Monastère de Solan, Orthodox monastery in La Bastide-d'Engras, France
The Monastère de Solan is an Orthodox monastery set in a remote valley of the Gard region with vineyards, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens. The grounds contain religious and residential buildings surrounded by cultivated land that supplies food for the community.
The community began in 1978 as the Saint-Antoine-le-Grand monastery, founded by archimandrite Placide Deseille and father Séraphin in the Vercors. Three women joined in 1981 and took monastic vows in 1984; five sisters moved into the house of Saint-Mémoire in June 1985. In 1991 the growing community bought 60 hectares at Solan near Uzès and restored the old farm. The church was consecrated on 13 October 2019.
The daily rhythm here mixes prayer with fieldwork, and you notice the nuns tending gardens while maintaining Byzantine traditions. Their way of life shows how spiritual practice and manual labor are woven together in a working religious community.
The monastery is open several days a week, giving visitors time to walk through the gardens and watch the work happening. It is best to check visiting times beforehand and expect a quiet experience rather than a formal tour.
The nuns make their own wines, vinegars, preserves, and pickled goods without synthetic additives, which you can see during a visit. These homemade products offer a direct glimpse into how their spiritual beliefs connect with everyday production.
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