Abbey of New Clairvaux

Abbey of New Clairvaux is a Trappist monastery located on former farmland in Vina, California. Its most striking feature is a restored medieval chapter house built from limestone blocks originally quarried in Spain and brought from the 13th-century Abbey of Santa Maria de Ovila in Guadalajara.

The monastery was established in 1955 by monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky who settled on land formerly owned by railroad businessman Leland Stanford. The community brought their monastic traditions westward to California and developed the property into a working agricultural and spiritual center.

The monastic community shapes daily life through regular prayer times that structure the rhythm of the day and can be observed by visitors exploring the grounds. The liturgy is celebrated in the Abbey Church and forms the heart of the residents' daily activities.

The Abbey Church is open for self-guided exploration in the afternoon hours from Monday through Saturday, allowing visitors to walk through at their own pace. Sunday visits are not possible due to religious services, so planning your visit for a weekday is recommended.

The monastic community produces wine from vineyards on the grounds and collaborates with a regional brewery to craft ales under the Ovila brand. This connection between spiritual tradition and regional craftsmanship developed naturally from the monastery's agricultural operations.

Location: Vina

Inception: 1955

Website: http://newclairvaux.org

GPS coordinates: 39.93460,-122.06100

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:01