Gaussan 1

You will see this fortress like set of buildings on the road to St Andre de Roquelongue. This is the property of Gaussan which in the olden days depended on the Monastery of Fontfroide. The archbishops of Narbonne built a rural chapel on this site and called it St. Etienne. Gallo-roman remains can be found in the land all around notably of priories. The church of St. Etienne de Gaussan is mentioned in 964. This fertile land was at that time given over to agriculture and the estate comprised meadows and fields of cereals. Olives and vines were rare.

In 1178, the chapel became a parish which would indicate an important number of people living in and around the area. The estate came under the ownership of the Monastery of Fontfroide when the Priory of St Eugenie increased its lands by acquisition through purchase or gifts.

Wanting to safeguard their livestock and harvest the monks built solid walls around Gaussan: a similar type of 'Cistercian barn' can be found at Hauterive in Ornaisons, for example. The 'Barn of Gaussan' remained the property of Fontfroide until the Revolution; sold as a national asset in 1791 and became the property of Charles Lambert de Sainte-Croix, Senator of Aude in 1876. This was during the extensive wine growing period in the Aude. M. Lambert de Sinte-Croix turned Gaussan into a wine estate and transformed the barns into a medieval castle like the 'Violet-le Duc' which gives it its present day appearance.

In 1994 the ancient barns of the Cistercian monks, the white monks, gave way to the Benedictine monks, the black monks and became a new monastery. The aim of these monks is to carry on a monastic way of life in this peaceful and relatively isolated spot, tending their 8ha of vineyards. Little by little they are restoring the old buildings and make a living from their produce: notably from the sale of their wine. The wine store was renovated in 1998.

Service sung in Gregorian

Mass daily at lOam

Vespers at 5 pm on Sundays and 7 pm weekdays during the summer and at 5.30 pm weekdays during the rest of the year.