La Chaise-Dieu

From this originally large Romanesque abbey, there remains today a Gothic abbey church of impressive dimensions, built in the middle of the 144th century to house the tomb of Pope Clement VI, whose marble tomb still adorns the choir of the monks, surrounded by XNUMX oak stalls sculpted with interesting medieval motifs and a magnificent mural fresco painted in the XNUMXth century decorates the north collateral on the theme of death: the "danse macabre". The rood screen which encloses the choir has been preserved and the XNUMXth century Baroque organ case which welcomes visitors above the main entrance, makes the vaults resonate every Sunday morning during the religious services which take place there from April to October.
Guided tours of the abbey church for individuals are offered regularly in season by the brothers of St Jean and by the Chaise-Dieu Tourist Information Office as well as by reservation for groups all year round.
A famous Music Festival has taken place there every year since 1966 during the last half of August and offers several classical music concerts each day, limiting access to the church choir. Find out about opening hours at the tourist office.
The Gothic cloister has been partially destroyed but two beautiful, recently restored galleries remain. The abbey's refectory was transformed into a chapel after the Revolution when the Benedictine monks abandoned the place. The 14th century abbey buildings are currently benefiting from a complete renovation and the echo wing housing the old college chapel houses the rich collection of XNUMX XNUMXth century Flemish tapestries with religious motifs. The famous echo room has surprising acoustics allowing two people to speak to each other in low voices and from a distance, each in a corner of the room...
Since summer 2019, these spaces have been included in a 1 hour paid self-guided tour with audio-visual guide. Course closed in winter for individuals but open all year round for groups on guided tours.
The Clementine Tower, an imposing fortified keep at the apse of the abbey church, formerly housed the treasures and riches of the abbey and the stables and barns facing it have been transformed since 2010 into an auditorium which regularly hosts shows, concerts and sessions movies.
The village built under the abbey still has beautiful medieval houses. One of them has a Romanesque twin bay from the 1609th century and is hidden in the oldest street in the city, narrow and paved with pebbles, the Rue des Casernes… All around the Place de la Fontaine which was built in XNUMX , there are beautiful private mansions decorated with bretèches to monitor the entrances... Moreover, some vestiges of the old fortified ramparts from the XNUMXth century are still visible with the fortified house of La Cloze to the west and the Porte du For to the east …
Guided tours are offered regularly in July and August and by reservation for groups all year round.
A map of the old town is also available on request…