The Abbey of Thoronet in Provence - and a Swedish crayfish meal

Yesterday we visited the impressive Thoronet Abbey in Provence, which was built in the 12th century. The visit to the cool and splendid monastery was impressive, but the highlight of the day was the evening, when we were invited to a real Swedish crayfish meal with blog friends!

Table of contents

From Cannes and further south-west

Yesterday we left the nice campsite in Cannes and rolled on in a south-westerly direction. Our destination was the small village of Belgentier in Provence, where we were invited by blogger friends for dinner. On the way there, we took the opportunity to check out the magnificent Thoronet Abbey.

The Abbey of Thoronet in Provence

The Abbey of Thoronet, or L'abbaye du Thoronet as it is called in French, is a former Cistercian monastery located in Provence in the south of France. Together with its two sister monasteries, Silvacane and Sénanque, it is one of three Cistercian monasteries in the area.

A group of monks built the monastery between 1160 and 1230. When completed, it was home to around 20 monks and about the same number of other men who helped with practical work.

Le Thoronet Abbey, Thoronetklostret i Provence

The monastery showcases a style of clean, straight lines and great height in the rooms, with plenty of light. It's impressive to think that almost 900 years have passed since it was built!

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Decay and repair

Less than two hundred years after it was built, the monastery began to fall into disrepair, and after both plague and bankruptcy, parts of the area were in ruins in the 16th century. Since then, the monastery has been renovated several times and today looks very well preserved. It is nice to walk around here, and in the 35-degree heat, the monastery also offered some much-needed cooling!

Visiting the Abbey of Thoronet

A visit to Thoronet Monastery costs €8 per adult and includes a small information leaflet about the different parts of the monastery. Music and other events are sometimes organised here, you can find out more at Monastery website.

There's a car park right outside, but unfortunately we couldn't find any spaces for camper vans and had to park in the bus park, where it was stated that camper vans were not allowed ...

READ MORE: Camping and bathing at Le Lavandou in France
READ MORE: Canoeing in Ardeche, France - and Port d'Arc

Swedish crayfish meal in Provence

This day ended in a fantastic way! We got to know Monika and Bengt through the blog already in 2015, when they helped us with lots of tips during our long motorhome trip in France and elsewhere. Now they invited us to their beautiful home in Provence! In addition to a fantastic evening, we were also treated to a real feast, with Swedish flavours.

After a few small appetisers, we were offered a starter with avocado, smoked salmon and skagen scrambled eggs. Then it was time for crayfish the Swedish way, with bread, Västerbotten cheese, beer and nubbe. Finally, the party ended with strawberries and ice cream. Soooo delicious!

How do you find these Swedish delicacies in the south of France, you may ask. Well, apparently there are online shops where expatriate Swedes can order what they crave. Fantastic, isn't it?

As you probably already figured out, we also got a bunch of new and really exciting tips on things to see and do in this part of France. So you can look forward to a lot of interesting reports and tips on France in the coming days!

03 August 2018 6:00

France

history, Motorhome holiday France, campervan trip2018, attraction, castle-ruin-europe

Helena

Administrator

23 Comments

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Lena - good for the soul says:

What a powerful monastery. I visited a monastery on my recent trip to Samos. It wasn't nearly as big, but it was more beautiful with more interior decoration. Four monks still live there.

What a nice end to the day. The blogging world is amazing!

Hug Lena

03 August 2018 - 6:31

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Monasteries can be nice and soothing 🙂 Agree that the blog world is fantastic. Sooo fun with all the people you get to meet and get to know!
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:38
  
  Reply
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Being invited home to such a "Tabberas".
was not bad.

03 August 2018 - 8:41

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Absolutely fantastic! 🙂
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:38
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

But how delicious! Yes, the monastery was nice, but I'm mainly referring to the food 😀.

It will be fun to see what you come up with after all the good tips 🙂 .

Have a happy Friday!

