DANYI-DZOGBEGAN MONASTERY

The Benedictine Abbey of Danyi-Dzogbégan was founded in 1963 by the Abbey of En Calcat in Dourgne, France. Today, about thirty monks live there daily. The chapel of the monastery is a small architectural masterpiece in the region. Built of circular wood with a mosaic floor of Kpalimé stone, it is covered with an equally remarkable mahogany frame. Entirely built of local materials and renovated in 2016, it is the meeting point for prayers that one can "visit", or rather contemplate. Around the chapel are the rooms of the brothers living here. Two buildings are reserved for guests who wish to spend the night. One can book a night or two, alone or with family, one is always welcomed but let us remember that this place is not a simple hotel but a place of meditation. The acres of vegetable gardens and the farm demonstrate the autonomy of the place. Between prayers, the brothers are busy producing spices, essential oils, coffee and other products that have become famous throughout the country. The production workshops and stills are closed to the public but you will find all the products in the store at the entrance of the monastery: Robusta coffee (they produce about 7 tons per year), honey (about one ton per year), cinnamon, peppermint and very concentrated essential oils, sometimes supplied to pharmaceutical laboratories.