Ancienne abbaye Sainte-Marie d'Orbieu

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie d'Orbieu in Lagrasse, some 30 kilometres south-east of Carcassonne in the Aude département, is among the oldest monastic foundations in Occitania. Its origins are traditionally placed in the Carolingian era — legend holds that Charlemagne endowed the abbey in the late 8th century after a victory over the Moors, though the historical record is debated. For centuries it operated as a powerful Benedictine centre; today a community of canon regulars of Lagrasse continues monastic life in the surviving sections of the complex. Parts of the Romanesque cloister and medieval conventual buildings are open to visitors and are classified as a French historic monument. The surrounding village of Lagrasse, one of the designated 'Most Beautiful Villages of France', adds to the character of any visit.