A historical Background

The Aulps Abbey is located in the heart of the Dranse valley of Morzine, in the current village of Saint Jean d' Aulps.  It was founded around 1095 by a group of monks from the Abbey of Molesme in Burgundy and was affiliated, following a visit from Saint Bernard, with the Cistercien order in 1136. Thanks to many land donations, the monastery thrived very quickly and became one of most powerful of medieval Savoy.

After the great days of the Middle Ages during the 12th and 13th centuries, follows a period of turmoil. The management and key postes of the monastery are subject of serious quarrels. Conflicts of jurisdiction oppose Aulps to the neighbooring cannons of Abondance or to the lords of Allinges.

In 1468, after the death of Jean the Host, last regular abbot, the abbey is placed under the regime of the commende.  From now on, the abbot is named by the pope and resides very little at the abbey. This administration accelerates the material decline of the monastery. The last monks leave the abbey driven out by the French revolutionary armies in 1792. 

In 1823, the buildings are destroyed by the inhabitants of Saint-Jean-D' Aulps to rebuild their parish church.  The majestic vestiges of abbey are classified with the Historic buildings since 1902. Archaeological excavations and historical studies were undertaken on the site since 1996. From now on, thanks to this scientific work, the history and the Aulps Estate are better known.