Aillon Charterhouse was built in a spot described by experts as an extraordinary and wild "end of the world." It was established in the second half of the 12th century by Count Humbert III of Savoy, who provided endowments to monks likely already established at the site. They stayed in a narrow valley known as Lourdes - tucked away at an altitude of approximately 1,026 meters.
Why did it take so long to get the dates right? Records are a mess. Some sources suggest 1143, others say 1183, while more recent scholarship generally agrees on the year 1178 for the first charter. The monastery was affiliated with the Carthusian province of Chartreuse and served the Diocese of Geneva until 1792, when revolutionary forces expelled the monks and the monastery was abandoned.
Today, the site is the Maison du Patrimoine for the Bauges Massif Regional Natural Park. The only remaining building was listed as a historic monument in 1994. Since 2008, it has served as a museum and heritage center where visitors can explore the park's history and local culture.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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