The sense of peace and calm was almost palpable as we entered the monastery. We had a sense of the ancient walls towering above us and the cool air surrounding us as we descended the steps into the inner sanctum. The Monastery was founded in 1170 on the initiative of the Bishop of Toulon. It is situated in the picturesque Maures forest close to the river Verne. Fire destroyed the buildings on numerous occasions over the centuries but each time it arose from the ashes. By the 1960s most of the buildings had sunk into disrepair. Since 1968 major refurbishments have been carried out to restore these magnificent buildings to their former glory. It is currently inhabited by the congregation of the nuns of Bethlehem..
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| View of the Monastery from the adjoining hills |
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| The smell of the lavender was sublime |
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| You might just be able to see where the new brickwork has been added to the original walls |
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| Religious statues made in wood and painted in a traditional method |
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| A replica of a former Carthusian monks living quarters – Not exactly first class |
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| Finally our picnic in the Maures forest. Refreshement after our step back in time to what seemed like another era.. |
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