Abbaye Sainte-Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire, Gothic abbey in Morvan Forest, France
Abbaye Sainte-Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire is a monastery set in the forested landscape of the Morvan region, nestled beside granite rock formations and the Trinquelin stream. The abbey features Gothic architecture and sits in a remote woodland setting that has shaped monastic life here for generations.
The monastery was founded in 1850 by Father Jean-Baptiste Muard as a new religious community in this remote forest. For more than a hundred years, the monks published scholarly works about Romanesque architecture before turning their attention fully to contemplative practice.
The Benedictine community here follows a daily rhythm built around prayer, work, and shared meals that shape life in the monastery. Visitors can witness the monks singing in the church during services, which forms the heart of their spiritual practice.
The monastery operates two guest houses where visitors can stay and experience aspects of monastic life with the community. There is a bookstore on the grounds, and it helps to contact ahead or check opening hours, as access is limited to certain times.
The name comes from a rocking stone formation that could once be moved by human pressure, now sealed and crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary. This unusual rock feature became part of the monastery's identity and remains a curious element on the property.
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