abbaye saint-philibert

I am ambivalent at best about visiting historical sites unless they're the classics of the great Italian cities or offer something fairly unique. But I allowed myself to be convinced to visit Tournus, and I'm glad I did. You'd have to be a heathen to find the architecture unimpressive. The pink stone and gorgeous stained glass windows give the interior excellent light; the chapel up the spiral staircase is dripping with history, and the crypt downstairs spooky and filled with ancient energy.I liked the Tournus Abbaye, and I liked the glass of white Burgundy in the sunshine at the café next door too.Hope this reveiw helps you in your Burgundy trip planning, please give me a helpful vote if so!

I love this roman style church, as it is very light and the architecture makes the building seem so fresh and delightful. It is in the center of the town of Tournus, very easily accessible and very well preserved. Everything in this church is adorable and thre is a lot of pieces of art to be seen, like the Madonna of Csurgo. Entry is free of charge and I go inside, whenever I am in the corner, just to enjoy this remarkable building. Parking is easy and you always find a place close to the church. A lot of tourists take it as a starting point for a tour of all the roman style churches in Burgundy, often situated in small villages and very often quite impressive! A place worth a detour! I will always keep this church in my heart.

This old mediaeval town contains the beautiful abbey of Saint Philibert. Although it is about 1000 years old it is in good condition and it is possible to visit the crypt and go up the tower into a chapel above the main church. Also there is a beautiful cloister.You can reach this place by bus number 14 from Macon €1.50

We have visited Abbey of St. Phibert of Tournus on 29 September. It was a well preserved fortress-like Romanesque church with many interesting features. The abbey was composed of a group of buildings, of which the most remarkable was its church built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Abbey of Saint Philibert was considered as one of the oldest monastic centres in France and it became a cultural centre with a well-endowed library which attracted many pilgrims. On the day of our visit, there was just a few visitors and well worth the visit. It boasted an impressively tall nave with an unusual vault, an important Romanesque statue of the Virgin and Child and the floor mosaics depicting the zodiac. The church undergone many consecrated changes and renovations and the more restorations of the original Romanesque appearance took place in the 20th century.

You will surprised by the monumental evidence of this Abbey and its cloyster. Very well kept and restored.

Don't be fooled by admission charge, this is for an audio guide but you can just go in the abbey f.o.c. Very well kept abbey and worth a look inside.

I have been to scores of Abbeys and found that this one made a big initial impression and then continued to grow on me. The mosaics are quite good as is the ship of the cathedral. Around every corner is something else to catch your eye and fancy.

This is a very well maintained building in a beautiful setting and has lots of history, its completely free access and although very plain is a very impassive building, the stained glass looks really well with the bare stone.

It is a lovely Abbaye, very peaceful and quiet, don't miss the rest of the town. Cafe and shops nearby are also worth visiting. the mosaics behind the altar are also worth viewing.

Have visited and revisited this abbey 6 to 8 times over 20 years. remarkable for its age and presence. Charming mellow pinkish cream stone inside. Fabulous accoustics. Creepy crypt. Getting a little sad and tired? Could do with a good dusting down. Rather tiresome, but not scary, beggars have appeared too. If visiting please remember to pay a contribution to upkeep. These old monuments sorely need support.

The tourist center across from the Abbaye was extremely helpful. Thanks to a handset,I took the walking tour in my own language. I was amazed at the freedom that I had to explore all the floors on my own including the crypt. The building is historically beautiful and very interesting. Tournus is a charming little town. The information center also has a map of a walking tour that will help you navigate your way through the streets.

quaint place to visit. Loved the walk tour the helpful guy in tourist centre gave us. Plenty of photographic opportunities

This area of Burgundy has over 100 Romanesque churches and abbeys including Cluny and Taize but for us the highlight is the Abbey at Tournus. We agree with all the recent reviewers that it is a very special place. The setting is peaceful surrounded by the square and a honeycomb of old streets. The abbey has a pinkish hue and inside is a natural mix of the very old with modern stained glass and sculptures. It feels as if it is a living place and not a historical monument. The crypt, the mosaic, the cloisters, the refectory-cum-art gallery, the gallery –all add to the experience. Each time we visit France we try to come back to spend some time here.Tip: We also thought that the cafe opposite to the abbey –La Maison de Marion - served excellent coffee , lunches and cakes

This medieval abbey is well worth a visit. Ancient stonework plus beautiful modern stained glass windows. Romanesque architecture with Byzantine influences. Our whole party loved it. Incredible 12th century mosaics, super ugly gargoyles and the light went out in the crypt whilst we were down there adding to the atmosphere. There is clearly a vibrant local parish and this is a warm and welcoming place of worship.

We visited here with our two children aged 6 and 8. To be frank churches etc only really hold their attention for so long ... But this really is a gem. From the little mosaic at the end to the crypt underneath the church, there was plenty to hold their imagination and the adults enjoyed it too! Walking around the crypt even just looking up at the stations of the cross plaques was atmospheric. Well worth a trip. Top tip: if it's a nice day, you could do much worse that have lunch up by the abbey overlooking the pretty square.