According to tradition, the Cistercian Abbey of Le Rivet has Benedictine origins dating back to the Carolingian era. In 1189, the community joined the Cistercian Order through the abbey of Pontaut (Landes), belonging to the Pontigny filiation. In 1264, Pope Urban IV freed it from the episcopal authority that was still being exercised over it. The current church dates from that period.
Throughout its history, the monastery suffered the consequences of various conflicts, such as the Hundred Years’ War and, later, the Wars of Religion. The attack in 1593 was particularly devastating for both the monks and the monastery’s property. However, during the 18th century, the abbey experienced a period of prosperity that allowed for the reconstruction of some of its buildings.
In 1790, the monastery was suppressed, and the following year it was sold as private property. Nevertheless, much of the original structure was preserved. At the end of the 19th century, restoration work on the buildings began. Finally, in 1939, a Cistercian community of nuns from Blagnac, near Toulouse, settled in the former monastery, where they still reside today.
Affiliation of Le Rivet
According to Originum Cisterciensium (L. Janauschek, 1877)
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- COUDROY DE L’ILLE, Pierre (2002). L’abbaye Sainte-Marie du Rivet
- JANAUSCHEK, Leopoldus (1877). Originum Cisterciensium. Vol. 1. Viena
- MANRIQUE, Angel (1642). Cisterciensium Annalium, Vol. 2. Lió: L. Anisson
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1715). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 1. París: Coignard
The Abbey of Le Rivet is located southeast of Bordeaux, in the direction of Agen