Montmajour Abbey Tickets

Humble hermitage origins

Montmajour Abbey is a fusion of several architectural styles, all narrating its structural history. Nestled in the heart of Arles, the abbey was founded in 948 by Benedictine monks. It all started with a rudimentary stone church, built in a pre-Romanesque style now known as ‘Carolingian’. You can experience this architecture in the Saint Pierre Hermitage section.

Later reconstructions

The crypt, church buildings, and cloisters constructed 2 centuries later are a striking sample of Provençal Romanesque. The cloisters are especially unmissable. Spot the 2 iconic Bas-relief statues believed to represent real-life royals, and a host of animal imagery, from dromedaries to billy goats and even the scary mythical Tarasque.

From the 14th to 16th centuries, several Gothic and Neoclassical influences made their way into the mix. In the abbey church and Notre Dame la Blanche chapel, encounter pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and Gothic capitals intertwining with Romanesque elements, revealing distinct construction phases.

The Montmajour vantage

An impressive defensive tower protects the tranquility of this abbey and illustrates military prowess. Bossage walls, crenels, merlons, machicolations, and arrow slits offer a fascinating insight into medieval fortifications! Last but not least, enjoy sweeping panoramas of the Provençal countryside from Montmajour Hill’s elevated vantage point.