Flaran Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey, is the progenitor of Escaladieu Abbey (Hautes-Pyrénées), located in Valence-sur-Baïse, in the Gers department, Gascony, Occitania (France).
It was founded in 1151, at the confluence of the Auloue and the Baïse, at the foot of a rocky spur on which the bastide of Valence was founded, between Condom and Auch, by the monks of the Escaladieu abbey.
A jewel of Cistercian art, classified as a historic monument, it is one of the best preserved abbeys in the south-west of France that still presents all of its monastic buildings and its garden (registered as a historic monument).
Since 2000, it has housed the Departmental Conservation of Heritage and Museums, a branch of the Gers departmental council, owner, which develops numerous cultural activities there throughout the year (exhibitions, educational events, concerts, conferences, etc.); these concern all areas of heritage, from archeology to contemporary art.
This service also ensures the scientific management of the network of museums of France in Gers.
With nearly 35,000 visitors per year, Flaran Abbey has become the most visited public site in the Gers. Entrance is free on the first Sunday of each month, from November to March inclusive, as well as for under-18s with free visits all year round.
History
After its foundation in the 12th century, Flaran Abbey experienced rapid growth. In the middle of the 13th century, the abbey, jointly with Gerald V, Count of Armagnac, founded the fortified town of Valence-sur-Baïse on a hillside on the other side of the Baïse river.
The abbey did not escape the vicissitudes of history, beginning with the Hundred Years’ War, which ended with the Plantagenet county of Gascony being realigned with France. Engulfed by fire during the French Wars of Religion, the abbey was restored by subsequent abbots, but was suppressed and sold off during the French Revolution.
In 1913, the Archaeological Society of Gers intervened so that the abbey would not end up in the architectural collection of George Grey Barnard that resulted in The Cloisters museum in New York City.
The site was purchased by the department of Gers in 1972 and underwent an intense restoration project; it is now the site of numerous cultural activities. The site houses a permanent exhibition on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela (Spain), the Way of St. James.
RATES
Full price : 5€ (includes entrance to the Cistercian Abbey of Flaran and acces to all the exhibitions)
Free entry for the under 18’s.
Reduced price : 2€
Guided tour price: 2.50€ (for groups of 15 people and over), reservations 2 weeks in advance
Free the first Sunday of the month from November to March
OPENING HOURS
Open daily
from 1 February to 30 June and from 1 September to beginning January: from 10am – 12.30pm and from 2pm-6pm
from 1 July to 31 August : from 10am-7pm
Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
Closed annually 2 weeks in January.
How to get to?
From Paris: 7 hr 10 min (736 km) via A10
From Toulouse: 1 hr 37 min (114 km) via N124
From Andorra: 4 hr 5 min (297 km) via N124
From Barcelona: 5 hr (507 km) via AP-7 and A61
From Madrid: 7 hr 16 min (688 km) via A-1
From Monaco: 7 hr 1 min (694 km) via A8
From Moscow: 37 hr (3,524 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 20 hr 4 min (1,998 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 30 hr (2,947 km) via E70
From Bern: 8 hr 59 min (937 km) via A89
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
