Dicovery tour of Bouchet

The Church, Chapel and Abbey quaintly remind us of the rich past of the village. The washhouses, Fountains and springs reveal the importance of water in Provence. Numerous rivers and streams outline the landscape around the village and proved to be essential to its development and the life of the population. The song of the cicadas and the vineyards… the scenery is dotted with winegrowers’ huts which bring to mind olden-days farming techniques – harsher and less mechanised. Stone, water, wine and truffle: a unique sensory voyage! Bouchet is welcoming in all seasons and is a great spot for the discovery of Provence’s charms and flavours!

Must-sees:
The Cistercian abbey: It was founded in the 12th century as Notre Dame de Bosquet for nuns. In 1413 it was affiliated to the Abbey of Ayguebelle but was later greatly damaged during the Wars of Religion. But then, in the 19th century, a part of it was used as a silk mill and eventually a nylon factory. In the 20th century, it was bought and restored: the nuns’ Romanesque refectory would be used as a wine ageing cellar, and the chapter house as a function hall. Today, the Cistercian abbey belongs to the local council of Bouchet and still boasts two magnificent rooms with gothic vaulting one above the other.
The Romanesque church: This church used to be a priory and was partially rebuilt in the 17th century. It houses the tombstone of Saint Bertrand de Garrigues, who was the fellow traveller of Saint Dominique, himself the object of many pilgrimages.
The Chapel of Saint Sébastien: Built in 1715 with the remains of the Church of Saint André de Barbaras, then restored by the municipality, the chapel now hosts cultural activities.