Saint Bernard Fountain of La Trappe Abbey

Active monastery founded in the 11th century which is home to the famous Trappist monks.
While the abbey of La Trappe was faced, like most monasteries, with a decline in monastic fervor, it was refounded in 1660, following a stricter reading of the rule. This reform is originally called “of the Strict Observance”, but more commonly called “Trappist” in homage to the abbey which gave birth to it.
Trappist life is a form of monastic-type religious life, lived under the rule of Saint Benedict (5th century), father of monks in the West. It is characterized mainly by a life voluntarily led apart from the world, in order to favor prayer. This punctuates the day of the monk who goes to church seven times a day. It is also a life of work, rather manual (about six to eight hours a day). It is also a path of asceticism marked by obedience to an abbot or a prior. In addition to obedience, celibacy, sharing of goods, silence, vigils, and fasts, the path of the Trappist monk is shaped by the community where he chooses to put down roots. This Trappist life combines solitude and community life. Everything the monk lives, he lives in the same momentum with other brothers with whom he prays, eats, works, reads and meditates on the Word of God.Note: to refresh yourself, you can take advantage of the presence of a fountain offering excellent quality spring water offered by the monks.

The Abbey of Notre-Dame de la Trappe is a working monastery, located in Soligny-la-Trappe. Born in the 11th century in the short-lived congregation of Savigny, he joined the Cistercian order like his mother abbey in 1147.

A very beautiful abbey where the Trappist monks are still active. Cyclists and hikers can fill their canisters and water bottles at the available and free water point.