The 1289 hostage crisis at Silvacane Abbey

The wealth of Silvacane Abbey provoked the envy of the Benedictines of Montmajour Abbey near Arles. In 1289, the Benedictines attacked the site and took the Cistercian monks hostage. After much negotiation, the monks were released. Despite these tensions, the abbey faced growing financial problems after being plundered by the army of Aubignan in 1358, leading to the monks being obliged to abandon the abbey in 1443.

Situated in a remote location overgrown with reeds next to the Durance River, the abbey's architecture reflects a Cistercian focus on simplicity, austerity, and harmony. Constructed between 1175 and 1230, the church is a masterclass in Romanesque style. The interior features a pointed barrel vault and a plain ribbed vault at the crossing, supported by substantial cruciform columns with finely carved foliage motifs.

The refectory, rebuilt in the late 13th century, stands as the most ornate building on the grounds. Built in the rayonnant Gothic style, it reflects a period when the order had relaxed some of the more rigorous rules of Bernard of Clairvaux. Today, the buildings are no longer used for religious purposes and serve as a public home for music and art, hosting events such as the Piano Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons