Boschaud Abbey's Twisted Tale: A Cistercian Curiosity in France's Rural Dordogne

In the rural wilds of France, the Boschaud Abbey, a sort of 'satellite' of Villars, presents an unusual take on conventional Cistercian abbeys. Instead of the customary river, this abbey relies on wells for its hydration. The church, a stylish jumble of Cistercian and Roman blueprints, offers an enigmatic eastern extension to its choir. The cloister, however, a pure Roman design, was only 'dressed up' in the 17th century. One can't help but suspect if the western construct, a common feature in Cistercian abbeys, was deliberately shunned here? On the 12th of September, 1950, the abbey was bestowed the title of a historical monument. Today, the crumbling vestiges of the abbey welcome visitors, under the watchful gaze of the association Festivillars. Yet, the abbey's secrets continue to dance just out of reach.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons