Sorde-l'Abbaye - Abbaye Saint-Jean

A convent existed here already mid 10th century. Abbots are known since 1060. During the age of the pilgrimage, the abbey offered a safe place to the many "pelerins", in a dangerous area. The pilgrims have to cross the Pau- and Oloron-river here and in 1139 Aymeric Picaud, author the Codex Calixtinus (forrunner of all Lonely Planet volumes), advices the readers, to mistrust the treacherous, local ferrymen.

The first toll bridge was built in 1289. These were the prosperous years of the abbey.
During the War of Religions the abbey got looted and severely damaged by the troops of Gabriel de Lorges, comte de Montgomery. The Mauristes tried to revitalize monastic life, but the French Revolution ended all that.

In the 19th century the church got (a bit over-) restaurated and rebuilt. During the works Roman foundations were found. The church was built, where a Roman villa had been before, what explains the slight asymmetry.

Most of the wooden sculptural decoration is comparably young, like this "Virgin and Child"