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Monasteries and abbeys are not only places of silence and retreat: they are also guardians of History. Even Stéphane Bern devoted one of his programs to Sénanque Abbey. In France, several of them, still active today, bear the imprint of centuries of spirituality, art and resistance. Here are five abbeys accessible via RITRIT, true jewels of monastic heritage.
1. Saint-Martin de Ligugé Abbey: at the origins of Western monasticism
Founded in 361 by Saint Martin of Tours, Ligugé Abbey is considered the oldest still-active monastery in Western Europe. Despite the tumults of history — invasions, wars, Revolution — it survived and was constantly reborn. It became a major center of Benedictine monasticism, and played a key role in the transmission of Christian knowledge and manuscript culture.
Today, the monks continue to live there according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, combining prayer, work and hospitality. The abbey also perpetuates rare crafts, such as the making of natural inks, and welcomes retreatants who come to taste the depth of silence.
2. Sainte-Marie du Rivet Abbey: an abbey forged by trials
Nestled in the forests of Entre-deux-Mers, Sainte-Marie du Rivet Abbey has been mentioned since the 8th century. Affiliated with the Cistercian order in 1189, it experienced a turbulent history: sacked several times, rebuilt in the 17th century, it rose from its ruins to become an example of monastic faithfulness through trials.
Today, a community of Cistercian nuns lives there according to the tradition of manual labor and prayer. Its architectural beauty, its isolation and the serenity it inspires make it a privileged place for a timeless retreat.
3. Sablonceaux Abbey: from sanctuary to refuge during the Great War
Located in Charente-Maritime, Sablonceaux Abbey is a remarkable example of historical adaptation: founded in the 12th century, it survived the Revolution to rise from its ashes, then took an unexpected turn during World War I. The buildings were transformed into an orphanage, welcoming children from neighboring villages, indirect victims of the conflict. This social role during the war is now an integral part of its identity.
Today, entrusted to the Chemin Neuf community, the abbey has regained its spiritual and cultural vocation, while preserving the memory of this time when the monastic walls became a place of protection and hope.
4. Fleury Abbey: the beating heart of the Benedictine tradition
An iconic site of French religious heritage, Fleury Abbey has housed since the 7th century the relics of Saint Benedict, father of Western monasticism. Very influential in the Middle Ages, it became a radiant intellectual center thanks to its library and scriptorium. Its Romanesque architecture is among the finest in France, with an imposing abbey church, punctuated with sculpted capitals and a magnificent bell tower porch.
Still inhabited by Benedictine monks, it continues to be a place of prayer, hospitality and cultural influence. Each visit is a journey through time… and toward oneself.
5. Tournay Abbey: faith rebuilt in the post-war period
Less ancient but no less significant, the Benedictine abbey of Tournay was founded in 1952, in a post-war context marked by the need for spiritual reconstruction. It quickly became a major place of contemplation in the Pyrenees, combining modern architectural simplicity and Benedictine tradition.
The monks live there in harmony with the surrounding nature, between agricultural work, hospitality to guests and communal prayer. Tournay demonstrates that monastic life is not frozen in the past, but continues to reinvent itself with precision and authenticity.
Places where History continues
These five abbeys are not vestiges of the past: they are living places, inhabited, marked by centuries but open to the present. By visiting or staying in them, one enters a history in motion — that of faith, silence, beauty, but also of transmission, resistance and renewal.
With Ritrit, you can not only discover these treasures, but especially experience them from within. Because sometimes, to understand history, one need only listen to it in silence.
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