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15,5 km hike in La Bastide-Puylaurent |
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Head towards the train station and cross the level crossing. Then, turn right and follow the path that runs alongside the railway tracks. Approximately 1.5 km later, go under the railway tracks through the small tunnel, cross the Fraisse stream at the ford, and continue to Rogleton. Cross the D906 road and take the small street that climbs straight ahead, then turn right along the Serres stream. About 1 km further, veer right into the forest along the Bois de Serres stream to Felgère (the former location of the abbey), then turn left towards Coulet de Pécoyol, and right towards Croix de Pal. Turn right and descend by following the GR7, GR72, and GRP Tour de la Montagne Ardèchoise trails to Notre Dame des Neiges Abbey. At the parking area, take the road to the right that ascends to the monastery, chapel, and stables. Follow the road and the markers until you reach La Bastide.
4km / 11km / 11,2km / 14km / 15,5km / 16,3km / 19km / 21,5km / 23,2km / 24km
Google Maps - Google Earth - GPX
Distance: 15.5 km Maximum Elevation: 1264 m Minimum Elevation: 995 m Total Elevation Gain: 321 m
IGN Maps: La Bastide-Puylaurent (2738E), Largentière La Bastide-Puylaurent Vivarais Cévenol (2838OT)
The Abbey of Notre-Dame des Neiges, located in Saint-Laurent-les-Bains-Laval-d’Aurelle in Ardèche, is a place of peace and spirituality. Founded in 1850 by Trappist monks from the Abbey of Aiguebelle. For more than 170 years, the abbey was a center of spiritual life and manual work for the Trappist monks. These monks were looking for a place of solitude and prayer, and they found in the Ardèche mountains an ideal setting for their monastic life. In 2022, due to the decline in the number of monks, the community was replaced by Cistercian sisters from the Abbey of Boulaur. These sisters continue the tradition of prayer and hospitality, thus maintaining the continuity of monastic life in this place. The abbey is located at an altitude of 1,100 meters, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The abbey gardens, carefully maintained by the sisters, are a haven of peace where visitors can stroll and meditate. The natural environment around the abbey is rich in biodiversity, with forests, meadows and rivers adding to the serenity of the place. Monastic life at the abbey is punctuated by religious services, which are open to the public. The sisters devote themselves to prayer, manual work and welcoming visitors. They also produce artisanal products, such as jams, herbal teas and care items, which are sold to support the community. The abbey offers the possibility of spiritual retreats, allowing visitors to recharge their batteries in a peaceful and spiritual setting. Retreats can last a few days and include participation in services, times of meditation and walks in nature.
In September 1878, while traveling through the Cévennes accompanied by his faithful donkey Modestine, the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson was captivated by the majestic silhouette of the Notre-Dame des Neiges abbey. Intrigued, he decided to cross the doors of this isolated monastery, far from all the hustle and bustle, for an encounter that would forever mark his journey. To his great surprise, Stevenson was welcomed with a warmth and simplicity that contrasted with the austerity of the place. The Trappist monks, accustomed to solitude, offered him hospitality with sincere kindness. Stevenson was offered room and board, and he was quickly integrated into the peaceful life of the monastic community. Immersed in the heart of monastic life, Stevenson was fascinated by the rigor and discipline that reigned within the abbey. He observed with wonder the regular prayers, the manual work of the monks and the soothing silence that enveloped the place. At the same time, he discovered the splendor of the surrounding landscapes, wild and grandiose, which stimulated his imagination and nourished his inspiration as a writer. From his stay at the Notre-Dame des Neiges abbey, Stevenson wrote a poignant story, entitled "Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes".
Charles de Foucauld at the Notre-Dame des Neiges abbey: a decisive spiritual step
In 1889, Charles de Foucauld, a young French aristocrat in search of meaning and spirituality, crossed the doors of the Notre-Dame des Neiges abbey to embrace monastic life under the name of Brother Marie-Albéric. This moment marked the beginning of a deeply spiritual journey that would significantly influence his life and work. Charles de Foucauld, who came from a wealthy family and had led a worldly life, felt the urgent need to find a deeper meaning in his life. His encounter with spirituality draws him towards a life of simplicity and contemplation. The Notre-Dame des Neiges abbey becomes for him a refuge where he hopes to find the answers to his most intimate questions. Immersing himself in the Trappist community of Notre-Dame des Neiges means for Charles de Foucauld embracing an austere and disciplined way of life. The days are punctuated by liturgical prayers, manual work and silence, thus offering the soul in search of peace an environment conducive to meditation and contemplation.
