L’Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Sénanque in Provence is home to an active Cistercian community that is known for its 12th century monastery and surrounding lush rolling fields of lavender. The Senaque Abbey was occupied by monks of the Cisterian order in 1148 and they thrived for many centuries thereafter. In 1544, the abbey was targeted by revolting Vaudois heretics when the Religious Wars erupted, and during this time, the monks were hanged and much of the abbey was destroyed. The abbey struggled to recover over the next three centuries until the Revolution.

In 1986 the abbay was again restored and repopulated and is an active monastery. Today, you can take a guided tour of the abbey or even attend their masses open to the public. Also available at the abbey to purchase are lavender products (essential oil of pure lavender, a balm made with eucalyptus, thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender), honey and an herbal liqueur made by the monks called Sénacole.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous in a calm, silent, inner spiritual kind of way, you can actually spend a day living like a monk with the monks for 28 euros. I imagine that’s a day full of praying and quiet monk stuff. (Make requests by emailing: frere.hotelier@senanque.fr)

The abbey is only 4 kilometers from the village of Gordes, so be sure to make a stopover if you’re nearby.

L’Abbaye de Sénanque (Senanque Abbey)
84220 Gordes, France
04 90 72 05 72
Hours: 10am-Noon, 2-6pm -Mon – Sat; 2-6pm Sundays (March to October); Mon-Fri. 2-5pm; Sat/Sun 2-6pm (November to February)
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