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Origin and history

Saint Martin's Abbey of Cendras has its origins between the 9th and early 10th centuries, although its current construction dates mainly from the 11th century. For centuries it was placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Nîmes, before being attached in 1366 to the abbey of Saint-Victor of Marseilles by a bubble of Pope Urbain V. This monument, of sober Romanesque style, is distinguished by the absence of complex architectural sculptures or ornaments.

Throughout its history, the abbey suffered two major fires: the first in 1480, destroying a large part of the buildings and archives, and the second in 1702, linked to the Cevenola insurgency. At the Revolution, the abbey and its church were sold as national goods. Today, the building retains traces of its medieval past, including a choir and partially intact vaults, as well as remains of the primitive portal to the west. A well dug in the rock, connected to an underground gallery leading back to Galeizon, bears witness to the security arrangements put in place for the monks.

The exterior walls still bear the marks of fortifications probably dating from the early 15th century, reflecting the tensions and defensive needs of the era. The church, reduced by half by a transverse wall pierced by a gate in a full arch, also preserves a side door in Roman arch, once used by monks to directly access the building from the monastery. These architectural and historical elements make it a rare testimony of monastic life and political upheavals in Occitanie.

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