Abbey of Sénanque

Sénanque Abbey

Sénanque Abbey, known in Occitan as "abadiá de Senhanca" and in French as "Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque," is a historic Cistercian monastery situated near the village of Gordes in the Vaucluse département of Provence, France. Its founding in 1148 marked the beginning of a significant monastic establishment, supported by Bishop Alfant of Cavaillon and Count Ramon Berenguer II of Provence. The early community of monks, initially housed in temporary structures, quickly grew, enabling Sénanque to found its own daughter abbey, Chambons Abbey, by 1152.

Architecture and Early History

The abbey church, consecrated in 1178, is a prime example of Romanesque architecture, along with the cloister, dormitory, chapter house, and calefactory. These structures were designed according to the strictures of the Cistercian rule, emphasizing austerity and functionality. The capitals in the cloister arcades, for instance, are simplified to basic leaf forms to avoid sensual distraction. Notably, the abbey church's liturgical east end faces north due to the constraints of its narrow valley setting, a unique adaptation for conventional monastic layouts.

Decline and Revival

Sénanque Abbey reached its zenith in the 13th and 14th centuries, managing extensive estates, mills, and granges. However, by 1509, with the appointment of the first abbot in commendam, a sign of declining vocations, the community had dwindled to about a dozen. The Wars of Religion brought further damage, with the destruction of quarters for lay brothers and ransacking by Huguenots. The French Revolution led to the nationalization of the abbey's lands, the expulsion of the last monk, and its sale to a private individual.

Modern Era

The site was repurchased in 1854 by a new community of Cistercian monks. This community was later expelled in 1903 but returned in 1988 as a priory of Lérins Abbey. Today, Sénanque Abbey continues as an active monastic community, cultivating lavender and tending honey bees for their livelihood. It also offers opportunities for individuals to arrange spiritual retreats, preserving its legacy as a place of prayer and contemplation.

Sénanque Abbey is often grouped with two other early Cistercian abbeys in Provence, Silvacane Abbey and Le Thoronet Abbey, collectively known as the "Three Sisters of Provence" (les trois soeurs provençales).