Abbatiale Notre-Dame-de-la-Lumière-au-delà-de-Tout du monastère Notre-Dame-du-Torrent-de-Vie du Thoronet, Cistercian abbey church in Le Thoronet, France
The abbatiale Notre-Dame-de-la-Lumière-au-delà-de-Tout is a monastery church with stone vaulting, a central nave, and windows deliberately positioned to let natural light flow inside. The building was expanded gradually over several decades as part of a larger monastic complex.
The monastery was founded in 1978 and the church emerged gradually until 2007, representing a significant expansion of the Bethlehem Monastic Family in France. This lengthy construction project was part of a broader movement to establish new monastic communities in the late 20th century.
The nuns who live here maintain silence during their daily work and gather eight times each day for communal prayer in the church. These regular liturgical moments shape the rhythm of monastic life and are noticeable to visitors.
Visitors can reach the monastery through marked hiking trails, including the Camino de Santiago, and are welcome during prayer times. It is best to check ahead about visiting hours and any restrictions on when guests can enter.
The nuns lived in temporary construction cabins for 30 years while building the monastery, showing their commitment to establishing the community in this location. This extraordinary dedication is woven into the character of the place today.
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