The Cistercians are a Catholic religious order of enclosed monks and nuns formed in 1098, originating from Cîteaux Abbey. Their monasteries spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, but many were closed during the Protestant Reformation, the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII, the French Revolution, and the revolutions of the 18th century. Some survived and new monasteries have been founded since the 19th century.
There are a certain number of medieval monasteries and other Cistercian buildings (salt factories, watermills) that are abandoned or ruined, or converted into hotels such as Monasterio de Piedra or St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church.
Cistercian monasteries are divided into those that follow the Common Observance and the Strict Observance (Trappists). There are currently nearly 169 Trappist monasteries in the world, the home of approximately 2500 Trappist monks and 1800 Trappist nuns.FAQ-eng
Europe
France
Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsCîteaux AbbeyTrappist1098Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux, Côte-d'Or17911898Latin Cistercium, from which the Order's name derives.Pontigny Abbey11141843Second of the four great daughter houses of Cîteaux; refounded by the Fathers of St. EdmundClairvaux Abbey1115Third of the four great daughter houses of Cîteaux; founded by St BernardMorimond Abbey11151791Fourth of the four great daughter houses of CîteauxMazan Abbey1120Abbey of Loc-Dieu11231793Le Thoronet Abbeyca. 1150sBrignoles1785Silvacane Abbey1144La Roque d'Antheron1443Abbey of Sénanque1148GordesOur Lady of the SnowsTrappist1850Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, ArdècheLérins Abbey1869Île Saint-HonoratFounded on the site of a monastery established by Saint Honoratus ca. 410.Bonneval AbbeyTrappist nuns1147Le Cayrol, Aveyron17911875Bonneval means Good Valley.
Great Britain and Ireland
Belgium Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsAulne Abbey637 - 1147Thuin1794Important ruinsLa Cambre Abbey1196IxellesHemiksem Abbey1243Hemiksemca. 17951836 in BornemHerkenrode AbbeyNuns1182Kuringen1797Orval AbbeyTrappist1132Gaume17931935The Orval Brewery produces two well known Trappist beersTen Duinen Abbey1107–1138Koksijde and Bruges1796The Abbey was moved from Koksijde to Bruges in the 17th centuryVillers Abbey1146Villers-la-Ville1796Impressive ruinsWestmalle AbbeyTrappist1794–1836WestmalleBornem AbbeyBornemsuccessor of Hemiksem Abbey
Central and Eastern Europe Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsStična Abbey Common Observance1132Stična, Slovenia17841898http://www.sticna.euJędrzejów AbbeyCommon Observance1140Jędrzejów, Poland18191945Wągrowiec (formerly Łekno) AbbeyCommon Observance1153Wągrowiec, Poland1835Sulejów AbbeyCommon Observance1176Sulejów, Poland18191986http://www.sulejow.cystersi.plWąchock AbbeyCommon Observance1179Wąchock, Poland18181951http://www.wachock.cystersi.plMogiła AbbeyCommon Observance1222Kraków, Polandhttp://www.mogila.cystersi.plSzczyrzyc AbbeyCommon Observance1224Szczyrzyc, Polandhttp://www.szczyrzyc.cystersi.plZirc Abbey1182Hungaryca. 15401701http://www.ocist.huIgriș Abbey -1179Romania1551 -Cârța Monastery -1205-6Romania1474 -Kołbacz -1210Poland1347 -Kutjevo1232CroatiaBélakút Abbey -1235Vojvodina, Serbia1688 -Krzeszów Abbey1242Poland
Scandinavia Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsAlvastra Abbey1143Östergötland, Sweden1544Ordered torn down by Gustavus I in 1544Nydala Abbey1143Småland, Sweden15292008Three Vietnamese monks arrived on 6 June 2008Lyse Abbey1146Norway1537Hovedøya Abbey1147Oslo, Norway1532Burned prior to the ReformationVarnhem Abbey1150Västergötland, Sweden1566Julita Abbey1160Södermanland, Sweden1527Esrum Abbey1151 by Archbishop Eskild & Bernard of ClairvauxZealand, Denmark (Sjælland)After The Reformation 1536Sorø Klosterkirke1161 by Bishop AbsalonZealand, Denmark (Sjælland)ca. 1580Founded by monks from Esrum AbbeyVitskøl Abbey1158 by Archbishop EskildJutland, DenmarkAfter The Reformation 1536Founded by monks from Esrum & Varnhem, SwedenLøgum Abbey1173 by Bishop Stefan (Finished in 1325)Jutland, Denmark1548Burned in 1190 and therefore finished 1325Roma Abbey1164Gotland, SwedenBefore 1531Founded by monks from Nydala AbbeyTautra AbbeyTrappist1207Norway15371999StamsundCommon ObservanceLofoten Islands, NorwayRecently established
