Aniane Abbey: a project for the territory whose work has been officially launched

Devant la fresque éphémère, élus, sous-préfet et partenaires rassemblés. – Nathalie Pioch

La chapelle sera entièrement restaurée pour accueillir des évènements artistiques et culturels. – Nathalie Pioch

Archive photos recall the history of the penitentiary chapel. – Nathalie Pioch

A blackboard on the walls of the chapel to write down your thoughts. – Nathalie Pioch

La première tranche des travaux concernera toute une aile du bâtiment. – Nathalie Pioch

Plan des travaux à l’entrée du site. – Nathalie Pioch

Les travaux de restauration de l’abbaye ont été officiellement lancés vendredi 24 mai, autour d’un projet porteur pour tout le territoire de la Vallée de l’Hérault.

All stakeholders gathered on Friday evening, May 24, in the old Aniane abbey, for the official launch of the rehabilitation work. The site has benefited from protection as historical monuments since 2004. The Vallée de l’Hérault community of communes became its owner in 2010, and has already organized events (Aniane en Scène festival, Théâtre populaire de the Hérault Valley, artist residencies, heritage conferences, concert of the intercommunal music school). But it is now a matter of giving it another dimension, on a territorial scale.

An ambitious and structuring project

The strategic project carried by the CCVH aims to be ambitious, structuring and dynamic, within the Grand site de France-Grand site d’Occitanie. It is a global and integrated vision that it develops around three axes. Heritage and cultural first, by restoring and enhancing historic buildings so that they become an essential place for artistic dissemination. The tormented history of the abbey will be respected and transmitted thanks to an interpretation space.

The economic factor, then, through the creation of an arts and crafts village, with production, presentation and sales workshops, shared practice and training spaces. A business hotel focused on the specificities of the abbey (training, architecture and decoration, artistic, archaeological, communication and digital creation) will be created. Without forgetting the tourist aspect in this new center where Aniane will become a crucible of creation, integrated into a common history with the abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, as well as the potters' village of Saint-Jean-de-Fos.
Finally, the urban planning aspect is also essential: with the future developments, reflection is underway on the modalities of openness, accessibility and a desire for gentle circulation.

Memory and the future

Returning this place to its emblematic appearance was the common thread of the various interventions.  Claude Carceller, who for 40 years was an educator within the Institute of Supervised Education for Minors, sees in this confinement a hope for some of them: "We restored damaged people, we showed them that they were capable of doing things well". Philippe Salasc, mayor of" ;rsquo;Aniane, recalled that it was from the foundation of the monastery that the entire Hérault valley developed. An influence well beyond the territory, since it was Saint Benedict of Aniane who organized the reform of monasticism throughout Europe.

For the DRAC, it is both this great history and this heritage which make the site famous, and which will ensure strong and lasting support from the State, in technical, support and above all financial terms.

An artistic gesture sums up the philosophy of the project. An ephemeral fresco was created by two young Anianais, Mara and Kuro: "We were inspired by the place, its history of confinement&hellip ; but there is hope, with the dove of peace, even if we have to go and look for it at the very top. Subsequently, the wall on which it is affixed should be destroyed but a spirit will remain. Because it is obvious to everyone that it is an exceptional heritage building in terms of its history, its memory and its soul.

The work program

The restoration of the abbey is part of the CCVH’s 2016-2025 territorial project. The first phase will focus on rehabilitating the chapel of the former penitentiary into a modular space with a capacity of 250 seats. The necessary arrangements to accommodate events and the public in the best possible conditions will be implemented: a main reception entrance, dressing rooms, storage space, offices for the culture center and a terrace to enjoy the sun.

Which represents a total investment of 2.479 million euros excluding tax, financed 33% by the State, 7% by the Department and 2% by the Region. Credits are currently being processed, such as the European Feder fund (19%). Eric Suzanne, sub-prefect of Lodève, has undertaken to have the State compensate the sum of 900,000 euros incurred by the CCVH during the acquisition of the property. rsquo;abbey, when it should have been sold for a symbolic euro. This phase is expected to last 12 months. Other projects will be deployed in the coming years, including security and covering of the cloister.

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