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Abbaye fortifiée et Parc de Loc-Dieu

MARTIEL , Aveyron – Patrimoine culturel

Exemple unique d’Abbaye Cistercienne du XIIème siècle, fortifiée au XVème siècle. Un joyau d’architecture dans un écrin de verdure romantique de près de 40HA. L’abbaye a abrité durant la seconde guerre mondiale, les toiles du Louvre, dont la Joconde.

Loc-Dieu est un rare exemple d’un domaine cistercien transformé en parc romantique au XIXème siècle, autour des bâtiments monastiques intégralement conservés et familialement habités. La visite permet, à partir du domaine monastique et de son évolution, de découvrir le monumental vestibule du château, puis le cloître, la salle du chapitre et enfin l’abbatiale. Le séjour de la Joconde et des peintures du Louvre en 1940 est évoqué par une petite exposition de « Jocondes transfigurées ».

Langues parlées : Français – Espagnol – Anglais – Néerlandais – Allemand

• Du samedi 30 mars 2024 au mardi 30 avril 2024
• Du mercredi 1 mai 2024 au dimanche 30 juin 2024
• Du lundi 1 juillet 2024 au samedi 31 août 2024
• Du dimanche 1 septembre 2024 au lundi 30 septembre 2024
• Du mardi 1 octobre 2024 au dimanche 3 novembre 2024
• À partir de 7€ / individuel adulte
• À partir de 5,5€ / individuel enfant
• À partir de 5,5€ / groupe tout public

Moyens de paiement

• Chèque Vacances
• Carte bancaire

Prestations

Equipements

• Parking autocar
• Aire de pique-nique
• Accès handicapés
• Visites groupes guidées
• Visites guidées
• Nombre de personnes min 10
• Nombre de personnes max 50

Localisation

Abbaye fortifiée et Parc de Loc-Dieu Loc Dieu 12200 MARTIEL

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L 'abbaye fortifiée de Loc Dieu , la plus ancienne abbaye cistercienne du Rouergue, est aujourd'hui un monument historique privé entouré d'un superbe parc romantique de 40 Ha. Loc Dieu vous accueille lors de visites guidées individuelles ou en groupe, également lors des journées du patrimoine et pour les concerts dans son abbatiale du XIIe siècle.

Durée de la visite : environ 1 heure . 

Monument ouvert du  30 mars  au 3 novembre 2024

Avril, octobre et novembre : mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, et samedi 10h-12h et 14h -17h30 /

Dimanche 14h-17h30

Mai, juin, septembre : mercredi, jeudi, vendredi et samedi 10h-12h et 14h-18h

Dimanche 14h-18h

Juillet et août : lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, et vendredi 10h -18h

La dernière visite de la journée est à 16h15

Tarif plein :  7e  

Tarif réduit moins 7-17 ans : 5,50e

Tarif réduit PMR  :  5,50e

Monument ouvert sur RDV.

Prix des visites de groupe: 5,5€/p (Gratuit pour les accompagnateurs)

Contact : Abbaye de Loc-Dieu ( 06 83 47 47 36 ) 

A proximité :

                       Forteresse de Najac 12260, grand site Midi-Pyrénées , la plus impressionnante des places fortes des Comtes de Toulouse.

                      La bastide de Villefranche de Rouergue, sa collégiale  et sa chartreuse

Abbaye de Loc Dieu

Martiel 12200

Villefranche de Rouergue

06 83 47 47 36

[email protected]

© Tous droits réservés par 

abbayedelocdieu.com

Home - Activities - Places to visit - Fortified Abbey and Park of Loc-Dieu

Abbaye fortifiée et Parc de Loc-Dieu

Loc Dieu 12200 Martiel

A unique example of a Cistercian Abbey from the 40th century, fortified in the XNUMXth century. A jewel of architecture in a romantic green setting of almost XNUMXHA. During the Second World War, the abbey housed the canvases of the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa.

