Charlemagne
The name of the village of Camon comes from the Latin cambo dunum, meaning meander fortress. In fact, the fortified village developed on a loop formed by the river Hers.
Legend has it that it was Charlemagne who, on his return from Spain in 778, ordered the construction of a monastery and a modest church. However, texts attest that the abbey already existed in the 10th century, under the authority of the powerful Abbey of Lagrasse.
During the Hundred Years’ War and then the Wars of Religion, the priory and the entire village perimeter were entrenched behind powerful walls. Parts of these two walls are still visible, and include a number of features that allow us to appreciate the evolution of military architecture over the centuries.
Until the French Revolution, the successive priors at the head of the monks’ community worked tirelessly to embellish their church and the abbey-chateau. Today, these two jewels are only accessible as part of our guided tours of Camon.
Camon Abbey 2
