Friday 12 December 2014

Third sister

Le Thoronet (week 22)

The third Cistercian abbey in Provence is Le Thoronet.  It is almost identical to Silvacane in layout, right down to the size and shape of the church, the chapter house, and the cloister.  However, it seems like the restoration work is more advanced (or perhaps it hadn't deteriorated as much) in the church and cloister areas.  More outbuildings were open as well, and included a few relics such as one of the old olive oil/wine presses.  They are also doing a lot of work outside, expanding the parking lot and adding what looks like an aire (rest stop).  The forest was also alive with the sound of chainsaws as workmen were thinning out the surrounding wood.

In addition to the press, highlights include the gatehouse with a turret and bridge, a damaged but still colourful mural on the apse ceiling, the covered well in the cloister, and the scrollwork on the pillars in the chapter house, which appears to be more ornate than in the other Cistercian abbeys we've seen (or perhaps it is just in better condition).

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