La Valsainte Charterhouse, Carthusian monastery in Cerniat, Switzerland.
La Valsainte Charterhouse is a functioning Carthusian monastery in Switzerland's Gruyere region, set in a valley surrounded by forested slopes. The main buildings date to the early 1700s, with later additions expanding the complex over the following centuries.
The monastery was established in 1295 and faced significant challenges including a destructive fire in 1381. It later provided shelter to monks from other orders fleeing conflict in France during the late 1700s.
The community living here follows a way of life centered on silence and contemplation within individual cells. Visitors walking through the grounds can sense the quiet routine of prayer, reading, and manual labor that shapes each day.
The monastery is located in a remote valley and is best reached on foot using local hiking paths. Only the public chapel is open to visitors, while the monks' living quarters and work areas remain private spaces.
This remains Switzerland's only active Carthusian monastery, with a small international community of monks. The fact that members come from different countries and maintain ancient monastic customs unbroken for centuries makes this place distinctly special.
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