Loc-Dieu is a rare example of a Cistercian estate transformed into a romantic park in the 1940th century, around monastic buildings that have been fully preserved and inhabited by families. The visit allows, from the monastic domain and its evolution, to discover the monumental vestibule of the castle, then the cloister, the chapter room and finally the abbey. The stay of the Mona Lisa and the Louvre paintings in XNUMX is evoked by a small exhibition of "Transfigured Mona Lisas".

We speak: Spanish, English, Dutch, German

• fortified set

Location details

Group accepted from 10 to 50 people

In order to view the different information, you can use the navigation arrows placed to the right of the table

Payment method

• French "Chèques vacances"
• Credit card
• Coach parking
• Picnic area.
• Access for disabled
• Service - Partly outdoors and partly covered
• Guided group tours
• Guided tours

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God! This Place is Beautiful or the Amazing Story of Loc-Dieu

As the oldest Cistercian abbey in the Aveyron, it might seem like a square of stones laying in the countryside. However there’s something magical about Loc-Dieu — meaning ‘ God’s location ‘— and it’s sort of a miracle that such a harmony has survived throughout the centuries.

The Loc-Dieu park extends over 150 acres. Gently rolling greens, a quiet pond in which reflects the silhouette of the castle and high foliages, that’s quite a surprise after one knows the stunted trees to be found on the plateau surrounding, an oasis! One can imagine the density of the primitive forest. The people during the prehistoric times had established their sacred burials around this natural sanctuary. There was an impressive dolmen standing. It was once said — is it truly a legend? Not for sure — the druids were adept at human sacrifices.

Unimpressed by the mystery surrounding the place, brigands settled there during the 8th century, right after the devastating invasion — booted out though by Charles Martel at Poitiers’s battle in 732 — by the Moors in Rouergue. Bandits gave a bad reputation to the location, inspiring more fear and horror than anything else, more so that the name of ‘Locus Diaboli’ — Devil’s Location — got given to it.

How Locus Diaboli Became Loc-Dieu

Medieval monks were somehow conquerors. They drew, in accordance with ‘The Rule’, the energy to deliver the mission they were assigned to; push back the Evil and build on Earth the City of God.

Sometimes their adventure required physical courage and endurance. On March 21, 1123, Roger, abbot of the monastery of Dalon, in Limousin region, picked up twelve enthusiast monks to found a new abbey. On their way along the Roman road from Cahors, they stopped at Puech d’Elves. After planting the cross on the ancient dolmen, these sons of Saint-Benoit built their cenobite huts. The nearby brigands did not like their new neighbourhood, thus tried to scare the monks, to deprive them from their meagre belongings. However, Adhémar III, bishop of Rodez, and local nobles proved themselves quite generous and the building of the abbey was on its way. Monks had to remain silent when working, stopping every hour to sing a psalm. Eventually, the new abbey was done in 1154. However they still needed to build the the abbey’s church. Building the church seemed to be out of financial reach, so much that several abbots quit on it, after considering the magnitude of the task. However, a simple monk Albert, got elected abbot father in despair. He found support and financial help from the rich abbey of Bonneval. Albert’s successor, Pierre I got the church finished and consecrated in 1189, after more than thirty years of ups and downs. Thus ‘Locus Diaboli’ became then ‘Locus Dei’, nowadays Loc-Dieu.

For centuries, men prayed, worked in silence, practiced charity at Loc-Dieu. Monks cleared and organized a beautiful agricultural space. They fish from the pond as they abstain from meat. They helped out the disabled Crusaders back from distant crusades. They welcomed pilgrims on the road to Compostella.

However, the Saint-Benoit Order fine balance got disturbed by History’s turmoils. The Hundred-Years War devastated Loc-Dieu. During the XVIth century, the disaster is of a different nature; revenues of the abbey are now awarded to an outside recipient, the commendatory abbot. Many abbeys got ruined by these privileges and the monastic spirit became scarce.

In 1789, Loc-Dieu is home to only three monks. In 1793, land and buildings are sold as national property to a local businessman, seduced by the farmland’s quality rather than by the monastic buildings. It was the end of the abbey.

