Abbaye du Mont des Cats, Trappist monastery in Godewaersvelde, France
Abbaye du Mont des Cats is a Cistercian monastery perched on a hilltop near the Belgian border, its thick walls enclosing a religious community. The buildings display the plain, function-focused design typical of this architectural tradition.
The monastery was founded in 1826 and gained official abbey status in 1847. A bombing in 1940 destroyed much of the complex, but reconstruction began in 1950 and restored its operations.
The monks follow a daily rhythm of prayer and manual work that shapes the life of the monastery. Their cheese production using traditional methods is woven into this lived routine and draws visitors who want to understand their craft.
Visitors can stay in one of 30 guest rooms and attend religious services to experience daily monastic life. The nearest train station is in Hazebrouck, making access by public transport straightforward.
On the exterior wall stands a Canadian Memorial honoring soldiers who died in the Flanders region during the First World War. This marker connects the monastery's religious history with a major historical conflict that affected the surrounding landscape.
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