Abbaye de la Joie Notre-Dame, Cistercian monastery in Campénéac, France
Abbaye de la Joie Notre-Dame is a Cistercian monastery in Morbihan with stone buildings showing functional design and simple architecture. The complex follows the order's principles with unadorned rooms and straightforward layouts throughout the grounds.
The monastery relocated to its current location in 1953 when the sisters moved from Sainte-Anne-d'Auray with help from the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Timadeuc. This move marked a significant change for the community's development.
The nuns here live according to Cistercian tradition, marking their days with prayer and work as outlined in Saint Benedict's rule, blending contemplation with manual tasks.
The shop here opens on Tuesday through Sunday in the afternoon with homemade Breton shortbread, chocolate items, and regional products available for purchase. Visitors should note that opening hours are limited to afternoon times and the selection focuses on local handmade goods.
The nuns have produced Breton baked goods for many years and started making chocolate about two decades ago, bringing a craft tradition to the monastery. These handmade items represent how the community blends daily monastic work with small-scale production.
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