Saint Peter’s Abbey in Moissac (Abbaye Saint-Pierre) claims to have the oldest cloister in the world. This looks like a bold statement, though probably not far-fetched. Anyway, it is certainly one of the most beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe.
The existence of the Moissac Abbey is documented from the 9th century, during the reign of Charlemagne. But it was when the abbey came under the influence of Cluny (the most influential abbey of the time in France and beyond) from 1047, when Moissac Abbey started shining.
The cloister was completed in 1100, following the Romanesque style, typical of the time in Western Europe. Romanesque buildings are small and lack light compared to the Gothic from the following centuries, but the intricate carvings that characterise this style reached an admirable refinement and sophistication.
In the 19th century, the Bordeaux-Sète railway was built running through the abbey refectory. Fortunately, the unique cloister was untouched. The abbey was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, although it well deserves this honour on its own.
How to arrive in Moissac
Moissac is a small town of 13000 population in the Occitanie region, Tarn-et-Garonne (82) department.
It is located 30 km West of Montauban and 75 km NW of Toulouse (on the way to Bordeaux).
It is therefore one of the top sites to visit if you are staying on Toulouse or on a road trip in the South of France.
If you are travelling by car, you can reach Moissac easily with the A62 motorway (Toulouse-Bordeaux). Exit in Castelsarassin and then drive 6 km more to arrive in Moissac. You can park easily at no cost near the abbey and the old town.
You can also reach Moissac by train. It takes around 30 min from Montauban and 55 min from Toulouse. You can check schedules and book tickets following this link.
Saint Peter's Abbey in Moissac
Before entering the cloister, take some time to admire the tympanum at the entrance to the church. This was carved after the cloister, also in Romanesque style.
As usual at the time, this masterpiece is like a comic depicting scary and instructing images of the Bible: St John’s vision of the Apocalypse. Jesus Christ is in the middle, surronded by the Evangelists, and imaginative representations of good and evil on the sides.
Entrance to the church is free, so go and have a look. First you enter a porch and then the temple itself. It is painted with the typical geometrical frescoes of Southern French Gothic.
The cloister of Moissac Abbey
The cloister is the highlight of Moissac Abbey. That’s why it’s not free – entrance to the cloister costs 6.50 €.
Opening hours: July to September: 10 am – 7 pm ; April, May, June and October: 10 – 12 am and 2 – 6 pm ; November-March 1:30 – 5 pm.
To visit the cloister, you must exit the church and enter through the Moissac abbey ticket office and shop.
The cloister is endowed with 76 adorned capitals, all of the carved with different motifs: 46 of them depict religious scenes, while 30 are carved with leaves and other nature scenes.
Columns are made of marble, while capitals are of limestone, which is easy to carve. They are arranged in a square, with each side containing 19 columns with capitals, alternating double and single columns.
In the centre of each gallery, there is a slab that briefly interrupts the flow of the columns. In the slab of the West Gallery, there is an inscription that mentions the building of the cloister in 1100.
You can stay for hours admiring all the different carvings of each of the cloister chapiters. The leaflet they give you tells you what is represented in each of them. We will show you now some pictures of those we found most interesting.
When you have finished visiting the cloister, you can have a walk in the cobbled streets of the mediaeval village of Moissac.
Moissac Abbey is a Romanesque jewel in the French part of St. James’ Way that you can’t miss if you are travel in the South of France.
Once in Moissac, it is worth going to Montauban, the capital of the Tarn-et-Garonne departement, that stands beautifully on the Tarn river. Click here to read our walking tour of Montauban!
If you have thought in going to Moissac, probably you will stay for some days in Toulouse, as we did. In that case, our Toulouse city guide is just for you! Follow this link to read it.