In 1812, a rich Villefranche de Rouergue entrepreneur bought the estate and monastery, all in quite bad shape. His son brought it back to life running the farm business. He built his apartments above the chapter room, where the monks got their dormitory. Then, his brother Alfred took over the estate and monastery. Alfred, an MP, sponsored hospices, schools, bought the (in ruins) Château de Najac to save it from its fate. The Romantics such as Victor Hugo, François-René de Chateaubriand, or Prosper Mérimée found inspiration in the Middle Ages. The renovation of Loc-Dieu at this period of time embodies this trend in stone.

From 1855 on to now, the restoration of two other wings of the monastery and the church have been on-going.

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If you’re not drawn to large organized group tours, the idea of travelling with a maximum of 7 people is very appealing. It allows for flexibility and down-time in the itinerary, which is a must for an experiential tour. Another amazing thing about this experience is how few other tourists you will ever see—and no tour buses!

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Loc-Dieu Abbey

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the aveyron.

Not far from Villefranche-de-Rouergue , in a peaceful, verdant setting in the commune of Martiel , stands the Cistercian abbey of Loc-Dieu, whose shape resembles that of a castle. Founded in 1123, then fortified in the 15th century, the old abbey still has a beautiful Romanesque church made of ochre stone, as well as a Gothic cloister rebuilt circa 1470. All around the monastic complex lies a romantic park complete with a lake, ideal for a leisurely stroll. A watchtower at the highest point of the park also offers a lovely view of the surrounding area.

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Related articles Loc-Dieu Abbey

Abbaye fortifiée et Parc de Loc-Dieu

MARTIEL , Aveyron – Cultural heritage

Unique example of a 12th century Cistercian Abbey, fortified in the 15th century. Transformed into a park and château, it has conserved its monastic parts and its original domain.

Loc-Dieu is a rare example of a Cistercian domain transformed into a romantic park in the 19th century, around the integrally conserved and family inhabited monastic buildings. The visit enables, from the monastic domain and its evolution, discovering the château’s monumental vestibule, then the cloister, the chapter house and lastly the abbey-church. The Mona Lisa living room and paintings from the Louvre in 1940 is evoked by a small exhibition of “Jocondes (Mona Lisa) transfigurées”.

Spoken languages : French – Spanish – English – Dutch – German

• From samedi 30 mars 2024 to mardi 30 avril 2024
• From mercredi 1 mai 2024 to dimanche 30 juin 2024
• From lundi 1 juillet 2024 to samedi 31 août 2024
• From dimanche 1 septembre 2024 to lundi 30 septembre 2024
• From mardi 1 octobre 2024 to dimanche 3 novembre 2024
• Chèques Vacances
• Carte bancaire
• Coach parking
• Picnic area
• Accès handicapés
• Visites groupes guidées
• Guided tours
• Minimal number of persons 10
• Maximal number of persons 50

Abbaye fortifiée et Parc de Loc-Dieu Loc Dieu 12200 MARTIEL

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Life on La Lune

A journey through life in southwest france, from monks to mona lisa: l’abbaye de loc-dieu.

Imagine a place the locals dreaded so much that they named it locus diaboli , the devil’s place. A lonely, remote spot near the major trade route between Rodez and Cahors, with dark woods bristling with bandits lying in wait. And yet this was where a group of Cistercian monks founded an abbey in the 12 th century, and the name of the place was transformed to locus dei , or Loc-Dieu, God’s place. I revisited the abbey, which is now privately owned, last week, after a gap of 12 years or so.

Cistercian purity

The Cistercian order branched off from the Benedictines in the late 11 th century in search of a purer, simpler and more austere life. This quest for purity is reflected in the architecture of their abbeys. They rejected colour and decoration in favour of minimalism and plainness: worshippers should not be distracted by ornamentation. In doing so, they created, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful buildings in France.

