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Cloître de l'abbaye de Lavaudieu
The former Abbey of Saint-André de Lavaudieu is in the Senouire valley near Brioude, in the Haute-Loire. Founded in the 11th century by Saint Robert, it keeps a remarkable Romanesque ensemble.
The cloister, about ten metres by sixteen, is presented as the only surviving Romanesque cloister in Auvergne: its round arches rest on slender columns, and its galleries have timber roofs rather than vaults.
In the former refectory, the only monastic building to survive with the cloister and church, a late 12th-century fresco of Byzantine influence decorates the walls. The church has a major group of wall paintings. The cloister and refectory are listed as historic monuments. The guided visit also includes the abbey gardens and the medieval village of Lavaudieu.
