Along with Sénanque and Le Thoronet, Silvacane is one of the three large Cistercian monasteries in Provence. It is the oldest of the three and can be visited in its entirety because no religious returned after the French Revolution.

It is above all the double nudity of the walls that impresses. The architecture of the Cistercians is basically austere and bare. Since the buildings have been stripped of their monastic function, there is no furniture that could impair the effect of the geometry of the architecture.

Site history

The Cistercians came from Morimond (northeast of Dijon) in 1144 to settle here and very quickly bring about the rise of the monastery. The church and other buildings were erected, and a dependance was also laid out. The princes of Provence supported the monks with a lot of money.

But the conflict with the monastery of Montmajour near Arles, armed conflicts and poor harvests weakened the community as early as the 13th century. The end came with severe flooding of the Durance in 1440. The monastery was abandoned and became a simple parish. The Huguenot wars continued the destruction and after the Revolution the site was transformed into a farm.

Only in 1950 was it possible for the state to buy the remains of the wall and to start with the restoration.

Description

The whole building is made of large and finely worked blocks. Silvacane is the ideal example of Cistercian architecture in transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. The round arches are classically Romanesque and the ribbed vaults are typically Gothic.

The name of the monastery comes from the reed grass (Silva Cannorum) that used to grow in the Durance floodplain.

You can visit the monastery church, the cloister, the chapter house, the dormitory and the dining room. All these parts of the building were completed in the 13th century.

The Abbaye de Silvacane (only french) website lists current opening times and prices. In 2023, a single ticket costs EUR8. In principle, the building can be visited all year round.

Access by public transport

The monastery is located east of the village of Roque-d'Anthéron. The bus lines 86 (from Salon), 250 (from Aix) and 652 (from Pertuis) stop at the monastery. More information under Zou! (only french), the stop is called Silvacane (Roque d'Anthéron).

Access by car

The site is south of the Lubéron massif and south of the Durance. Roughly speaking, the church building is halfway between Sénas in the west and Pertuis or Le-Puy-Sainte-Réparade in the east.

Parking site

There is a parking lot between the road and the entrance to the monastery. In summer it is chargeable and unfortunately known for car break-ins.

The harmony of the buildings impresses better when you are alone in the site. Although Silvacane is famous and many visitors come, it is quite easy to be here with few other people: in the low season early after opening at 10am or on a hot summer day immediately after the reopening in the afternoon at 2pm. The small garden makes it possible to view the ensemble from a distance.

Coming out and, if you turn left in front of the reception hall, you get to the east side and get a better view of the church tower.