Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Fontfroide

In 1144, the community of Fontfroide turned to the abbey of Grandseve (Tarn-et-Garonne) in order to place itself under Cistercian guidelines, and thus became a ‘daughter’ of that Gascon monastery. In turn, it was from the abbey of Fontfroide that, in 1151, the monastery of Poblet was founded in Catalonia. The monastery became a key centre in the fight against Cathar doctrine, and Pope Innocent III appointed two legates chosen from among the members of this abbey to defend Catholic orthodoxy against the heresy. This pioneering position proved profitable for the monastery, which benefited from the Cathars' possessions. The 14th century coincided with a period of prosperity, led by powerful and influential abbots, such as Jacques Fournier (abbot from 1311 to 1317) who became bishop and later pope under the name of Benedict XII (1334-1342).

Between 1858 and 1901 there was an attempt at monastic recovery, which was not continued. In 1908 it returned to private hands and its recovery and restoration was promoted. The architectural ensemble is important and includes the convent church, the cloister with its annexes and the abbey palace. The church was begun in the mid-12th century and has three naves with a transept; five chapels were added to the south nave in the 14th century. The cloister was begun in the 12th century and extensively renovated in the 13th century. The capitals are decorated with floral motifs. In the east gallery there is a magnificent chapter house, built between the 12th and 13th centuries.