Germany Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsHimmerod AbbeyMonks1134 by Bernard of ClairvauxGrosslittgen2017https://www.abteihimmerod.de/Lehnin Abbey1180Lehnin1542http://www.klosterkirche-lehnin.de/Marienstatt Abbey1212Streithausen near Hachenburghttps://www.abtei-marienstatt.de/Bebenhausen AbbeyMonks1187Bebenhausen1535https://www.kloster-bebenhausen.de/en/homeBottenbroich AbbeyNuns1234Kerpen18021448 as monks priory. 1802 parish church. 1951 demolishedHeiligkreuztal MonasteryMonks1227Heiligkreuztal1803https://www.klosterheiligkreuztal.de/startLichtenthal AbbeyNuns1248Baden-Badenhttp://www.abtei-lichtenthal.de/Priory MariawaldMonks1486Heimbach17951861, Trappists, 2018 finally closedhttps://kloster-mariawald.de/ Maulbronn Monastery Monks 1147 Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg 1648 https://www.kloster-maulbronn.de/start Porta Coeli Nuns 1630; 1647 Himmelpforten 1634 Salem Abbey Monks 1136 Salem, Baden-Württemberg (near Lake Constance) 1802 Waldsassen AbbeyNuns1133Waldsassen, Bavaria (near Czech border)1863http://www.abtei-waldsassen.de/Zinna Abbey1170Jüterbog1553http://www.kloster-zinna.com/index.php
Austria Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsHeiligenkreuz AbbeyCommon Observance1133Heiligenkreuz, Lower Austriahttp://www.stift-heiligenkreuz.org/Lilienfeld AbbeyCommon Observance1202Lilienfeld, Lower Austriahttp://www.stift-lilienfeld.at/Rein AbbeyCommon Observance1129Near Gratwein, Austriahttp://www.stift-rein.at/Stift StamsCommon Observance1273Imst District, Austrian state of Tyrol, near Innsbruck1807, 1939 1816, 1946http://www.stiftstams.at/?lang=enZwettl AbbeyCommon Observance1138Zwettl, Lower Austriahttp://www.stift-zwettl.at/
Czechia Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsSedlec Abbey1142(Near) Kutná Hora, Bohemia17831144Plasy, Bohemia1785Osek abbey1199Osek, Bohemiahttp://www.klaster-osek.info/Porta coeli ConventNuns1233Předklášteří near Tišnov, Moravia1782, 19501901, 1990http://www.portacoeli.cz/Vyšší Brod Monastery1259Vyšší Brod, Bohemia19411989http://www.klastervyssibrod.cz/Zbraslav Monastery1292Zbraslav, today in Prague, Bohemia1785Nový Dvůr MonasteryTrappist2002Near Toužim, Bohemiahttp://www.novydvur.cz/Klášter Naší Paní nad VltavouTrappist nuns2007Křečovice, Bohemiahttp://www.trappistevitorchiano.it/storia-fondazioni-nasi-pani-cz.asp
Italy Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsSt.Peter and Paul Abbey1131Abbadia Cerreto, LombardyCertosa di Pavia1396Certosa di Pavia, LombardyChiaravalle Abbey1135Milan, LombardyMorimondo Abbey1134Morimondo, LombardyPiona AbbeyColico, LombardyRovato AbbeyRovato, LombardyViboldone Abbey1176San Giuliano Milanese, LombardySanta Maria Arabona1209Manoppello, Abruzzo1587Santa Maria Casanova1191Villa Celiera, Abruzzo1807Santa Maria della Vittoria1277Scurcola Marsicana, Abruzzo1550Santi Vito e Salvo1247Villa Celiera, Abruzzo1453Santo Spirito d'Ocre1248Ocre, Abruzzo1692S. Maria di Chiaravalle di FiastraCommon Observance1142Urbisaglia15811985http://www.abbadiafiastra.net/Monastery of CalabromariaAltilia di Santa Severina1784Abbazia di San Giusto, TuscaniaCommon Observance1146Tuscania1460?2012https://web.archive.org/web/20130607043624/http://www.abbaziadisangiusto.it/
Spain and Portugal Abbey Type Founded Location Closed Re-established DetailsSanta María la Real, Fitero1141Fitero, Spain1835Santa María de la Oliva1134Carcastillo, Spain18351927Poblet Monastery1151Catalonia, Spain18351940sListed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1991Monastery of Alcobaça1153PortugalListed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1989Convento de Santa Maria do Bouro1195PortugalCasbas Monastery1196Casbas de Huesca, Aragon, Spain2004Previously a Benedictine community; in 1196 it became CistercianMonasterio Santa María de Valdediós1200Asturias, SpainReal Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Rueda1202Ebro, Spain1835Includes important hydrological works from the Middle Ages, including a dam on the Ebro and a massive waterwheel or "rueda", which diverted some of the river flow to a Gothic aqueduct for distribution to various parts of the monastery., Villamayor de los MontesBurgos, SpainOur Lady of Bujedo de Juarros AbbeyBurgos, SpainMonastery of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas1187Burgos, SpainMonasterio de Santa María de Solius1967Girona, SpainMonastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce12th centuryClavijo, SpainThe Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce, located in La Rioja, is a symbol of religious heritage and peace. Founded in the 12th century, it began as a small church built on the site where Saint Prudentius' remains were divinely guided to rest.
