Abbazia Notre Dame de Boscodon

It was built in 1132 by hermit monks of the Chalais order, thanks to the gifts of Guglielmo di Montmirail, in the presence of the future Archbishop of Embrun, Guglielmo da Benevento. In 1303 it passed to the Benedictine order, under the dependence of the Chartreuse: the monks lived off the resources of the forest and sheep pasture. In the 18th century the abbey was united with the archbishopric of Embrun and a part of its buildings was destroyed. With the French revolution, the abbey and its properties became national heritage; the buildings were purchased by Joseph Berte and a hamlet with stable, barn, and residence arose around the church.

In the 20th century it was progressively abandoned and the owners decided to sell it to an association that aimed to restore it for worship. Dominican monks settled there and restoration work began. In 1974 the parts of buildings acquired by the Friends of Boscodon Abbey association were classified as a Historic Monument, favoring their restoration, directed after 1980 by the chief architect of Historic Monuments of France, Francesco Flavigny, territorially competent. The works were preceded by archaeological excavations and archival research that led, among other things, to the precious discovery by Sister Giovanna Maria of ancient documents (17th century) on the Servants' wing, destroyed in 1692 (document from the Departmental Archives of 1706). Recently: 1995: Inauguration of the Servants' wing, 425 sqm of surface used for meetings, receptions, healthcare, spiritual and cultural animation. 1997: Roof and sheepfold next to the access road were repaired. 1998: Raised the side of the cloister, restored and arranged the lay brothers' wing. 2000-01: Elevation of the bell tower with a bell. 2004: Completion of the southern part of the Monks' wing and the chapel of St. Marcellinus, purchase of small adjoining plots that expanded the common outdoor spaces.

Today the abbey has a non-monastic community of religious. It receives about 80,000 visitors per year and was awarded in 1989 for the best reception.

Architecture of the complex

Romanesque-Provencal style with influences of primitive Cistercian art, extreme simplicity of architectural elements, harmony of volumes, quality of masonry with dry-stone joints are the characteristics of the abbey. There are symbols of the cross, square, circle, and pentagon. The reference units of measurement are the royal cubit and the Roman foot. The buildings show a design that makes use of elements with strong symbolic value such as the repetition of elements according to key numbers, for example seven times like the days of the week, proportions in harmony with the golden section rule... Oriented with the apse to the east in function of the solar cycle, it took into account the presence of water, the forest, and nearby human settlements.