The Cistercians built their abbeys in isolated, tranquil places, away from the materialism of towns and villages. Access to water and the ability to be self-sufficient were important criteria. The Abbaye de Beaulieu, not far from us, was also a Cistercian foundation and its site lives up to its name – beautiful place.

Monastery to fortress

Today, the church at Loc-Dieu, whose construction began in 1159, is the only part of the original abbey that remains. The place was burnt down during the Hundred Years War by the “English” – possibly not English at all, but bands of mercenaries who roamed about terrorising the natives when they weren’t being paid.

The monks rebuilt the abbey as a fortress, complete with a tower and machicolations, in the hope of deterring further attacks. They were not trained in combat, but their ruse seemed to work, since the place was left alone after that. They reconstructed the peaceful cloister at the same time.

Decline and renaissance

On the eve of the Revolution, only three monks remained in residence. The abbey, by now in a state of disrepair, was sold as a bien national in 1793, as happened to many such buildings. During the early 19 th century, the church was used as a cow byre, reflecting the fate of the Abbaye de Beaulieu in the 20 th century.

Happily, Loc-Dieu was restored twice during the 19 th century and became a private residence. The restorations introduced neo-Gothic elements that were never part of the original Cistercian architecture. The chapter house was turned into an orangery and a moat was constructed to drain damp from the walls that rose from the clay soil. The park was also landscaped during the 19 th century, with groups of trees forming eye-catching vistas.

You can take a guided tour of the abbey (in French). Since it’s still owned and occupied by the same family, you don’t get to see much of the interior: the entrance hall, the chapter house, the cloister and the stunningly beautiful church.

You can also stroll around the extensive grounds.

Saving La Joconde

Where does the Mona Lisa (known as la Joconde in France) come in? Leonardo’s painting was evacuated from Paris in 1940, along with many other works of art, in a logistically complex operation. They were lodged at Chambord first, but this was too close to Paris, so the paintings were moved again and some 3,000 of them ended up in the more remote Loc-Dieu in June 1940. However, this was only a temporary stay, since it was clear that the damp site could damage the fragile paintings. The much-travelled Mona Lisa went on the move again to the Musée Ingres in Montauban.

In addition to guided tours, the owners organise occasional concerts in the church during the summer. It’s also open during les Journées du Patrimoine in late September each year. More details on the website .    

This post is taking part in the #AllAboutFrance linky, where you’ll find interesting posts about travel in France and French culture generally.

You might also like:

When the Mona Lisa Smiled on the Aveyron

L’Abbaye de Beaulieu – A Hidden Gem

On the Carpet: the Tapestries of Montpezat-de-Quercy

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15 comments

[…] From Monks to Mona Lisa: L’Abbaye de Loc-Dieu […]

[…] From Monks to Mona Lisa: L’Abbaye de Loc-Dieu […]

[…] From Monks to Mona Lisa: l’Abbaye de Loc Dieu […]

That church! So beautiful! DO they open up more of the house during les journées du patrimoine, do you know? I’d love to see more. Thanks for linking to #AllaboutFrance

Like Liked by 1 person

It is lovely, isn’t it? So pure and simple. Yes, they are opening more of the building during les journées du patrimoine this year, 21-22 Sept. This is what it says on their website, “Ouverture exceptionnelle et en visite libre de l’ancienne porterie, du réfectoire du personnel et d’une chambre monumentale au deuxième étage d’une tour du XVème. Visites guidées du RDC de l’abbaye.” https://www.abbayedelocdieu.com/visites So that’s rather more than you would normally see. Most of the place is now private family apartments. Thanks for organising #AllAboutFrance.

What a serene spot – and wonderful to see all the buildings so well cared for!! How I wish that it wasn’t so far away!!

It is a lovely spot, and the place is impeccably maintained, which I imagine must cost a bit.

Lovely building…one to go on my hit list. Thank you.

Certainly worth visiting if you’re in the area, even if only for the wonderful site. For 2 euros you get access to the park only, if you don’t want to see inside the building itself.

What a beautiful article about a stunningly beautiful church and so very interesting bits of history. La Gioconda in a damp cloister….. good heavens!!! How fascinating.

