Abbaye de l'Escaladieu (Escaladieu Abbey) was founded in 1142 when Cistercian monks left the monastery at Capadur to found their own abbey. Escaladieu Abbey was built at the confluence of the Luz and Arros rivers near the castle of Mauvezin.

The abbey flourished from the 12th to 14th centuries. It served as the burial place for the counts of Bigorre and was a stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago.

Escaladieu Abbey was built in the simple Romanesque-Cistercian style. The cloister included a sacristy, refectory, kitchen, and scriptorium. It was closed around 1830.

All the east buildings of the Escaladieu Abbey remain intact, including the 12th-century chapter house, where the monks gathered to read the rule of St. Benoit, and the scriptorium, where they copied and illuminated manuscripts.

The nave of the abbey had six bays, one of which was destroyed during the 16th-century Wars of Religion.

The abbey has been owned by the Conseil Général des Hautes-Pyrénées since 1997. It is open to visitors and is used for conferences and special events.

Quick Facts on Escaladieu Abbey

Site Information
Names:	Abbaye de l'Escaladieu · Escaladieu Abbey
Categories:	monasteries; abbeys
Styles:	Romanesque
Dates:	1142
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:	43.110159° N, 0.256827° E
Address:	Escaladieu, France
Lodging:	View hotels near Escaladieu Abbey

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

More Information

• L'Escaladieu - Conseil Général des Hautes-Pyrénées (French only)
• Photos of Escaladieu Abbey - here on Sacred Destinations