Belmont Abbey

Belmont Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in North Carolina featuring a Gothic Revival cathedral with two towers of different heights and steep roofing made of brick. The main building was finished in the 1890s and continues to house the monastic community as well as a connected college.

The monastery was founded in 1876 by monks from Pennsylvania who established a new monastic community in this location. From 1910 to 1977 it operated as a territorial abbey, carrying out certain diocesan functions during that period.

The monks here follow a way of life centered on prayer and work, and visitors can attend services to experience how the community structures its day. The rhythms you notice—the sound of bells, people moving quietly through corridors—reflect spiritual practices that shape everything that happens here.

The abbey is located near Charlotte and welcomes visitors who want to attend daily prayer services throughout the week. Guided tours are available and offer insight into how the place is organized and what its buildings contain.

The abbey serves as the mother house for two other Benedictine communities located in different states. This connection shows how monastic networks have grown from this original foundation.

Location: Gaston County

Inception: 1876

GPS coordinates: 35.26130,-81.04380

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03