Abbaye de Valmagne
Abbaye de Valmagne
4
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Valmagne abbey is a cistercian abbey. Since 1947, it's classified as a historical monument. In 1139, Raymond Trencavel, Viscount of Beziers founded Valmagne Abbey situated near Villeyrac, a few miles away from the port of Meze on the "Bassin de Thau". From the 12th through to the middle of the 14th Century, Valmagne was one of the richest abbeys in the south of France. You can discover the "cathedrale des vignes"(gothic church), the "conservatoire des cepages", the Chapter House, the Fountain, ... And then you can stroll in the garden, taste organic wine or eat at the "auberge de valmagne".
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
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Best nearby
Restaurants
5 within 3 miles
Attractions
52 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
520 reviews
Excellent
237
Very good
186
Average
54
Poor
22
Terrible
21
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Mick S
Uzes, France6 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
First impressions were not good, the entrance was more like a shop interior. The receptionist was pleasant and when we asked if the was a reduced rates for handicapped people, she confirmed that there was. At the normal entry fee of €9 it was reduced by €1. Was it really worth getting the card out.
We were then given an explanatory card, listing the main points to be seen in the Abbey, and a plan. Proceed through that door and follow the arrows. So we did. Through the door was the wine tasting room, of which we politely declined. Through the next door into a gallery and an arrow indicating the way into the main part of the Abbey. Huge interior with most of the archways filled with now defunct wine barrels. We made our way around several small rooms, one of which had beautiful stained glass windows. We found our way to the cloisters in the centre of which is a garden, which no doubt when in full is worth seeing, not early in April. No more arrows that we saw so we made our way to the exit.
Surprise surprise, you have to leave via the wine tasting room, again politely declined and left by the entrance. The publicity etc says that one to two hours should be allowed for the visit. So unless you wish to visit the fields of vines, of which there are probably millions in the S. of France, 30 minutes is plenty long enough.
Although there is handicapped parking, there has to be by law, there are no notices to say that there are places not accessible for wheel chairs or buggies. There are several places where steps have to be negotiated.
So lunch time, let's see if there are any spaces at the restaurant where reservations are recommended. If there aren't we wouldn't have been too disappointed. No need to have worried, it had been closed for the better part of 8 months. Not mentioned anywhere that we saw that it closed for winter.
We were then given an explanatory card, listing the main points to be seen in the Abbey, and a plan. Proceed through that door and follow the arrows. So we did. Through the door was the wine tasting room, of which we politely declined. Through the next door into a gallery and an arrow indicating the way into the main part of the Abbey. Huge interior with most of the archways filled with now defunct wine barrels. We made our way around several small rooms, one of which had beautiful stained glass windows. We found our way to the cloisters in the centre of which is a garden, which no doubt when in full is worth seeing, not early in April. No more arrows that we saw so we made our way to the exit.
Surprise surprise, you have to leave via the wine tasting room, again politely declined and left by the entrance. The publicity etc says that one to two hours should be allowed for the visit. So unless you wish to visit the fields of vines, of which there are probably millions in the S. of France, 30 minutes is plenty long enough.
Although there is handicapped parking, there has to be by law, there are no notices to say that there are places not accessible for wheel chairs or buggies. There are several places where steps have to be negotiated.
So lunch time, let's see if there are any spaces at the restaurant where reservations are recommended. If there aren't we wouldn't have been too disappointed. No need to have worried, it had been closed for the better part of 8 months. Not mentioned anywhere that we saw that it closed for winter.
Written April 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra F
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Very bad experience. This is absolutely not a must-visit!
Positive point: magnificent abbey, in very good condition.
Negative points :
The price is a little expensive for what it is. The children's price is not much cheaper than for adults, and the children's game to interest them also costs money! Everything is good to make the visitor pay….
There was an exhibition that was half morbid, half mystical, which had no place in a place of worship. We clearly understood the subversive side but the feeling we had was that it was an exhibition space and not the history of an abbey.
Everything revolves around what the new owners do: wine tasting, inn restaurant, venue rental for events…
Perhaps they got lost in the historical monitoring of a repossessed place, wanting to do business...
Positive point: magnificent abbey, in very good condition.
Negative points :
The price is a little expensive for what it is. The children's price is not much cheaper than for adults, and the children's game to interest them also costs money! Everything is good to make the visitor pay….
There was an exhibition that was half morbid, half mystical, which had no place in a place of worship. We clearly understood the subversive side but the feeling we had was that it was an exhibition space and not the history of an abbey.
Everything revolves around what the new owners do: wine tasting, inn restaurant, venue rental for events…
Perhaps they got lost in the historical monitoring of a repossessed place, wanting to do business...
