Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance, Cistercian abbey in Échourgnac, France.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance is a Cistercian monastery in Échourgnac built on former marshland, combining traditional abbey structures with surrounding farmland. The property spreads across several hectares and includes living quarters, prayer spaces, farm buildings, and working fields managed by the resident nuns.
Trappist monks founded the monastery in 1868 and transformed the swampy terrain of the region into productive fields through systematic work. Nuns took over the property in 1923 and have continued to manage it according to the same principles.
The nuns who live here follow the rules of the Cistercian order, which means they spend their days in prayer, study, and practical work on the land. You can see this rhythm reflected in the peaceful layout of the abbey buildings and the working farm that surrounds them.
Visitors can tour the grounds and chapels and should expect simple, functional spaces that match the monastic way of life. Those interested can also stay overnight in guest quarters or purchase products made on site.
The monastery operates a cheese dairy where nuns produce and age specialty cheeses using traditional methods under the Trappe Échourgnac label. These homemade products sold at the abbey shop offer visitors a tangible connection to the daily work of the community.
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