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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The abbey of Saint-Pierre-des-Tourettes, located in Apt in the Vaucluse, finds its origins on a site occupied since ancient times. Excavations revealed the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa and a Paleo-Christian place of worship, probably dating back to the late sixth century. Discoveries include fragments of sarcophagus with strigiles and a marble basin of Carrara, now preserved at the Musée Calvet d'Avignon. These elements attest to an ancient religious occupation, long before the foundation of the medieval abbey.

The Abbey was officially founded in the 10th century by the bishops of Apt. This religious building, originally designed with a unique rectangular nave in small rubble, undergoes major transformations in the 11th and 12th centuries. In the 12th century, a cradle vault on doubles was added, reinforced by foothills and arches, characteristic of Provencal Romanesque architecture. Later deformations of the vault require Gothic reinforcements, such as diaphragm arches under the doubles.

Sold as a national property during the French Revolution, the abbey was converted into an agricultural depot. It was during this period that his apse disappeared, reducing the monumental ensemble to a simple chapel. Since 9 July 2002, this vestige has been listed as historic monuments, showing its heritage importance despite the alterations suffered over the centuries.

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