Abbaye Notre-Dame de Boscodon

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Boscodon is a 12th-century monastery hidden inside the Boscodon state forest, in the commune of Crots (Hautes-Alpes), a short distance from Embrun and Lake Serre-Ponçon. It ranks among the best-preserved examples of Alpine Romanesque architecture in France.

How did the abbey come to be built?

The community was founded in 1142 by monks belonging to the order of Chalais, itself rooted in the Chartreuse monastic tradition, thanks to donations from the local lord Guillaume de Montmirail. Construction of the abbey buildings continued for close to three decades, finishing around 1170. In 1303, when the mother order of Chalais came under the authority of the Carthusians, Boscodon broke away to head its own congregation; early in the 15th century the community adopted the Benedictine rule. A further turning point came in the 18th century, when the Commission des Réguliers placed the abbey under the archdiocese of Embrun and part of the complex was pulled down. Restoration work began in 1972 and reached a symbolic milestone with the reopening of the cloister in 2012.

What makes the architecture distinctive?

The abbey church follows an austere aesthetic close to early Cistercian building practice: plain volumes, balanced interior proportions, and masonry laid with tight, almost invisible joints. Inside, a barrel vault covers the nave, and the builders paid particular attention to how daylight travels through the space. The overall plan was drawn with compass and straightedge around simple geometric figures — the cross, the square, the circle and the pentagon — giving the building a deliberate rhythm and layered symbolism. The cloister, partly rebuilt during the restoration campaign, centers on a fountain and small garden and remains a quiet spot for contemplation.

Where exactly is the abbey, and what surrounds it?

Boscodon sits at roughly 1,150 metres above sea level, at the heart of the state forest that shares its name, within the commune of Crots. Its position in the Embrunais area, close to Embrun and Lake Serre-Ponçon, makes it a natural stop for visitors combining heritage sites with hiking — the surrounding forest is crossed by numerous marked trails. The abbey is a listed historic monument and remains an active site of spiritual and cultural life, open to visitors.

Frequently asked questions

When can you visit Boscodon abbey?

The abbey church and the Abbot's chapel, dedicated to Saint Firmin, are open free of charge every day of the year, from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. Guided tours of the rest of the monastic complex — the cloister, the chapter room and the museum space — run from early April until the end of the All Saints' holiday period, with daily guided visits at 3:00 pm throughout July and August.

Is there an entrance fee?

The church and the Saint Firmin chapel are free to visit. A fee applies to the guided tour of the remaining monastic buildings.

How do you get to the abbey?

The abbey lies within the commune of Crots, right next to Embrun and Lake Serre-Ponçon, in the Hautes-Alpes department. It is reached by local roads running through Boscodon forest, and can also be approached on foot via several signposted hiking trails starting from nearby villages.

What sets Boscodon apart from other Romanesque sites in the region?

Its geometry stands out: the whole plan was built around simple figures — cross, square, circle, pentagon — echoing the restraint of early Cistercian design. Combined with the quality of its stonework, this level of preservation is unusual for a Romanesque building in the Alpine part of Provence.