La Roque d'Anthéron - Silvacane (Abbaye de Silvacane)

Département: Vaucluse

Altitude: 230m/755ft

The former Cistercian Abbey of Silvacane lies near the little village of La Roque-Anthéron on the left bank of the Durance, below the Montagne du Lubéron, 25km/15.5mi north-east of Salon and 26km/16mi north-west of Aix-en-Provence.

The name of the abbey comes from the Latin "silva cannorum" (forest of reeds) and signifies that the area was formerly marshland. The monastery was founded in 1144 by Raymond des Baux and transferred to the Cistercians. Unlike other Cistercian monasteries, Silvacane does not lie far from civilization, but is situated where important transport routes meet. Previously there had been a monastic community here which had cared for the spiritual well-being of travelers crossing the Durance. Work on the building was not begun until 1175 and the church was finished in 1230, during which period the Gothic style of architecture had already established itself in the north of France. The cloister and monastery buildings followed around 1250-1300, while the refectory was not erected until the 15th C., during a short new burst of activity. In 1443 Silvacane then came under the cathedral chapter of Aix-en-Provence and became the parish church of nearby La Roque-Anthéron, long after it had become completely insignificant as a monastery. Like many other ecclesiastical properties it was sold during the French Revolution and was intended to have been torn down to provide building materials. However in 1846 the government acquired the estate and this resulted in extensive restoration work being carried out.