Thank you, Kiki. It was lovely to revisit after a gap of a number of years. La Joconde seemed to be none the worse for its stay at Loc-Dieu, fortunately. It was there from June to October 1940, but they wanted to move it before the winter and the damp set in with a vengeance. It is a well-travelled painting – including being stolen from the Louvre at one point!

Thank you for that. Hope to visit Loc Dieu in September. So glad your cat found her way home. X

If you go during les Journées du Patrimoine, which I think are 21-22 September this year, you might see more of the abbey interior. I believe they open rooms on those days that are not normally open to the public. Yes, huge relief here about the cat.

What a wonderful place! Thank you for the article.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The Cistercians certainly knew where to site their abbeys.

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Abbaye de Loc-Dieu

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Abbaye de loc-dieu - all you need to know before you go (2024).

• Sun - Sun 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Wed - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Wed - Sat 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• (11.62 km) Domaine du Bouygues
• (8.72 km) Urban Style Hôtel les Fleurines
• (10.16 km) Logis Hôtel le Relais de Farrou
• (7.96 km) Le Couvent de Neuviale
• (13.55 km) Mas de Laché
• (11.96 km) Auberge de la Grange du Cros
• (8.75 km) La Gabelle
• (10.16 km) Le Relais de Farrou Restaurant
• (13.80 km) L'Oustal del Barry
• (8.63 km) Jacques a dit
• (8.61 km) Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs
• (13.23 km) DuPrem
• (8.26 km) Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur
• (13.85 km) Forteresse de Najac
• (8.79 km) Collegiale Notre-Dame

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Loc-dieu abbey.

Martiel, France

Founded in 1123 in a place formerly called Locus Diaboli (Latin for 'devil's place') due to the large number of dolmens around it, tm abbey was renamed Locus Dei  in Latin by the monks, which in French became  Loc-Dieu, both meaning the 'place of God'.

Burnt down by the English in 1409, it was rebuilt in 1470, and the abbey was fortified.

The abbey was suppressed and its assets sold off as national property by the French government during the French Revolution in 1793. The Cibiel family bought it in 1812, and Cibiel descendants still live in it today.

The buildings were restored in 1840 (the east wing) and in 1880 (the south and west wings).

In the summer of 1940, paintings from the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa, were hidden in Loc-Dieu to keep them safe from German troops.

The abbey and its large park are now open to visitors.

Architecture

Built between 1159 and 1189, the church remains intact. This is one of the first Gothic buildings in southern France, designed by architects from Burgundy. Cistercian rules are followed, i.e. the greatest simplicity possible, with no decorations other than the stone and light. Cloister and Chapter room, rebuilt in 1470, replaced the previous Romanesque cloister. They present a strong Gothic style.

• Monasteries in France
• Castles and fortifications in France
• Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)

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Abbaye de Loc-Dieu

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Abbaye de loc-dieu - all you need to know before you go (2024).

• Sun - Sun 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Wed - Sat 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Wed - Sat 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
• (11.62 km) Domaine du Bouygues
• (8.72 km) Urban Style Hôtel les Fleurines
• (10.16 km) Logis Hôtel le Relais de Farrou
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• (10.16 km) Le Relais de Farrou Restaurant
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Hiding the Mona Lisa: Loc-Dieu

Between 1939 and 1945, the Mona Lisa was shifted to five different hiding places in the French countryside. 

What better place to hide priceless works of art than a quiet medieval abbey tucked away in southern France? At first, Loc-Dieu abbey seemed perfect for hiding the Mona Lisa and the Louvre’s invaluable collection from the grasp of the Nazis.

But as the Louvre staff got settled at Loc-Dieu over the summer of 1940, it soon became apparent that the overwhelming dampness of the medieval church threatened to damage the fragile paintings—especially those painted on wooden panels like the Mona Lisa. 

And there were more than 3,000 of the Louvre’s paintings tucked away in Loc-Dieu’s low-lying outbuildings.

