Situated in Argoules in the green valley of Authie, the Valloires abbey was built in the 12th century. Magnificent gardens extend today around this Cistercian abbey, with a multitude of plants, flowers and shrubs. This 9-hectare site boasts no fewer than 5,000 varieties of plants and shrubs! A perfect location for gardens lovers... It also features rose, formal and landscape gardens (island garden) as well as marsh, evolution and five senses gardens.
In August, the abbey hosts an international chamber music festival, the Valloires festival.
The abbey is the property of a nonprofit association founded in 1922. The main goal of the association de Valloires is to foster children; those remanded by a court into care and children with very complex needs and/or challenging behaviour.
To support its philanthropic work, the Association de Valloires makes the abbey open to paying visitors from March to November. At the same time, its 18th-century suites (originally monastic cells) are open all year round and available as bed-and-breakfast accommodation, From these rooms, above the monks' refectory, there are views over the gardens.
