Cloister

Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the cloister was the centre of the daily and spiritual life of the abbey. Surrounded by covered galleries, this inner courtyard communicated with the various buildings occupied by the religious community: the church, the monks’ wing, the refectory and the lay brothers’ section. In the gallery alongside the church, there were benches for reading. Near the entrance to the refectory was a sink (lavatorium) for the monks’ ablutions..