Our take
Few Romanesque cloisters in Auvergne escaped destruction. Lavaudieu's is one of them, with its wooden gallery on the upper level. And the refectory keeps a large 12th-century fresco with Byzantine influence: Christ in majesty above the Virgin and the twelve apostles.
A Romanesque cloister still standing, a 12th-century fresco in the refectory, the Black Death painted in the church. Open for visits from May to September.
In the 11th century, Robert de Turlande, the founder of La Chaise-Dieu, set up a priory of Benedictine nuns on the banks of the Senouire. Nuns lived there until the Revolution: there were only thirteen left when they were driven out. The buildings were sold, the spire of the bell tower pulled down. Yet the essentials survived.
The cloister first. Of the Romanesque cloisters of Auvergne, almost all have disappeared: this one is still standing. Its slender columns, single or paired, carry a wooden gallery. On the capitals: scenes, figures, foliage, interlacing. Take the time to walk all the way round.
In the refectory, a large 12th-century fresco with Byzantine influence: Christ in majesty surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists and, below, the Virgin with the twelve apostles. A Romanesque Christ in polychrome wood is displayed in the same room.
In the church of Saint-André, the nave keeps 14th-century wall paintings: scenes of the Passion and the Black Death, an allegory of the plague in the form of a veiled woman firing her arrows.
The cloister, the refectory and the gardens, laid out on the remains of the canonesses' houses, can be visited from early May to the end of September, every day except Tuesday: €6.50 for a self-guided visit with a leaflet, €8 with the guide (2026 prices). The church, for its part, is open to all every day. Allow an hour.
Why we love it
- The Romanesque cloister, its single or paired slender columns and its carved capitals
- The 12th-century fresco with Byzantine influence, in the refectory
- The Black Death, an allegory of the plague painted in the 14th century in the church of Saint-André
- The gardens laid out on the remains of the canonesses' houses, with a view over the Senouire
Top tip
Aim for the guided tour in the afternoon: an hour with the guide, at 15:00 in May, June and September, at 15:30 in July and August (2026 times). During that hour there is no self-guided entry: if you'd rather wander on your own, come in the morning.
Before you go
- 2026 prices: €6.50 for a self-guided visit with a leaflet, €8 for the guided tour (1 hour). Reduced rate (13 to 18 years, students, jobseekers): €4.50 for a self-guided visit, €6.50 for the guided tour. Children aged 6 to 12: €3 and €4. Free under 6 and for people with disabilities. Open from 2 May to 30 September 2026, every day except Tuesday. The church of Saint-André is open to all every day.
- Lavaudieu is 9 km from Brioude, about twelve minutes by car. As you approach the village, follow the “recommended route” signs rather than the GPS. Parking is not allowed in the village (except for people with disabilities): there are free car parks by the Senouire, a few minutes' walk from the church.
- 2026 season: from 2 May to 30 September, every day except Tuesday. Out of season and on Tuesdays, guided tours by appointment: contact details on the abbey's website.
- Tickets are sold at the tourist information point, opposite the church. Bank card, cheque and cash accepted.
- For self-guided visits, you enter the cloister every 20 minutes, starting at 10:10. Allow an hour on site.
Practical info
- Address
- Le Bourg, 43100 Lavaudieu, France
43100 Lavaudieu
Opening hours
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Around Lavaudieu Abbey
2 spots in and around Lavaudieu, enough to build your day.
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Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
Cycling3 - Along the Allier and the Senouire
Start: Office de tourisme de Brioude Sud Auvergne
- 57.5 km
- +819 m
- 3 h
CyclingHikes around Lavaudieu Abbey
Cycling3 - Along the Allier and the Senouire
Start: Office de tourisme de Brioude Sud Auvergne
- 57.5 km
- +819 m
- 3 h
Cycling
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