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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Sainte-Marie de Rieunette Abbey is a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century in the municipality of Ladern-sur-Lauquet, Aude. Mentioned for the first time in 1162 during an act of donation to Queen of Castillon, a widow who retired with companions, she quickly became an abbey affiliated with the Cistercian order. Placed under the protection of the Abbés de Villelongue in 1432, she experienced a period of prosperity with nearly forty nuns.

In the 16th century, the wars of religion marked a tragic turning point: the abbey was looted, deserted and burned in 1568. Despite an attempt to restore in 1648 by the Abbess Cecile of Noah, the buildings were again destroyed in 1654 by owners refusing to return the acquired property. The community then took refuge in Carcassonne, before being transferred in 1761 to the priory of Lombez (Gers), marking the end of his presence in Rieunette.

From the early abbey, it remains today only the 12th century abbey, classified as a historic monument in 1950, and the remains of the northern and eastern wings of the cloister, registered since 1925. Nestled in a wooded valley, the Abbey offers stripped architecture, typical of Cistercian art. In 1998, the community of Boulaur Abbey (Gers) revives monastic life on the site, which now welcomes visitors and pilgrims for spiritual retreats or the discovery of heritage.

The abbey is the daughter of the abbey of Tart, and its history reflects the religious and political upheavals of the region, from medieval donations to conflicts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The site, registered since 1945 for its exceptional natural setting, embodies both a spiritual heritage and a preserved architecture, despite the repeated destructions.

Among the notable events, the assassination of Levis' abbess in 1671 by Marc-Antoine du Ferrier definitely seals the abandonment of the site by nuns. The property of the abbey, alienated in 1793, underwent various transformations before being partially restored. Today, the church of Sainte-Marie, with its atypical rectangular plan and a fortified bell tower, bears witness to this turbulent history.

Future

In 1998, a small community lived there in prayer and work, welcoming visitors all year round who wished to discover the Cistercian heritage - architecture and Gregorian chant - and Christians wishing to make a spiritual stop and participate in monastic services.

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