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Architectural evolutions of the abbey

General view of the facade of the abbey.

With the arrival of a commendatory abbot at Escaladieu at the end of the 16th century, the Abbey will undergo many changes and architectural standardisations. Entry into the monastery was then on the east side where 12th century facades were found with the more recent constructions of the 17th century. To further the concept of aesthetic harmonisation, it was therefore decided to fit out all the facades with an aspect in accordance with the aesthetics of the modern era in order to achieve a balanced and symmetrical architectural unity. It was also in the 17th century that the entrance to the monastery was moved to the south side, to the location we know today.

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The bell-tower of the abbey church

The current bell tower of the abbey was built in the 17th and 18th century. The current bell tower of the abbey was built in the 17th and the 18th century. It rises above the southern transept arm and has a square base and an octagonal floor level topped by a bulb shaped roof inspired by Eastern Europe. This bell tower violates the Cistercian rule against stone bell tower on elevation.

zoom on the bell-tower of the abbey.