It is hard today to imagine the significance of this abbey at its height in the 12C; all that remains is the façade - a fine example of Provençal Romanesque statuary - and vestiges of the chancel and crypt containing the tomb of Saint Gilles. One of the abbey's most fascinating sights is the vis de Saint-Gilles (1142), a spiral staircase which draws stonemasons from far and wide to admire its remarkable construction.