Silvacane Abbey Religious Site

Address: Silvacane Abbey, 13640 La Roque-d’Anthéron, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Hours: Typically daily 9:30am-6:00pm (seasonal variations)

Silvacane Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, founded in 1144. It is recognized for its well-preserved medieval monastic architecture and its role in the network of Cistercian houses in Provence.

The complex includes a simple, austere abbey church and adjoining cloister and monastic buildings that reflect Cistercian design principles. The site has been conserved and is accessible to visitors interested in religious architecture and medieval monastic life.

Located near La Roque-d’Anthéron in southern France, the abbey sits within a rural Provençal landscape and is used for cultural events as well as visitation.

• Founding and grouping: Silvacane was founded in 1144 and is one of the three principal medieval Cistercian abbeys of Provence, alongside Sénanque and Le Thoronet.

What to See#

• Abbey church: The abbey church, rebuilt and modified across the 12th and 13th centuries, displays Cistercian architectural characteristics and simple monastic forms.
• Cloister and monastic buildings: The cloister and surviving monastic buildings date mainly from the medieval foundation and are among the better-preserved Cistercian remains in Provence.

Silvacane Abbey is near La Roque-d’Anthéron in Bouches-du-Rhône. By car it is about 30-40 minutes north of Aix-en-Provence along D7N and local roads. Regional buses serve La Roque-d’Anthéron from Aix and nearby towns; a short taxi ride from the village will reach the abbey.

• Check opening times for guided tours - some parts of the abbey are only accessible with a guide or during set hours.
• Visit in late afternoon when the light pools in the nave and the Cistercian austerity becomes almost luminous.
• Combine the visit with nearby medieval villages such as La Roque-d'Anthéron to feel the abbey's rural context.