in 1793, the french revolution put an end to monastic life in moissac. the abbey church of st pierre is relatively intact and is still an active church, but the outlying buildings have suffered considerably. in the middle of the 19th century, the laying of a railway track threatened the cloister but it was saved (though the refectory was demolished to facilitate the railway cutting) and listed as a historic monument. since 1998 the church and cloisters have had international protection as part of a world heritage site, "routes of santiago de compostela in france".