Port-du-Salut Abbey, Trappist monastery in Entrammes, France.
Port-du-Salut Abbey is a Trappist monastery located on the banks of the Mayenne River near Entrammes. The complex features substantial stone buildings and gardens built on the site of a former Celtic settlement.
The monastery was established in 1815 when Trappist monks led by Dom Bernard de Girmont returned after 20 years of exile during Napoleonic suppression. This community was among several religious groups that rebuilt themselves in France at that time.
The abbey is known for producing Trappist cheese in its workshops, a craft that connects monastic life with daily work. Visitors can see and purchase this product, which reflects how the community sustains itself through traditional food production.
The monastery welcomes visitors throughout the year and offers around 30 rooms for overnight stays. Guests should check opening hours in advance and dress respectfully, as this remains an active place of prayer.
A column called Notre Dame du Triomphe stands on the hill behind the monastery, where Pope Pius IX once granted indulgences for prayer. This religious monument remains a curious reminder of how faith was practiced in earlier centuries.
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