Abbey of Saint-Roman

The rock which contains the monastery.
Abbey of Saint-Roman.
View over the Rhône River from the necropolis of Abbey of Saint-Roman.

The Abbey of Saint-Roman (French: Abbaye de Saint-Roman) is a cave monastery located in the communes of Beaucaire and Comps, in the Gard département of France.

The site, which includes the ruins of a castle, the château de Saint-Roman-d'Aiguille, has been protected by the French Ministry of Culture as a monument historique since 1990 and includes a chapel, cloisters, terrace, tombs and walls. It was constructed in the 9th, 10th, 12th and 15th centuries.[1]

The abbey is reached by a signposted path from Beaucaire which leads past a vast chamber and the monks' cells to the chapel carved out of the rock which contains the tomb of St Roman. From the terrace, there is a fine view over the Rhône, Avignon and the Mont Ventoux area with Tarascon in the foreground. The Michelin Guide describes it "a site of captivating simplicity".[2]

References

  1. ^ Base Mérimée: Site archéologique de Saint-Roman d'Aiguille, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  2. ^ Michelin Green Guide Provence, Michelin Apa Publications Ltd; 7th edition (2010), ISBN 190626189X

43°50′7″N 4°36′41″E / 43.83528°N 4.61139°E / 43.83528; 4.61139