Le Thoronet Abbey
Le Thoronet, France
A Cistercian abbey in the Provençal woods, admired for its bare stone church and cloister and for the quality of the light inside. Visit outside the midday rush to enjoy the quiet.
Le Thoronet Abbey was built between 1160 and 1230 and is one of the three Cistercian abbeys of Provence, along with Silvacane and Sénanque. It was originally intended for only 20 monks, plus lay brothers. Church, cloister, refectory and dormitory are typically Cistercian, in plain, simple forms of unplastered stone. Le Corbusier visited the abbey in 1953 and drew inspiration from it for the La Tourette monastery.
The church's acoustics, with their strikingly long reverberation, still shape the singing today. After the Revolution the complex fell into decay; from 1841 efforts to save it were pursued with the involvement of Prosper Mérimée. It lies in the forests of Provence.
- Nearest town
- Le Thoronet, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 43.4594, 6.2631
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Aire CAMPING-CAR PARK du Thoronet, L'AbbayeMotorhome stopover3 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 16 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Aire Cabasse, L'AbbayeMotorhome stopover4 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 12 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Aire de camping-car de Vins-sur-CaramyMotorhome stopover9 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 9 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Les BruyèresCampsite12 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 105 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping Le Grand JardinCampsite15 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 38 pitchesTentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping-Car Park Le ValMotorhome stopover15 km from Le Thoronet Abbey · 20 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Le Thoronet Abbey?
Le Thoronet Abbey is in Le Thoronet, France, at GPS 43.4594, 6.2631. It is about 35 km from Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.
Can you camp near Le Thoronet Abbey?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire CAMPING-CAR PARK du Thoronet, L'Abbaye, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 28 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Le Thoronet Abbey?
Places worth a stop nearby: Gorges du Verdon (33 km), Lac de Sainte-Croix (35 km), Pampelonne beach (42 km) and Giens peninsula and Pesquiers salt pans (44 km).
When is the best time to visit Le Thoronet Abbey?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)