It was only a matter of time before the world’s most famous painting was packed up and spirited away once again.

I hope you’ve enjoyed immersing yourself in the world of Renaissance Florence and 1940s France! Research is one of my favorite things about writing a book. I hope you’ll take the time to explore more of this behind-the-scenes section of my web site to learn historical tidbits related to  The Stolen Lady .

Don’t forget to drop a comment below. i’d love to hear from you.

I am reading “the stolen Lady” and it has woken me up to look for more information about the wonderful castles and their stories

Same here. I love novels that have historical settings. Thank you for your research and bringing this part of history back to life.

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Le site officiel du Tourisme en Aveyron

Top 12 the gorges of Aveyron TOURISTIC GUIDE

Diversity is what awaits you all along the Aveyron: heritage, culture, outdoor activities are all here.

The château at Séverac-le-château will charm you, you will be amazed by Rodez and its cathedral with its very particular bell tower. The picturesque village of Belcastel is a serene location. In Villefranche-de-Rouergue and Najac, you are in bastide country where you will relive a rich mediaeval past. This is also where the more courageous will amuse themselves in the turmoil of the river Aveyron.

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Along the Aveyron river

Continue along the Aveyron and you will reach the village of Belcastel classed as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (most beautiful villages in France). This is a picturesque village where the inhabitants have preserved the ancient houses. The magnificent château was pulled from the ruins during the 1970s by the architect Fernand Pouillon, who had fallen in love with the little village.

Now an unmissable site in the Aveyron, you will find a unique charm in Belcastel, splendid architecture and if you like walking, the numerous footpaths along the river will delight you.

Touristic guide of Belcastel

Villefranche-de-Rouergue

The Rouergue Bastide par excellence! A very regular plan, with its streets set out in a grid that lead to the central square lined by arcades. The impressive collegiate church dominates the square and watches over the market held every Thursday.

It is thanks to a rich commercial past that Villefranche was able to build the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur charterhouse in the 15th century, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

Touristic guide of Villefranche-de-Rouergue  

At Najac, the Aveyron valley becomes tumultuous, tight gorges encircle the bastide.

Very quickly you understand why Najac is classed as one of the “ Plus Beau Village de France ” (most beautiful villages in France): of course, there is the impressive forteresse royale perched on the rocky ridge; its village with its unique street that looks as if it is balanced along the rocky ridge. But there is also its environment and its natural riches, with the river below that enables you to enjoy outdoor activities: mountain biking, canoeing, walking…

Touristic guide of Najac

moving away a little

The chateau de bournazel.

Visit the pastoral village of Bournazel and its castle, considered to be one of the most beautiful examples from the 16th century. Replete with luxurious furniture, objets d'art, and contemporary paintings, you will be immersed in the humanistic, educated atmosphere of a bygone golden age. The carved decorations and restored garden evoke this era’s most stunning creations.  The guided tours (closed on Tuesdays) will help you discover the beauty of this unique place. Visit the Château de Bournazel

Peyrusse-le-Roc

Walk through the little village nestled in greenery, and climb the rocky peak leading to the ruins of Peyrusse and a captivating viewpoint. If you are not one for heights, why not take a country walk instead, crossing a charming little stone bridge and ending up at the bank of the Audierne stream ?

Visit Peyrusse-le-Roc  

LOC-DIEU ABBEY

Visit the fortified abbey and its park during the summer; it is a splendid place for a walk all year round. Interesting fact: The Mona Lisa, as well as other paintings from the Louvre fleeing from the invading German forces during the Fall of France, were placed here for a few months in 1940.

Visit Loc-Dieu Abbey  

Villeneuve d’Aveyron

There are two stories told about Villeneuve: the story of the ‘ sauveté ’ (a privileged district in which fugitives could seek refuge) established around its Church in 1053, and that of the bastide developed by Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse from 1231 onwards. These events have given the town its singular and attractive architecture. During your walk around Villeneuve d’Aveyron, pay a visit to the Maison de la Photo , which houses the permanent Jean-Marie Périer exhibition in a beautiful residence. His photographs have become classics of the golden age of rock music. Take a look at the tourist guide to Villeneuve d’Aveyron.

