Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

Nestled in the heart of the South of France, a truly enchanting experience awaits at this picturesque lavender farm, crowned by a charming European church. It's a scene straight out of a postcard, promising unforgettable memories. Reaching this idyllic spot requires a bit of an adventure; the roads leading here can be quite narrow, making a skillful driver or an organized tour highly recommended for a smooth journey. The closest and equally stunning town to this gem is Gordes. If you're planning a visit in June, be prepared for the warmth, as temperatures can soar above 35 c. Dressing lightly and staying hydrated will ensure your comfort. Upon arrival, please note that parking is located a short distance from the church, requiring a pleasant 10-minute stroll through the beautiful surroundings to reach the main attraction.

A monastery turned theme park 🧘‍♂️📱🚍 I love monasteries — wandering through their cool stone chambers, admiring the architecture, and imagining the rhythm of monastic life. Sadly, Abbaye Notre-Dame offers none of that peaceful reflection. Yes, the building is beautiful, no question. But any sense of tranquility is completely ruined by the wave of tourist buses (I counted five in the short time I was there). It’s loud, it’s crowded, and it feels more like a cruise ship excursion stop than a sacred site. And the parking lot is a mess with the busses trying to squeeze through this one-car-wide lane. And then there’s the AR tablet they hand you. Sure, it’s technically impressive, but do I really want to fumble with a glowing screen in a centuries-old monastery? Absolutely not. Everyone is walking through this beautiful building while their eyes are glued to the tablet. A small booklet would be way nicer and you can take it with you at the end. If you’re looking for serenity, history, and a true monastic experience — this isn’t it. Skip the hype and find a quieter gem instead.

Great stop off in southern France. The Abby was gorgeous with all the lavender in bloom and everything smelled amazing. The tour is a nice bonus, unless you arrive during mass. During the week there were very few crowds. The parking situation can be a bit hairy though so make sure you have your best driver on it

The Abbey was beautiful, even though we visited before the lavender season. We took the non guided tour with the Histopad and it was very informative and interesting. There are discounts for students and kids under 18, so it is a good destination for a family trip.

Nice place to visit. Church was built from 1230. You could get a lot of information about the church by using the tablet that they provide.

Great place to visit. It was frustrating to get accurate information about the alleged 'dress code' ahead of time. Here is what you need to know: - They have a sign outside on the path out of the parking lot. See below. - I was told they have scarves available for tourists who need it. - I saw young women with ripped jean shorts. - I was told this is all to avoid tight fitted biking shorts .

Absolutely stunning from the outside! So gorgeous. But... Nothing to see inside and the guided tour is just snooze.

Very picturesque and well maintained. Tourists love it. 8.50 Eur per person including the histopad

It's worth the trip out to the Abbey. We were in Gordes for the day and it was close by. The road is a bit tough and during the afternoon is was busy. We had to park at the top of the road and walk down to the abbey area. Take some time to tour the church and looks at the carving around the door area and inside. Knights Templar? We enjoyed taking photos and visit the shop. Posted several photos.

Very beautiful place! There is a big lavender field on the north side that was just about to bloom when we visited in mid-June. There is a tour of the 870-year old Abbey every hour that is the Only way to visit the abbey after 11am, and Only offered in French. Beautiful place, very minimalistic.

Amazing ! Area Clean. nice roads, good signage to find it easily from roads. great photos possibilities . go early if you can because tourist seem to show up late. so if you can be an early bird tourist or local guest - do so.

As seen in a myriad of post cards, the Abbaye du Senanque is what it is, a beautiful, still operating Abbey, complete with huge, lovely Lavender pastures. It is best to visit in May to July to see everything in bloom. Go early to avoid the tourist throngs. If you are in the Luberon, this is worth a stop.

A beautiful site, for sure, but with the limited time we had in Provence I would have skipped this if I could do it all over again. If you aren't super religious (I am not) there isn't much to do there when you arrive. And it is a trek outside of Gordes to get there. I bet it is amazing when the lavender is in bloom, but it wasn't when we were there. It is chock-full of tourists all snapping photos and finding a parking spot is really tough!