ABBAYE DE VILLELONGUE

An abbey that combines the austerity of the Cistercian tradition with the flamboyance of its sculptures and its romantic setting. It has all the charm and poetry of a garden inspired by the middle ages but placed in what was once a monastic enclosure. It offers a fine example of architecture and sculptures that are typical of southern Languedoc Gothic of the 13th and 14th centuries. In its garden, enclosed by living osier fencing, cucumber and squash plants spill over the wickerwork and climb to invade the espaliered peach trees. Marrows and old varieties of tomato form part of the decor. On the rockery, plants grow that were used in the middle ages for their medicinal properties or for dyeing or decorations. Ancient tiles form a border to the flowerbeds. The singing of parakeets mingles with the gentle sounds of the fishpond. This unusual and restful garden is somewhere really unique to visit.