The history of the Abbey

779 : Founded and favoured by the Emperor Charlemagne, the Abbey is strengthened by the support of Popes. The first of the 64 Abbots who will succeed one another during the course of 1000 years is Nebridius, friend of St Benedict of Aniane and of Alcuin, and later Archbishop of Narbonne.

11^th Century : The Abbey is one of the most important in southern France. Its temporal and spiritual power extends from the country around Albi as far as Saragossa.

12^th-13^th Centuries : During the political and religious tragedy caused by Catharism, the Abbots of Lagrasse, such as Benoît d’Alignan who received the submission of Carcassonne in 1226, played a role as peacemakers.

14^th-15^th Centuries : A time of monastic reform, of building, but also of wars. Abbot Auger de Gogenx distinguishes himself by his spiritual and architectural reforms from 1296.

16^th Century : Philippe de Lévis, Bishop of Mirepoix and commendatory Abbot has a great bell-tower built, 81 metres (266ft) high ! The half which remains today is still the most striking monument in the Abbey.

17^th-18^th Centuries : From 1663 there is a return to religious fervour and to an intense intellectual life thanks to the Maurists (Benedictines of St Maur). The monks finish most of the buildings in classical style in 1760, leaving a rare and successful example of an architectural union between romanesque, gothic, and classical styles.

1792 : Despite the support of the local population, the Revolutionaries eject the monks. The Abbey is pillaged and sacked, then divided into two parts.

19^th-20^th Centuries : Two religious communities inhabit the building, one after the other : the Sisters of Our Lady of the Seven Dolours , then La Théophanie.

2004 : The Canons Regular of the Mother of God arrive and the Abbey is reborn.