Actuality
Listen to the online album of the community – Lauds and Vespers
Since almost one thousand years, a Cistercian community prays and works in Sénanque.
The Brothers sing seven times a day to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours and in this disk you can listen to the Sunday offices of Lauds and Vespers. This disk is the very first one recorded by the Sénanque’s monks.
Monastic shop
In our monastic shop you can find products from Sénanque but also from more than forty other monasteries.
Selling those products is a way for us to support other communities, helping them to live from their work and to insure the maintenance of the monasteries.
You can also find local products, selected for their quality, fragrances and a vast bookshop.
Click here to see our online shop
Currently our monastic shop is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 18:30, and on Sundays from 11:00 to 18:30.
Click here to see the monastic shop timetables
© Py Rinquin – Abbaye de Sénanque
Offices
For the moment all the offices are celebrated in private.
The liturgies celebrated by the monks of Sénanque are open to all. Please respect the atmosphere of praying and contemplation.
© Py Rinquin – Abbaye de Sénanque
Spiritual retreats
Spiritual retreats
Our monastery guest house is closed for the moment.
We are glad to welcome you for a moment of spiritual retreat to the Abbey. Our monastery guest house welcomes those who want to share our praying life in silence and contemplation. Meals are taken in silence.
A monk tasked to receiving guests can guide you to organize your stay.
© Py Rinquin – Abbaye de Sénanque
Visits of the Abbey
Visits start again at the Abbey !
Unguided tours
From Monday to Saturday: between 9:30 and 11:00 and between 13:00 and 17:00
On Sundays: between 13:30 and 17:00
Guided tours
Because of the current healthcare situation, wearing a mask is mandatory during guided tours. Each visit is limited to twenty persons.
From Monday to Saturday: 10:30 – 14:30 – 16:00
On Sundays: 14:30 – 16:00
Click here to book your visit online
In a matter of sharing, we open the monastery at very specific times to the visitors. This opening is rare for a religious community. When you come to visit, the monks are using another side of the enclosed part. For this reason we kindly ask you to respect the silence and the contemplation. Have a beautiful visit!
Click here to see the timetables, details and reservations
History of the abbey
The Abbey of Sénanque was founded on the 9th of the Calends of July 1148 (23rd June) by a dozen of Cistercians monks coming from the monastery of Mazan, located in Ardèche. Our-Lady of Sénanque was the fourth Cistercian abbey founded in Provence, after Le Thoronet, Aiguebelle and Silvacane.
© Corinne Brisbois
Community
Just like during the 12th century, a community of Cistercians monks is currently living in the Abbey of Sénanque, still following the rule of Saint Benedict.
Seven times a day, the monks gather in the abbey church to pray together.
Visits of the Notre-Dame of Sénanque Abbey
Situated, since the 12th century, deep in its Provençal valley, the Abbey of Sénanque is one of the most pure examples of the primitive Cistercian architecture.
