Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Oelenberg

Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Oelenberg is a former Cistercian Trappist abbey in Reiningue, a small commune near Mulhouse in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace, France. Nearly a thousand years old, the site is known both for its long religious history and for the Trappist cheese once produced within its walls.

When was the abbey founded?

The monastery traces its origins to 1046, when it was established by Heilwige of Dabo, Countess of Eguisheim and mother of Bruno of Eguisheim - later Pope Leo IX, the only Alsatian ever to become pope. In its earliest form the community was a double monastery, housing both monks and nuns under the Rule of Saint Augustine.

How did the Trappists arrive?

Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists, took over the site in 1825, arriving from Kleinburlo Abbey in Darfeld, in the Rhineland region of Germany. Over the following century the community grew substantially: by 1925 it counted around 200 monks, including 80 priests and 120 lay brothers, making it one of the larger Trappist houses in the region.

What did daily life look like inside the abbey?

Life followed the Cistercian motto "ora et labora" - pray and work. The monks' first office of the day began at 4:30 in the morning, with prayers recited seven times daily and the hours in between devoted to farming the abbey's own land, which sustained the community. For most of its history the abbey was closed to lay visitors, a seclusion so strict that it earned a local reputation as a "forbidden city."

Is the abbey linked to a well-known cheese?

Yes. Oelenberg gave its name to a mild cow's-milk Trappist cheese made on site using traditional monastic methods. The community also sold other goods from its own farmland, including organic produce.

Could visitors tour the abbey?

Despite the enclosed nature of monastic life, guided tours were organized for visitors, offering a look at the abbey's history, its architecture, and the daily rhythm of the monks who lived there.

What happened to the community in recent years?

The number of resident monks declined steadily over recent decades, and by 2024 only around ten remained. In June 2024 the community voted to end monastic life at Oelenberg and to dissolve permanently, closing nearly two centuries of continuous Trappist presence at the site.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Oelenberg Abbey located? In the commune of Reiningue, in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace, close to Mulhouse.

When was the abbey founded? In 1046, by Heilwige of Dabo.

When did Trappist monks settle there? In 1825, when Cistercians from Kleinburlo Abbey in the Rhineland took over the site.

Is the abbey still an active monastic community? No - in June 2024 the Trappist community voted to end monastic life and dissolve permanently.

What else is Oelenberg known for beyond its religious history? Its Trappist cheese and the guided tours once offered around the abbey grounds.