Monastère Notre-Dame de Bouzy-la-Forêt, Benedictine monastery in Bouzy-la-Forêt, France
The Monastère Notre-Dame de Bouzy-la-Forêt is a Benedictine monastery in a small French village, featuring a church surrounded by two cloisters with modern architectural design throughout. Only one cloister is open to visitors, while the other serves the monastic community's private life.
The Benedictine community was founded in Orleans in 1640 and relocated multiple times throughout its history before establishing itself permanently at this site in 1999. This extended journey shows how the order adapted and persisted over the centuries.
The nuns follow Saint Benedict's Rule while maintaining daily religious services, including morning mass at 8:30 AM and evening vespers at 5:00 PM.
The monastery operates a small shop where visitors can purchase Eau d'Emeraude, a skincare and oral care product made from local honey and aromatic plants produced by the nuns. The site is best visited during daylight hours when the accessible cloister and church can be fully appreciated.
The church contains stained glass windows created by Bernard Foucher that depict scenes from Genesis while blending contemporary artistic techniques with religious iconography. These windows showcase how the monastery has integrated modern creativity into its spiritual spaces.
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