North America Canada AbbeyTypeFoundedLocationDetailsWebsiteAbbey of Notre-Dame du LacTrappist1881Oka, QuebecNotre Dame du Calvaire AbbeyTrappist1902Nouvelle-Arcadie, New BrunswickNotre-Dame de l'Assomption AbbeyNuns (Trappist)1904Nouvelle-Arcadie, New BrunswickAbbey of Notre-Dame-de-NazarethMonks1932Rougemont, Quebec Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bon ConseilNuns (Trappist)Saint-Benoît-Labre, QuebecMonastery of Notre-Dame de MistassiniTrappistDolbeau-MistassiniOur Lady of the Prairies AbbeyTrappistHolland, ManitobaAbbey Val Notre-DameTrappistSaint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec
United States
Abbey Type Founded Location Details WebsiteAbbey of GethsemaniTrappist1848Trappist, KentuckyHome of Thomas MertonNew Melleray AbbeyTrappist1849Peosta, IowaMake wooden coffins.Our Lady of Spring Bank AbbeyCommon Observance1920sSparta, WisconsinClosed 2011. Supported itself with financial investing, real estate, forestry and rental of farmland. It also operated "Laser Monks", which provided recycled laser toner and ink jet cartridges.Monastery of the Holy SpiritTrappist1944Conyers, GeorgiaMount Saint Mary's AbbeyNuns (Trappist)1949Wrentham, MassachusettsDaughter house of St. Mary's Abbey (Glencairn, Waterford).Mepkin AbbeyTrappist1949Moncks Corner, South CarolinaLumber, egg production, and dairy in the past. Now they produce shiitake and oyster mushrooms.Assumption AbbeyTrappist1950Ava, MissouriHoly Cross AbbeyTrappist1950Berryville, VirginiaSt. Joseph AbbeyTrappist1950Spencer, MassachusettsFounded as Our Lady of the Valley Abbey in Central Falls, Rhode Island in 1900. Moved 1950 after a fire destroyed most of their buildings. They brew and produce incense.Abbey of the GeneseeTrappist1951Piffard, New YorkOur Lady of Guadalupe Trappist AbbeyTrappist1955Lafayette, OregonThe community moved from the abbey at Pecos, New Mexico (founded 1948) to Oregon, where farming gave higher yields.Abbey of New ClairvauxTrappist1955Vina, CaliforniaSt Benedict MonasteryTrappist1956Snowmass, ColoradoNow a former monastery. The property was sold in 2025 and is now privately held.Valley of Our Lady MonasteryNuns (Common Observance)1957Prairie du Sac, WisconsinThe first Cistercian nunnery in the United States, founded by nuns from the Swiss Abbey of Frauenthal.Our Lady of Dallas AbbeyCommon Observance1958Irving, TexasFounded from the Cistercian monastery of Zirc in Hungary. Runs the Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving, TXOur Lady of the Redwoods AbbeyNuns (Trappist)1962Whitethorn, CaliforniaFounded from the Cistercian monastery of Nazareth in Belgium.Our Lady of the Mississippi AbbeyNuns (Trappist)1964Dubuque, IowaDaughter-house of Mt. St. Mary Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts.Santa Rita AbbeyNuns (Trappist)1972Sonoita, ArizonaOur Lady of the Angels MonasteryNuns (Trappist)1987Crozet, Virginia
Australia and New Zealand