Castagniers Abbey

Castagniers Abbey is a community of Cistercian nuns settled in the village of Castagniers, roughly 12 km inland from Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department. Beyond its role as a place of prayer, the abbey is locally famous for the chocolate workshop its sisters have run for decades — earning them the nickname "the chocolate nuns."

Where is the abbey located?

The abbey sits in the hills behind the Côte d'Azur, in the commune of Castagniers, well away from the coastal bustle of Nice. The property that houses the community was originally farmland — an olive grove and a vineyard — which still shapes the quiet, rural feel of the site today. For visitors, it's a short drive from Nice into a landscape of Provençal hillsides rather than a seafront destination.

How did the community end up in Castagniers?

The story of the nuns now living in Castagniers doesn't start there. The congregation was founded in 1865 by Dom Marie-Bernard Barnouin, the Cistercian monk credited with restoring Sénanque Abbey in Provence. He established a first women's Cistercian house in Mane, in the diocese of Digne. Demand for admission grew quickly, and by 1869 a second monastery, Notre-Dame des Prés, had been founded at Reillanne to accommodate more postulants. The two communities merged at Reillanne in 1872 and stayed there for close to six decades.

It wasn't until 1930 that the sisters relocated to Castagniers, taking over a sizeable 16th-century property complete with its olive grove and vineyard. The community continued to grow there, and in 1962 the house was formally raised to the rank of an abbey.

Why are the nuns known for chocolate?

In the 1950s, Mother Marguerite de la Trinité, then head of the community, set up a chocolate-making workshop as a way for the sisters to support themselves financially. That workshop is still in operation today, and the nuns' handmade chocolates have built a reputation that extends well beyond the abbey walls — drawing visitors who might otherwise never come across a working monastery.

What can visitors do at the abbey?

The community runs a guesthouse for those seeking a retreat or simply some quiet time away from Nice. Life inside follows the Rule of Saint Benedict, meaning days are structured around prayer, work, and periods of silence — anyone booking a stay should expect to fall in with that rhythm rather than treat it as a hotel. There's also a small shop attached to the abbey where the sisters' chocolate and other products are sold, generally open to anyone stopping by, even without an overnight stay.

Frequently asked questions

Is Castagniers Abbey still an active monastery?

Yes. A community of Cistercian nuns lives there under the Rule of Saint Benedict, combining a life of prayer with the abbey's chocolate-making business.

How far is the abbey from Nice?

Castagniers lies about 12 km from Nice, in the hills above the city — the drive typically takes a little over 20 minutes.

Can you visit the abbey or stay overnight?

The nuns operate a guesthouse for retreats and quiet stays. General visiting is limited to the guest areas and the abbey shop; this is a working monastery and place of prayer rather than a conventional tourist site.

Where does the abbey's chocolate tradition come from?

It began in the 1950s when Mother Marguerite de la Trinité set up a chocolate workshop to help the community support itself. Production has continued without interruption ever since.

When did the abbey take its current form?

The sisters settled in Castagniers in 1930, after earlier years spent in Mane and Reillanne. The house was elevated to the status of an abbey in 1962.