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane S
London, UK1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Family
The art was on a grand scale and perfectly curated upon entering the abbey so that the works and the surroundings complemented each other to great effect. Even on that scale, the pieces were extremely detailed and could be studied for hours or appreciated as a whole. The exhibition was varied and you definitely felt you had seen the talent of Emmanuel Flipo by the end of the tour. Well worth a visit.
Written September 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin LJ
Nantes, France37 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The abbey is magnificent, a place that calls for serenity and meditation. However, I find the entrance ticket a little expensive for a self-guided visit (30€ for 2 adults and 2 children), just as I was very disappointed by the wine tasting offered at the end of the visit. While I wasn't expecting full glasses, literally three drops at the bottom of the glass doesn't allow you to taste the wine as it should. Having done a free tasting in another area the same day, the glasses were filled correctly.
Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Remi C
Montpellier, France3 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
Well, that's changed. Living next door, we went several times a year.
Before, the dishes were local and tasty: lots of vegetables from the garden and very good meats.
This summer, with the change of management, offer tielles (not homemade) and without flavor! A Sétoise rust (not terrible), with an aioli: liquid and without the taste of garlic, just an aftertaste of mustard!!!
We're locals, we haven't been served aioli! We left her alone.
To accompany the meat 3 small shot potatoes and 1 teaspoon of vegetables!!!
With the garden of the place, during the season of eggplants and zucchini, we crush 3 mini-potatoes!... we were used to much better, it is little to say.
Our friends were also very disappointed because they knew the restaurant.
We really regretted not looking at this year's reviews (too well used to meals from previous years), they were all negative and regretted the old kitchen like us.
Before, the dishes were local and tasty: lots of vegetables from the garden and very good meats.
This summer, with the change of management, offer tielles (not homemade) and without flavor! A Sétoise rust (not terrible), with an aioli: liquid and without the taste of garlic, just an aftertaste of mustard!!!
We're locals, we haven't been served aioli! We left her alone.
To accompany the meat 3 small shot potatoes and 1 teaspoon of vegetables!!!
With the garden of the place, during the season of eggplants and zucchini, we crush 3 mini-potatoes!... we were used to much better, it is little to say.
Our friends were also very disappointed because they knew the restaurant.
We really regretted not looking at this year's reviews (too well used to meals from previous years), they were all negative and regretted the old kitchen like us.
Automatically translated
Written August 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Jacques g
Bordeaux, France414 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
A beautiful story than that of this abbey, which lived a thousand lives.... it allowed today to have a place full of history and which became functional with the establishment of the cellars. The visit is informative , pleasant , the cloister is very well preserved and really pretty to see. The final tastings of quality wines close this in style. A very nice time spent there..
Automatically translated
Written July 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cédric T
Gigean, France2 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Who are we kidding, well, cash cows €10.50 for a 20-minute visit: not much to see! The private owner must have nice cars.
Frankly go your way, the value for money is very bad
Frankly go your way, the value for money is very bad
Written May 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adrian B
Gulpilhares, Portugal62 contributions
May 2022
Beautiful location. We had an excellent lunch in the restaurant with some local wines and then did teh tour of the abbey. It is magnificant and also amazing to see the vats in the nave of the church. The cloister was charming and very peacefull. A place to be calm and reenergise.
Written May 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mylène V
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Solo
Delighted by the site but very disappointed by the quality of reception and that of the wine sold too expensive, presented speed grand V! Compulsory exhibition in walking tour and additional fee! Restaurant closed although in period opening....
Automatically translated
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vik95
Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France35 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
What a beautiful and peaceful place in the middle of the vineyard. We visited the abbey (over 800 years of history in these walls!) and enjoyed an excellent lunch with good wine at the restaurant (it’s a good idea to book a table 😉).
This place deserves that you take your time - maybe even stop the time? - and just enjoy the beauty of the place.
This place deserves that you take your time - maybe even stop the time? - and just enjoy the beauty of the place.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour,
J’ai vu qu’il y avait une piste au trésor sur cette abbaye ça vaut le coût ? Le tarif est bien de 35€ pour 2 adultes et 2 enfants ?
Written May 17, 2021
Bonjour est ce pratiquable pour une personne en fauteuil roulant ?
Written October 7, 2018
c'est possible, mais pas facile;je pense que le mieux est de poser la question aux gérants de l'établissement. désolé de ne pouvoir vous renseigner de maniere plus précise.
Written October 8, 2018
We are visiting Sete on a crusie. How far is the Abbey de Valmagne from the center of town? Is it walkable?
Written March 27, 2018
It is quite a ways out of town and we also visited while on a cruise. The best way is either signing up for a cruise tour or a tour via Viator (they have some great tours and usually less expensive than the cruise tours). It's a beautiful abbey, with a short wine tasting but there wasn't a tour guide.
Written March 28, 2018
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