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Abbaye De Fontfroide

Abbaye De Fontfroide

Abbaye De Fontfroide
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksHiking TrailsGardens
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Les A P
    20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    THE Family Place
    A family trip that never tires of us, we return there every weekend. Because Kévin, our youngest, really loves this atmosphere worthy of Romanian tales. A silent entry into an airy, flexible and dynamic architecture. Secondary ventilation which cools the foreheads, heated by so many vaults. However, it is surprising that eco-responsible initiatives, such as solar panels, were not thought of during construction. Hoping that the air conditioning doesn't run amok. Kisses and see you Saturday, as usual.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 March 2024
  • drazam G
    Lyon, France260 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A suspended moment
    Nestled in a remote corner, this abbey is marvelous The gigantic rooms, even if empty, leave an ambiguous impression: it is difficult to imagine that monks lived there. This is where I experience unnpru frustration ; fortunately the Garden, makes us forget all this true Oasis, of scents and color with the rose bushes
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 May 2024
  • Sandrine L
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good but too expensive
    Wonderful place including the large room where the monks ate and the rose garden. But few staff available in case of questions. The price of the visit is very exaggerated: €14 per adult... prohibitive. We won't come back.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 May 2024
  • Moi_Je_Vois_Tout
    Meze, France245 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    very pleasant visit
    Pleasant visit to the abbey and its gardens. Very well maintained site. Lots of stairs, which can be a barrier for people with reduced mobility. I recommend visiting the gardens with thousands of roses. Possibility of meals at the restaurant which still remains high-end. PS: the drinks dispenser was not working!!!
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 May 2024
  • Tatiana H
    22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This restaurant should get a Michelin star
    I was shocked by the quality of food and its presentation compared to the prices charged. My menue was 25.90 EUR, including a trout starter in a delicious sauce, followed by swordfish. The service was also impeccable. Highly recommended.
    Hello, Thank you very much for your feedback! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the service and the quality of our menu. Thank you for recommending us and we hope to welcome you back soon. Kind regards
    Written 22 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 June 2024
  • sitting bull
    Mende, France161 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    AN ABBEY...NOT A WINE CELLAR....!!!
    Tourists are unheard of nowadays....they come here to buy wine...eat at the restaurant...but barely take care of the abbey itself...Initially Benedictine in 1093 she becomes a Cistercian the following century...until today although deserted by the monks and belonging to private descendants of the original buyers in 1908...a couple of artists Gustave and Madeleine FAYET...friends of the painters Gauguin and Redon...Manet and Monet..Degas..Pissaro and Cezanne ...whose sale of paintings will help the acquisition of the buildings and their renovation....it is today a place of calm at the opening before the hordes grouped or not ..surge! and that is a shame!!! equipped with the saving plan we went through the little trot not to be crushed the courtyard of honor and the building of the Convers...the courtyard of the eighteenth century and the magnificent alley vault in half-cradle...superb!! the cloister is located by three entrances west south and is leading to the magnificent chapter room and its final staircase....The abbey church has a vault of 21 meters anyway....the stained glass windows are surprising...no period of course but some ....Asians...not in the best taste!! tour of the dormitories...of the parlor and the office-dining room-library...The Romanesque door served as the main entrance and en route to the magnificent rose gardens and terraces as quiet as the rest is noisy...to start and finish a shop of souvenirs more or less interesting...a very popular restaurant in the south which leaves a little field for others in the church in particular...
    Bonjour, nous vous remercions pour votre visite et retour d'expérience. Nous vous rassurons, nos visiteurs viennent en grande partie pour la découverte du monument, même si notre restaurant et notre gamme de produits (vins, miels, limonades...) ne laissent pas indifférents certains d'entre eux. Cordialement,
    Written 22 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 July 2024
  • Marlene R
    Reims, France127 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great site!
    We visited the site independently and were not disappointed! They are full of eyes both inside and outside; the abbey is very well preserved and maintained, the explanations are clear. You can take your time strolling through the gardens to finish, in short I highly recommend!
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 July 2024
  • Hermes
    Eu, France1,555 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Magnificent art and abbaye
    What a history since 1500 till our days with a great transformation by an art colector of a abbaye in an art museum. Beautiful gardens and a hiking road to the top of the mountain stating from the abbaye. Very good printed explanations. Just one down side as it’s located in a narrow valley the mobile network doesn’t work for contact less payments. Buy your ticket before getting there and have cash for the good products shop.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 August 2024
  • Air 'in i
    Beaumont-Hague, France201 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    What to do
    Evening visit with lively evenings, beautiful counters and beautiful staging. Can be a little complicated for young children. Nice ride. I would have liked a little extra free time to visit because following the group and the history you do not see everything and do not have time to appreciate everything. Very nice building to visit and the explanations are really to have to understand the evolutions of this place. Stained glass windows with family members of 20th century owners.....
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 11 August 2024
  • Nono
    Melun, France290 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    To do without a doubt!
    Very beautiful abbey, a sumptuous place! The setting is very nice and relaxing. The state of conservation of the abbey is remarkable. Regarding our visit we made it on a Wednesday morning in August with family with young children, under a bright sun. Be careful the stroller does not pass everywhere and is forbidden for access to the garden which are arranged on terrace. Free parking. Admission of 14€ for adults. Toilet inside the site. Visit in 02:00 see more if you want to enjoy the beauty of the place. Restaurant on site that we have not tested. Small shop at the entrance of the site. Too bad we could not take the path to the lookout with his cross because of the high risk of fire.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 August 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,318 reviews
Excellent
1,474
Very good
666
Average
116
Poor
43
Terrible
19

