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Acey

This ancient Cistercian abbey was founded in around 1136 by Cherlieu, daughter-house of Clairvaux. The monumental yet serene Cistercian church is the only remaining testimony of the medieval monastery. The conventual buildings were totally rebuilt in the XVIIIth century in a refined classical style. Following the eviction of the monks during the French Revolution and various attempts at restoring monastery life, it was finally the abbot of Aiguebelle (Drôme) and a group of Cistercian monks who revived the community in 1873. For many years the community experienced major difficulties but found the means to restore the buildings. In 1937, a large group of young monks led by P. Eugène Court, prior of Aiguebelle, came and reinforced the older community. It is thus that the General chapter of the Cistercian Order of strict observance raised the monastery to an abbey in 1938. At the end of the fifties, pursuant to the Cistercian Rule, the community searching for a profitable economic activity embarked on a new adventure going into electrolysis surface treatments. At the beginning of the XXIst century, the community had about 20 friars. Of interest: the site, the church and its modern stained glass windows.