Belleperche Abbey (Abbaye de Belleperche) is a former Cistercian monastery, located in Cordes-Tolosannes, in the department of Tarn-et-Garonne, on the Garonne river in Occitania region (France). Founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 18th century, it was closed during the French Revolution. Its buildings now house a tableware museum.
The monastery was founded between 1130 and 1140 by the d’Argombat family at a location about 10 kilometres from the later site. In 1143 it affiliated itself as a daughter house of the Cistercian primary Clairvaux Abbey. At this point it was transferred to an allod on the bank of the Garonne, where it carried out viniculture, horse-breeding, and cattle-breeding.
Belleperche became one of the largest monasteries in southern France, with eight granges, including Angeville, and 60-80 monks in its heyday. The original building was already replaced by 1230 with a new construction on enlarged foundations on the riverbank. In 1563 a new Abbot’s lodge was erected.
How to get to?
From Paris: 6 hr 23 min (649 km) via A20
From Toulouse: 1 hr 3 min (74.6 km) via A62
From Andorra: 3 hr 17 min (255 km) via A62
From Barcelona: 4 hr 26 min (466 km) via AP-7 and A61
From Madrid: 8 hr 6 min (782 km) via A-1
From Monaco: 6 hr 28 min (655 km) via A8
From Moscow: 36 hr (3,424 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 19 hr 33 min (1,958 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 29 hr (2,908 km) via E70
From Bern: 8 hr 5 min (837 km) via A89
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