The Abbey Saint-Michel

Close until 2028.
The Abbey Saint-Michel is intimately tied to the origins of Gaillac, a silent witness to the town’s long history.
In 972 AD the Bishop of Albi handed some land to a group of Benedictine monks, instructing them to found an abbey there. These monks also set about the business of winegrowing – with great success, it must be said – which contributed to Gaillac’s economic development and to the town’s burgeoning reputation both in France and further afield across Europe.
Ravaged by the Protestants, rebuilding work began in 1570.

If you want an amazing view of the Abbey rising up from the River Tarn, just take a short walk onto the Saint-Michel bridge and look back. The red brick and ochre tones of the building are symbolic of the town of Gaillac, and they blend beautifully with the colours of the sunset.