The Palais Abbatial was built under the administration of Louis de Rye (1520-1550), bishop of Geneva, 33rd abbot and first commendatory abbot of Auberive. It marks a profound change in abbey administration that took place in 1520: abbots were henceforth appointed by the King. This was known as the Commende (Concordat of 1520).
The beautiful facade, with its mullioned windows, features a corner turret on the right with a fire hydrant, a reminder of the German Reîtres who passed through here in 1567 and 1587. The large windows were opened in the 18th century, shortly before the main abbey building was rebuilt in 1779-1784. Today, the new commendatory abbots lodge here during their short visits to Auberive. Deserted until after the Revolution of 1789, under the Empire the abbey palace housed the Auberive town hall, the gendarmerie, the Conseil de Révision and the village hall. Abandoned again, this remarkable building has been tastefully restored since 1974 and is now a restaurant. To the left of the courtyard, you can make out the former sheds and stables of the commendatory abbots, and opposite the abbey church, the two houses of the general warden and the forest brigadier, built after the Revolution by Nicolas Caroillon de Vandeuil, purchaser of the abbey (the former is now the home of the O.N.F.)...
