. At first Benedictine in 1093, it was then affiliated to the monastic order of Cîteaux in 1145. Fontfroide was an very much important bastion of the catholic orthodoxy during the crusade against the people of the city called Albi.
With many endowments, the abbey takes an important development and even adds a majestic church, monasteries and a convent.
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Benoît XII, elected Pope of Avignon
in 1334, was the abbot of this abbey from 1311 till 1317. Despite a very big influence during three centuries, Fontfroide will be then quickly forgotten because of the decline of the order of Cîteaux.
This abbey of the order of Cistercians was restored from 1908, takes place actually in a silent beauty spot which looks like landscapes of the region of Toscane in Italy. It's a charming place, with well-kept alleys, beautiful hanging gardens and splendid yards full of flowers. To enjoy in a better way the attraction of those spots, you should walk in the footpaths which are all around the abbey.
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