Abbaye de Belloc

Abbaye de Belloc is a Benedictine monastery in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, built from stone in a setting of rolling countryside. The buildings sit among pastures and fields not far from the Atlantic coast.

The monastery was founded in the 19th century and faced periods of exile during the early 1900s due to French laws of that era. It recovered and continued its work afterward.

The monks shape the rhythm of this place through prayer and work, spending their days in a cycle of services and manual tasks. You can sense this structured way of life as you walk through the grounds.

You can buy handmade sheep's milk cheese produced at the monastery, which is available for purchase on site. It helps to check beforehand when visiting is possible, as opening times may be limited due to the active monastic schedule.

The monks produce a distinctive flat cheese that differs from most European cheese varieties, with its particular flavor coming from the herbs the sheep eat in the local landscape. This special production is something visitors often overlook when learning about the monastery.