Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval, Benedictine monastery in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France.
Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy, built in classical style using local limestone. The buildings are arranged around inner courtyards and include a church, living quarters for the monks, and areas set aside for work.
Saint-Joseph de Clairval was founded in 1972 by Dom Augustin-Marie Joly in Clairval, Switzerland, and moved to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in 1976, keeping the name Clairval in memory of that stay. The premises had been built in 1700 as the private mansion of the Marquis de Souhey, governor of Flavigny, and later housed the diocesan Petit Séminaire. Recognized as a monastery of diocesan right on 2 February 1988, it was erected into an abbey in 1992 at the request of the Holy See.
The monks still follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, which divides each day between prayer, study, and manual work. Visitors who arrive at the right time of day can attend sung prayer in the church.
The monastery sits within the village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain and is easy to reach on foot from the parking area at the village entrance. Opening times follow the monks' daily schedule, so it is worth checking ahead before you visit.
The abbey's buildings were originally constructed in 1700 as the private mansion of the Marquis de Souhey, governor of Flavigny, and later housed the diocesan Petit Séminaire before the monks arrived in 1976. The community kept the name Clairval from its first home in Switzerland.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,657 contributors worldwide.