 Main façade of the abbey | |
  Location within France | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 1115 |
| Mother house | Cîteaux Abbey |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Bernard of Clairvaux |
| Site | |
| Location | Ville-sous-la-Ferté, France |
| Coordinates | 48°08′50″N 4°47′20″E / 48.14722°N 4.78889°E |
| Visible remains | substantial |
| Public access | yes |
Clairvaux Abbey (/klɛərˈvoʊ/, French: [klɛʁvo]; Latin: Clara Vallis) was a Cistercian monastery in Ville-sous-la-Ferté, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Bar-sur-Aube. The abbey was founded in 1115 by Bernard of Clairvaux. As a primary abbey, it was one of the most significant monasteries in the order. Dissolved during the French Revolution, it was used from 1808 to 2023 as Clairvaux Prison, a high-security correctional facility. As of 2024, work is in process to make the space available and attractive to tourists.[1]
Its layout was significantly altered by construction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Before it was a prison, Clairvaux Abbey served as an archetype for Cistercian monasteries; significant portions of the ancient abbey remain standing.
- ^ "Reconversion de l'abbaye-prison de Clairvaux : la candidature d'EDEIS-ADIM retenue". www.culture.gouv.fr (in French). 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-09-17.