Sainte - M d' Alet abbey and cathedral - Pays La Haute-Vallee de l'AUDE, France

Probably of Carolingian origin, the abbey of Notre-Dame d'Alet was once a Benedicitine monastery. An important pilgrimage developed here in the 11 C around a fragment of the True Cross. During this period, the Popes. After a difficult period during the 12 C and 13 C - when some of the monks were even accused of heresy-the abbey experienced a growth in status when Pope John XX11 created a new bishopric in the Upper Aude Valley and established the new cathedral at Alet.  During the 16 C, Alet was marked by the Wars of Religion:  the cathedral and the old abbey were sacked in 1573.  The abbey's beautiful ochre sandstone ruins read like an art history  book, with their attractive combination of Romasque and Gothic architectural features.


The Gothic church of Saint-Martin has retained its Romanesque layout, with one nave and two side aisles.
Situated near Limoux, the church of Notre-Dame de Marceille, has many of the typical features of the 14 C
Languedoc Gothic style.

Abbaye d'Alet
11580 Alet les Bains

Tourist office
Avenue Nicolas  Pavillon
11580 Alet les Bains

Tel:   00 33 4 68 69 93 56
Fax:  00 33 4 68 69 98 29

Email:   info.aletlesbains@free.fr - info.aletlesbains.free.fr