Architecture of Truth: The Cistercian Abbey of Le Thoronet

This book by Lucien Herve conveys the poetry and serenity of the medieval abbey’s architecture and ambiance in an inspired way that is in harmony with its subject. A considerable achievement as the abbey is a place of exceptional understated beauty.

John Pawson makes frequent pilgrimages to it – perhaps to “recalibrate” his own vision to the high ideals expressed in the abbey’s form and its intangible qualities. If a material object can have a spiritual aura of truth and things worthwhile, Le Thoronet Abbey surely does.

John Pawson wrote a great foreword to this beautiful book. It is a treasured item in my collection and I like to look at it, to recalibrate my own vision and goals.

I took a good number of pictures of the abbey during my visit and they are “something” but visiting the abbey in the spring or fall, away from the crowds, is “the real thing”. At the very least, get the book, and if you can, visit the abbey. You’ll be glad you did.

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