Abbey of Notre-Dame de Cadouin
Abbaye de Cadouin / Caduinum / Condonium
(Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, Dordogne)
The origin of the Cistercian abbey of Notre-Dame de la Nativité de Cadouin is linked to two figures who, at the beginning of the 12th century, promoted several monastic foundations. In 1113, Robert d'Arbrissel (c. 1045-1116), founder of the Abbey of Fontevraud, received land in La Salvetat from the Bishop of Périgueux, Guillaume d'Auberoche, with the purpose of establishing a new nunnery affiliated with Fontevraud. Following this initial donation, several local lords contributed additional land, expanding the abbey’s holdings.
In 1115, Robert transferred the site to Gerald of Salles (c. 1050-1120), a native of Périgord, entrusting him with the foundation of the monastery. Soon, the new monastery of Cadouin came under the influence of the Cistercian Order; in 1119, a monk from the Abbey of Pontigny arrived, and in the same year, the first stone was laid. In fact, the integration into the Cistercian Order was gradual and was not fully completed until the time of Pope Innocent III, around the year 1200. Nevertheless, Cistercian records take 1119 as the official founding date.
During the 12th century, Cadouin founded five new monasteries, as well as two more established by these, forming a small congregation that held its own chapters. In 1201, full incorporation into the Cistercian Order was agreed upon while maintaining the abbey’s rank and seniority. One of the foundations of the monastery’s prosperity during this period was its possession of the so-called Holy Shroud of Cadouin, an object of great devotion that brought prestige to the abbey, as well as economic benefits through donations. A detailed analysis of the cloth, conducted in the 20th century, revealed that it is actually a piece of Muslim fabric dating back to the 11th century.
With the Hundred Years' War came hardship and decline; the few monks who remained were forced to leave the monastery and beg for survival. By the end of the conflict, only the superior and two monks remained in the abbey, but restoration was possible. During this period of instability, between 1392 and 1455, the shroud was kept in Toulouse. After this era, the monastery recovered, and the cloister was completely rebuilt, replacing the former Romanesque structure with a magnificent Gothic ensemble. King Louis XI of France (1461-1483) granted the abbey his protection and even promoted devotion to the shroud.
From 1516 onwards, the abbey was placed under the rule of commendatory abbots, a change that, as in many other monasteries, did not favor monastic life. The Wars of Religion (1562-1598) had a severe impact: the monastery fell into the hands of Protestants, who mutilated the cloister. In the 17th century, the bishop's protection gave the abbey new momentum, restoring stability. The authenticity of the shroud was formally confirmed, and restoration work on the buildings began. With the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, the abbey met its end: at that time, six monks still resided there. The archives were burned, and the abbey's assets were auctioned off, but the shroud was hidden and preserved. The church was repurposed as a parish. Later, between 1892 and 1945, restoration of the buildings was carried out.
The church is a Romanesque structure, built between 1119 and 1154. Its façade externally reflects the three interior naves: two buttresses divide it into three sections. The central section features a simple round-arched doorway with a large window above it in the same style. On the left, there is a double arcade at the lower level and a window above, while on the right, there is only the upper window. Inside, the space is divided into three naves, with a short transept opening into three apses. The cloister preserves an important collection of Gothic sculptures, including window tracery, vaulted keystones, capitals, and a notable abbot’s seat.
Our Lady of Cadouin,
with Abbot Pierre de Gaing (15th century)
Romanesque portal, in the cloister
Chapter House
Affiliation of Cadouin
According to Originum Cisterciensium (L. Janauschek, 1877)
Abbot’s seat
Wall painting of the cloister. Annunciation (15th century)
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- BARRIÈRE, Bernadette (1986). Les abbayes issues de l’érémitisme. Les cisterciens de Languedoc. Toulouse: Éd. Privat
- BAUDRILLART, Alfred (1949). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques. Vol. 11. París: Letouzey et Ané
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- CARLES, Alcide (1868). Histoire du Saint-Suaire de Cadouin. Perigús: Boucharie
- DELLUC, Brigitte; i altres (1990). Cadouin. Une aventure cistercienne en Périgord. Le Bugue: PLB éditeur
- DELLUC, Brigitte; i altres (1992). Visiter l'abbaye de Cadouin. Éditions Sud-Ouest
- FOURNIÉ, Michelle (2011). Une municipalité en quête de reliques. Le saint suaire de Cadouin et son dépôt à Toulouse à la fin du Moyen Âge. Mémoires de la Société archéologique du Midi de la France, núm. 71
- GARDELLES, Jacques (1982). L'abbaye de Cadouin. Congrès archéologique de France. 137e session. Périgord Noir. París, Société Française d'Archéologie
- GRÉLOIS, Alexis (2015). Qu’avait Cadouin de cistercien au XIIe siècle ?. Mémoire de la Dordogne, 25
- JANAUSCHEK, Leopoldus (1877). Originum Cisterciensium. Vol. 1. Viena
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1720). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 2. París: Typographia Regia
- SECRET, Jean (1968). Périgord roman. La nuit des temps, núm. 27. Zodiaque
The monastery is located in the commune of Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, between Bergerac and Sarlat