Arles - Montmajour Abbaye

The former Benedictine Abbey of Montmajour (Mont-Major), perched on a rocky hill 5km/3mi northeast of Arles, rather like a fortress, was founded in the 10th century and throughout the Middle Ages was an important place of pilgrimage. This pilgrimage could lead to the "Pardon of Montmajour" and provided the monastery with a plentiful source of income. Other monasteries were founded by the monks from this abbey. The plain surrounding the hill was originally marsh and alluvial land and was not drained until the abbey was founded. At the start of the 18th century the Baroque buildings were begun, as the original 12th century buildings had largely fallen into disrepair; however in 1785/86 the abbot, Cardinal Rohan, was implicated in the famous