Troglodyte Abbey Beaucaire, Abbey of Saint Roman

At Beaucaire, during your stay at the home of Olivier, you will discover a former monastery troglodytic, dug into limestone, par des ermites et des moines qui l’ ont occupé pendant 1000 years….

Prehistory, these caves and cracks are occupied by tribes of hunters…

Around the 5th century, of hermits settled on the Hill of the needle and St-Roman monks will gradually enlarge natural cavities to accommodate a chapel, cells and common rooms…

Around the 7th century, This community of hermits who lived an oriental monastic life style in the tradition of the fathers of the Desert, adopted the rule of St Benedict and became benedictine Abbey.

Passed under the tutelage of the powerful Abbey of Psalmody, near AIGUES-MORTES, St-Roman remains a Priory whose pilgrimage on relics of saint - Roman and saint Trophime is very important. Because of his seniority and prestige, Honorary privileges will testify to the high value of the place…

In the 14th century, a studium( College teens) y est installé par le pape d’Avignon Urbain V. Instruction pour les jeunes, poor or rich, gifted studies. After this short period, the Abbey will gradually decline.

If fortification from the 14th century campaign has dramatically altered the appearance of the rock by carving its vertical walls, important Troglodyte elements remain:
– The chapel more than 100 M2 with its vault of Roman heart and headquarters of the prior carved in the rock at the same time.
– cells which greeted the first monks… They climbed the rock or used ladders to slide into these small parts by narrow gaps. The great interest of cave life is to enjoy the thermal Constance which prevails under the ground and maintains a temperature of 14 16 ° throughout the year. Most of these cells have been reassigned to various usages in the middle ages: Press and especially grain elevators.

In 1538, Psalmody secularized in college of canons installed in AIGUES-MORTES. St-Roman is sold to an individual who replaces certain monastic buildings from the terrace by a small castle.Transmitted in several families of the region, the castle of St-Roman eventually be dismantled in the first half of the 19th century. by one of its last owners who sells all stones….

Stayed long abandoned, the history and archaeology of Beaucaire society undertakes, from the years 60, excavations on the site and its clearing. The knowledge of the site owes much to these enthusiasts.

The municipality of Beaucaire ownership in 1988 Gets the classification Monument Historique in 1991……

Abbey of the 5th century carved out of limestone.

Superb panorama on the Rhone and Provence

OPEN:
April, May, June 2023: mardi au vendredi , de 14h à 18h30 , samedi et dimanche de 10h à 13h et de 14h à 18h30.
July/August 2022 : every day from 10 h to 13 h and from 14 h to 19 h
Septembre et Octobre 2022 : mardi au vendredi , de 14h à 18h30 , samedi et dimanche de 10h à 13h et de 14h à 18h30.