Our Lady of the Snows

History

The Abbey of Notre-Dame des Neiges or Our Lady of the Snows is a Cistercian monastery in the Ardèche département of south-central France. The former Trappist monastery has been resettled by Cistercian nuns in 2022. The abbey was built in 1850, and is located within the commune of Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, about one and a half miles east of the village of La Bastide-Puylaurent (Lozère).

Text from the Wikipedia article “Abbey of Notre-Dame des Neiges”, CC BY-SA 4.0.

About Charles de Foucauld

Charles de Foucauld, born as Charles Eugène, vicomte de Foucauld de Pontbriand, in religion Charles of Jesus, was a French monk, Catholic priest and hermit who lived among the Tuareg people in the Sahara in Algeria. He was also an explorer, geographer, ethnographer. Before joining the Trappists as a monk, he was a soldier in the 2nd Hussar Regiment. He was murdered by Bedouin bandits in 1916. His inspiration and writings led to the founding of a number of religious congregations inspired by his example. He was canonized in 2022.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles de Foucauld”, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Visiting

This building is recorded as a residence of the people listed; it may be privately owned and not open to the public. Opening times, tickets and access change, so check the official website before you travel. Get directions.