03 August 2018 - 10:10

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We have received lots of exciting tips! Let's just see how we will have time for all the fun and interesting things 🙂 .
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:40
  
  Reply
Mr Steve says:

There are so many magnificent and exciting castles and abbeys in France. I remember this so well from when D and I drove through France in August 2000. It was our last trip before my stroke. How lucky we were to have made it. A wonderful last trip to remember.

"SWEDISH CRAFT MEAL IN PROVENCE" A somewhat dreamy way to describe the fantastic meal you were treated to.

03 August 2018 - 10:34

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It sounds like you can think back on a really nice trip in France! 🙂 This meal will also be a memory that we won't forget!
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:41
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

Nice with a lot to see along the way and a cooling monastery is good, but I think the visit to your friends was the best. So good and a lovely environment.
Wishing you a continued good journey.

03 August 2018 - 13:30

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Provence is beautiful and it feels like coming to a really genuine part of France. Then it is fun to meet friends, and interesting to talk to people who live in a country, and not just tourists in it. Interesting to get a little insight 🙂
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:45
  
  Reply
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

How wonderful to be invited to a crayfish disc in Provence! The blog world is cool and it will be fun to see what you do in the future.
We will also be feasting on crayfish tomorrow, lovely home-fished delicacies!

03 August 2018 - 16:42

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's fantastic with all the meetings that take place through blogging, in different ways. And not wrong with crayfish! 🙂 Wish you a wonderful crayfish disc!
  
  03 August 2018 - 17:47
  
  Reply
Deciree says:

It was a nice monastery ???To then be invited home on holiday is not entirely wrong either ???Hugs?

03 August 2018 - 17:52

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Really not wrong 🙂 Have fun!
  
  04 August 2018 - 11:36
  
  Reply
Matts Torebring says:

But how nice to be invited like that and what cultural buildings. One beats the other.

03 August 2018 - 19:15

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, isn't it? Being invited home like this is fantastic in several ways! 🙂
  
  04 August 2018 - 11:37
  
  Reply
Liniz Travel says:

But oh so nice and luxurious 🙂 when are you coming home? Hugs

03 August 2018 - 21:02

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I start working on 3 September, so until then we'll be home 🙂.
  
  04 August 2018 - 11:37
  
  Reply
BP says:

The monastery was a luxury building, really! I've always thought that monks and nuns lived in poverty, but this is anything but a life of "misery".

So much fun with a crayfish disc on French soil! As fun as possible! Wonder what the French had liked about it;-)

I hope you will stay in Marseille!

03 August 2018 - 22:27

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I think these monks lived in simplicity in many ways, but certainly in grand buildings with plenty of space 🙂 The crayfish disc in France was a fantastic experience that we won't forget! 🙂
  
  04 August 2018 - 11:38
  
  Reply
Across the board says:

Really nice monastery! Fun to go to Provence and eat crayfish! 🙂

04 August 2018 - 20:28

Reply
- Monet says:
  
  Thank you Helena and Peter for the great visit! It's great to meet you in real life too and it's especially nice that you, like us, like France so much. We also enjoyed sharing typical Swedish crayfish tradition with you. Continue the wonderful and exciting journey and always welcome back Monica, Bengt and little Dessi!
  
  05 August 2018 - 11:59
  
  Reply
  - Comment by post author
    
    Helena says:
    
    Many THANKS again Monica and Bengt! We will gladly come back to France!
    
    31 August 2018 - 15:01
    
    Reply

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Port-Cros Island in France - France's exotic national park | FREEDOMtravel

The Abbey of Thoronet in Provence - and a Swedish crayfish meal

From Cannes and further south-west

The Abbey of Thoronet in Provence

Decay and repair

Visiting the Abbey of Thoronet

Swedish crayfish meal in Provence

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23 Comments

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Deciree says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Liniz Travel says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Across the board says:

Monet says:

Helena says:

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