Abbaye de Sablonceaux

Built in the peaceful landscape of Saintonge, the abbey of Sablonceaux reveals its majestic silhouette at every turn in the paths. Founded in 1136 by Geoffroy de Lauroux thanks to a donation from William X, Duke of Aquitaine, it became for six centuries a major place of prayer for the Augustinian canons regular.

Weakened by the Hundred Years' War and then by the Wars of Religion, the abbey has survived the centuries, rising from its ruins each time. This turbulent history has shaped an exceptional architectural ensemble, harmoniously blending styles from the 12th to the 18th centuries.

Major restoration work undertaken from the 1930s onwards, with the support of the Historic Monuments, brought the abbey church back to life, followed by the convent buildings and outbuildings from 1986. Now preserved, owned by the Diocese of La Rochelle and Saintes, the abbey has fully regained its vocation by being entrusted to the Chemin Neuf Community, which animates this spiritual, artistic and cultural place.

The complex comprises an abbey church renowned for its bell tower and Romanesque domes covering the nave. The recently restored chapter house bears witness to the communal life of the canons. Upstairs, the former dormitory, converted into cells in the 18th century, recalls the monastic organization of the period.

The canons' refectory, converted into abbot's lodgings in the 18th century, once housed the guests of the commendatory abbot. Four spacious dining rooms with Baroque moldings, several apartments, and an elegant Venetian-style balcony comprise this remarkable space. The granary, with its spectacular timber frame resting on a series of vaulted cellars, completes the discovery; part of it now houses an exhibition and sale.

The route ends in front of the monumental gate of 1788, opening the view onto a majestic American walnut tree, planted around 1860 and classified as a remarkable tree.

From June to September, the store is open every day except Tuesday, both morning and afternoon. Guided tours are offered on-site every afternoon. The rest of the year, the store is open every afternoon except Tuesday, with guided tours scheduled for the first Sunday of each month.