corindac2018
54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We were lucky enough to visit the Abbey when it was not at all busy (I suspect this is not normal for the height of summer.) The information people where you buy your ticket are more than helpful, and we were able to wander around unimpaired. The cloister is truly special, and the stained glass in the Abbey church is stunning.
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks a lot corindac2018 !
Written 21 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

chaletaria
London, United Kingdom558 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Beautiful abbey just outside Narbonne (you need transport). In an excellent state of repair and an informative leaflet (although the downloadable PDF is better- available French, English, Spanish). The cloisters are interesting, as are the gardens, but the piece de resistance is the church with its incredible stained glass windows. We came back in the evening to watch the light show (10-midnight). We were concerned that we would just see everything again, but in the evening, but the show was completely different and an excellent evening experience. The beautifully done show in the tour d’honneur/ courtyard (french only) was the highlight, as was a nice light show in the Louis XIV courtyard. Not too expensive (unless you opt for their meal+show, which we didn’t).
Written 11 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

publiussulla
Seattle, WA312 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
If you love history and architecture this should be a must place to visit. We spent about an hour touring through this place. There is a pay to enter side and a free side that asks for a donation. My suggestion is to do the free side only as the other side does not really show very much in my opinion. The whole tour took about 40 mins and is competely self guided. Parking is a brisk walk to the abbey. My only issue is you really need to pay attention to the signage as we missed it and found ourselves wandering about the old town which is ok too!
Written 22 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChrisandMick60
Montaren-et-Saint-Mediers, France574 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021
Arriving at the car park two attendants lifted the red tape isolating the handicapped parking area. Short walk brought us to the Covid checkpoint, neither of us had a temperature so onto the main entrance. Friendly and helpful staff. The Abbey is a magnificent building and the stained glass windows are not to be missed. I would admit that the signs for which direction to take for the self guided tour could be larger, better placed or more of them. The route was not obvious. The gardens to the rear of the Abbey are beautifuI and worth seeing. However the other two routes do have a number of steps and handicapped or people with mobility problems might find them too difficult to attempt, certainly not accessible for wheelchairs. We were fortunate that the weekend we visited there was a medieval re-enactment group from Carcassonne as well a falconry display team. Seeing these magnificent birds in reality is a totally different experience to seeing them on TV. Absolutely amazing. A delicious lunch was being served in the refectory.
Written 30 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie R
Bizanet, France24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Family
Absolutely love this place as everyone says, the architecture is stunning as is the location. The gardens in the old graveyard is a beautiful peaceful place to sit, smell (roses and herbs)and dream.
The abbey cloisters are equally peaceful and beautiful and then the stained glass in the church itself along with those cathedral high ceilings is such a stunning place to book into a concert.
And definitely eat at the restaurant with family or friends. Great food and great value in a lovely buzzy atmosphere 5*
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Curtis S
Kingsport, TN2,652 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This site was along our travel route from city to city, so we took a slight detour off the highway. It is an old abbey that was purchased and converted to a winery and art gallery. Much of the old architecture is intact and, as you wander through the buildings, there are plaques describing the building and what was used for. In several spots there is artwork. A rose garden is outback, containing 30+ varieties of roses. If it’s along your driving route, I would visit. I wouldn’t drive a couple hours to see it. Not recommended.
Written 15 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Curtis S, for information Fontfroide has not been turned into a winery, however the abbey does have vineyards and we produce wines, some of which have won awards. The abbey is an architectural complex open to visitors, but many cultural activities are also organised there: exhibitions, concerts, artists' residencies, etc. Nature plays a very important role at Fontfroide with a rose garden, terraced gardens and a massif open to walks and discovery. Kind regards,
Written 27 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Robbie O'Neill
Dublin, Ireland70 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Arrive early. This opens at 9.30. We did and it is like having etc place to oneself. It is a magnificent abbey, cistercian, so somewhat austere, although additions have given some stained glass and other frivolities, and the cloisters are quite beautiful without any addition other than a stone roof! The gardens are worth the visit in their own right.
Written 19 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marek S
Swarzedz, Poland16 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
Medieval abbey in southern France. Very well-kept buildings and garden. No longer used fot its original purpose, it has been renovated and made available to the public. A rare opportunity to see how the monks lived. In addition to the abbey, there are three walking routes for exploring the area.
Written 5 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bobman
Bobcaygeon, Canada188 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
The abbey offers beautiful architecture and is a photographers delight. Although not as ornate as many later abbeys, the stark simplicity of the buildings is impressive. Hard to imagine the vast amount of sheer human effort theat built this place. Highly recommended.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve M
10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Upon arrival, around 17:00, we noticed many visitors had already left. This allowed for a peaceful and tranquil visit with still the evening sun pouring down on us in the gardens. Lot's of parking space, with a nice driveway up to the abbey. The abbey itself is nicely restored and gives some insights (through the pamflet) on how life could have been. Even the kids (5 and 11) enjoyed the visit and walk around the garden. We did however not do the entire outdoor visit.
Written 17 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear SteveM7548, we are glad to her you and your kids enjoyed your visit. Thanks a lot for your visit.
Written 21 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Abbaye De Fontfroide, Narbonne

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