The Abbaye d’Arthous, also known as Abbaye Sainte-Marie d’Arthous, is a medieval French abbey founded around 1167 by the Order of Premonstratensian canons. It is located in the commune of Hastingues, in the department of Landes, France. The abbey is strategically located between territories controlled by the lords of Navarre, Béarn, and Aquitaine during the Middle Ages. The strategic location is significant as the abbey was a meeting point for these lords.
The abbey church is a unique Romanesque-style church with a triple-apsed chorus. The motifs on the chorus include geometric forms, vegetal entwines, pinecones, round-faced figures with globe-like eyes. The name Arthous comes from the Medieval Gascon term 'Artós', which is derived from the root 'arte' meaning 'green chestnut tree'. The abbey buildings were rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries following damage from the religious wars. The imposing Abbey House and 17th-century cloister are examples of modern canon architecture. The origins of the name Arthous have given rise to multiple hypotheses.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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