New Urban Relics
februari 13, 2026
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Initially, the central part of Monastery Antoinette was a castle, inhabited by the Count of Levignan in 1786. The building was expanded and transformed into a monastery in 1904. It was used by French Carmelites as a priory (the second home of the monastic order) until 1927.
From 1927 onwards, they were succeeded by Benedictine monks. During the Second World War, the building was occupied by the Germans. After the war, nuns moved in. When they merged with the Sisters of Saint Augustine in 1969, the priory became a retirement home.
The last residents left in 2008. Since then, the building has remained vacant, at the mercy of the elements. Decay was not long in coming. Due to increasing vandalism, today only a shadow remains of the splendor the priory must once have possessed.
The current state is so lamentable that there is little of interest left to see, even for an urban explorer. To still get away with a few nice shots in such cases, it is always a good idea to focus on the details you find there.
Nevertheless, I did go back for a second visit, only to see the beautiful autumn colors of the parthenocissus, that has been climbing the monastery walls for years...
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