TO GO FURTHER

INFORMATION &  CONTACT

Office de tourisme ouest aveyron - bureau de villefranche de rouergue.

Promenade du Guiraudet 12200 Villefranche-de-Rouergue

+33 (0)5 36 16 20 00

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Trans-Siberian Railway Prices

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Ticket prices for the Trans-Siberian Railway also depend on the current ruble exchange rate.

Is the Trans-Siberian Railway expensive?

Before starting on your Trans-Siberian Railway adventure you naturally want to know what the entire trip will cost. Although this sounds like a simple question, it is pretty difficult to answer. The Trans-Siberian Railway price of travel depends on the following factors:

• Which travel class do I want to use? The price for a first class ticket is about three times the price of a 3rd class ticket
• Am I willing to buy the tickets myself and assume responsibility for the organisation of the trip?
• How many stopovers do I want to make? The more breaks, the higher the total price.
• What sort of accommodation do I want? Will it be a luxury hotel or will a hostel dormitory be sufficient?
• What tours and excursions would I like to go on?
• What is the current exchange rate for rubles?

Basically, everything from a luxury to a budget holiday is available. If you buy yourself a 3rd Class nonstop ticket at the counter, a few hundred Euros will cover the price. All you will experience is a week on the Trans-Siberian train and will see nothing of the cities on the way. There is, however, any amount of room for upward expansion. Everyone makes different choices about which aspects they are willing to spend money on. I personally prefer to save money on accommodation and railcar class, visit as many cities and do as many trips as possible. To enable better classification of your travel expenses I have contrasted two typical traveler types. In the third column you can calculate the total cost of your own journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that these are only rough estimations and not exact prices.

The all-in costs seem fairly high at first. However, they cover everything and it is quite a long journey taking four weeks. Many people forget to consider that when looking at the list. We should also deduct the running costs for food and leisure at home. I think most visitors to this page will classify themselves somewhere between the two categories, that is around the € 2,000 – € 2,500 range. When comparing these prices with other travel packages, you get the impression that it is hardly worthwhile travelling individually on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that most packages last no more than 14 days and you are herded like cattle through the most beautiful locations.

If you spend less time on the Trans-Siberian Railway you will, of course, pay less. I chose this particular travel length because I prefer not to do things by halves. If you fulfill your dream of travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, enjoy it and don’t rush things. But it’s up to you, of course. Try playing around with the form a bit to find the appropriate price for your trip.

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3 | 12 | 24 | All --> Arts & Culture Tours

The State Tretyakov Gallery

The State Tretyakov Gallery (usually being called Tretyakovka) is an art gallery in Moscow, specialized in Russian visual arts and it’s one of the world’s biggest collections. The Gallery is named after Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, Moscow merchant and patron of arts, and it’s been bearing his name with proud and gratitude for over a hundred years. In 1856 Tretyakov started his collection by acquiring two works by Russian artists, "Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers" by V.G. Khudyakov and "The Temptation" by N. G. Schilder.

Gallery of European and American Art of the 19th-20th Centuries

Moscow City Center - Tour Duration: 1 hour

The Art Gallery is a section of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. It's rooms  contain the artworks by masters  of the 19th and 20th centuries:  Art of Romanticism, Realism, Academic and Salon Art, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Avant-garde and artistic trends of the 19th century as well as the paintings of Ingres, Delacroix, Corot, Daumier, Courbet, Millet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, Chagall, Rodin, Maillol, Bourdelle and other masters of the 19th and 20th centuries.

About Me in Short

My name's Arthur Lookyanov, I'm a private tour guide, personal driver and photographer in Moscow, Russia. I work in my business and run my website Moscow-Driver.com from 2002. Read more about me and my services , check out testimonials of my former business and travel clients from all over the World, hit me up on Twitter or other social websites. I hope that you will like my photos as well.

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