Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey, 7th-century religious compound on Mont Sainte-Odile mountain in Ottrott, France
Mont Sainte-Odile Abbey is a religious monastery perched on a hilltop in Alsace, built from pink sandstone with several chapels and enclosed areas. The compound offers views across the surrounding landscape from its elevated location and contains various historical spaces to explore.
The monastery was founded in the late 7th century when a local nobleman established it for his daughter. Religious communities have remained present there since that early time, shaping the site over the centuries.
The abbey honors Odile, its first abbess and later patron saint of Alsace. Visitors can see spaces where Benedictine nuns have lived and prayed for over thirteen centuries.
The site is accessible to visitors and sits on a hilltop reachable on foot, though the visit involves some walking. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the paths to and around the monastery cross hilly terrain.
The compound is surrounded by a mysterious stone wall built from hundreds of thousands of loose stones and likely dating back to early times. This wall stretches for several kilometers around the hilltop.
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