Abbaye Saint-Martin-du-Canigou

The Abbaye Saint-Martin-du-Canigou is a Benedictine monastery located in the foothills of the Canigou Mountain in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France. Founded in 1009, the abbey has been a powerful spiritual center for over 900 years. Its location between the plain and the mountain gives it a breathtaking setting. The interior features an incredible Baroque chapel and 12th-century cloisters, with some of the original cloister benches still intact. A well-preserved Romanesque crypt can be found in an underground chamber. The grounds also feature a 12th-century church and various abandoned structures, including an old mill, bakery and laundry. The abbey can be easily accessed by car, with a driver’s license and an admission fee.