CHOCOLATE FACTORY OF NOTRE-DAME-DE-LA-PAIX ABBEY
A chocolate factory in a haven of peace offering cultural, natural and gourmet visits as well as spiritual retreats
The Abbaye Notre-Dame de la Paix is made up of olive groves, vineyards and a large, beautiful building dating back to the 16th century. In 1950, to ensure their livelihood, the sisters began their activity as artisan confectioners and chocolate makers. This activity enabled them to maintain their religious life with times of prayer and silence. Since then, they have carried on the tradition of making confectionery, concentrating mainly on chocolate. This homemade specialty has acquired a high quality over the years and today consists of pure cocoa butter chocolate with hazelnut praline from Piedmont and lightly roasted and ground almonds from Spain. To make sure you're eating a sweet from the monastery, the sisters have designed a "MONASTIC" logo that certifies the origin of the culinary pieces.
From a historical point of view, founder Dom Bernard Barnoin aspired to a monastic life but rejected the austerity of the Trappists and Carthusians, so he decided to create a community of monk farmers at Senanque Abbey.
A cultural, natural and gourmet visit, but that's not all... This haven of peace also offers individual or group spiritual retreats for guests in search of silence and spirituality. Stays range from two to six days, and a room for 20 people can also be rented. If you're looking for peace and quiet, Notre-Dame de la Paix is the place to be.