What is it that will stand the test of time? With aging comes decay, too - inevitably. But can it also be reversed? Only time will tell. Throwback to the 1930s: this used to be a French boarding school for boys from the upper class. Today, however, only ruins are left. The college is destroyed and overgrown. Its former grand splendor is fading into collapsed debris. Join our journey into decay!
This present dilapidated state of the property is a stark contrast to the elevated position and noble function the place had before. It is a site rich in history. Thousands of children received their education here, but also young adults from all over the south of France. Yet, it all started way before that. Members of a monastic order, the so-called Benedictines, had founded an abbey here around 1860. Then, 50 years after, a bishop established a seminary at the location. This later became a boarding school for boys of the upper bourgeoisie. In the 1970s, girls were allowed, too. It now was a co-ed college.
The building has suffered a steep downward trend in recent years. After the school closed in the 80s, the property was neglected. Now, there is vandalism and graffiti everywhere. The place was also set on fire once. Explorers coming years before us could even take photos of the church with its roof still intact. Through the broken rooftop rain and wind can enter freely to speed up deterioration even more. By this process, various patterns of decay were created.
One day, the building will collapse over the school bags, exercise books, and blackboards that are still left in place. This site is actually much debated in the adjoining communities. Since the early 2000s, several redevelopment projects have surfaced. One idea was to turn this into a tourist location: a hotel with a spa as well as horseback riding facilities. But all of these plans have come to nothing. To date, there is not much of a chance that the former boarding school will be redeveloped because its condition is desperate. A lot of money is needed, but the people from the surrounding hamlets cannot afford it. It is a relatively poor region. So, the honest view is that even tearing down the structure would be too expensive, due to its sheer size. This means in the end, it is in the hands of time to complete this job.
But it does not have to come to this. Rumor has it that the property could be bought for the symbolic price of one euro. Of course it would need a viable idea for the building's future, as well as a complete restoration, which would cost millions. But maybe someone could be found, who can then give the college a second life and a new meaning. Find more info on this place in our video on YouTube:
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