Monastère Saint-Joseph du Bessillon

Monastère Saint-Joseph du Bessillon is a Benedictine community in Cotignac comprising several white stone buildings arranged at the foot of a mountain slope. Multiple chapels serve the religious activities, and a natural spring flows through the grounds providing water.

A shepherd experienced an apparition of Saint Joseph at this location in 1660, which led to the discovery of a natural spring. This event marked the beginning of a sacred site that gradually developed into an established monastery over subsequent generations.

The monastery is a place where visitors can witness religious ceremonies and observe the spiritual rhythm of monastic life as it unfolds daily. Pilgrims come to pray in the chapels and experience the quiet devotion that shapes the community's routines.

Visitors should be prepared for quiet paths and expect respectful behavior appropriate to an active religious community. Tours can be arranged, but it helps to contact ahead to understand the best times to visit and what to observe.

The spring discovered by the shepherd in 1660 still flows today and visitors often collect the water, believing it carries special properties. This simple practice has continued for centuries and remains a quiet ritual that connects pilgrims to the original event.