Saint-Benoît d'Encalcat, Benedictine abbey in Dourgne, France
Saint-Benoît d'Encalcat is a Benedictine monastery in the Montagne Noire built with stone walls following traditional monastic design. The complex includes a church, cloisters, monks' cells, and workshops arranged around interior courtyards.
Founded in 1890 by Dom Romain Banquet, the monastery brought Benedictine monastic life to this remote region. It has remained a center of prayer and community living in southern France since its establishment.
The monks have maintained a living community here for more than a century, devoted to prayer and handwork in daily rhythm. Their singing of Gregorian chants fills the church each day, shaping how visitors experience the place.
Visitors can explore the grounds and attend services during the day, with weekday visits offering a better sense of monastic routine. Modest accommodations are available for those seeking to stay longer and experience daily monastic life.
The monastery operates a zither workshop where monks still craft these uncommon instruments by hand. It also sells recordings of its monastic chants that listeners around the world have come to know.
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