Tautra Mariakloster

Tautra Mariakloster is a monastery on the island of Tautra in the Trondheimsfjord, in Frosta Municipality, Trøndelag county, central Norway. The site brings together two eras: the ruins of a medieval Cistercian abbey and a living community of Trappistine nuns. For travellers exploring the fjord, it is a quiet stop with a strong sense of history.

What is Tautra Mariakloster?

The name refers to the modern Monastery of Our Lady on Tautra, home to sisters of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, known as Trappistines. The community was founded in 1999 as a daughter house of Mississippi Abbey in Iowa, in the United States. It is the first permanent Cistercian settlement in Norway since the Reformation. In 2012 the community was raised to the status of a major priory. The Order lists the address as Tautervegen 533, Frosta.

What was the original Tautra Abbey?

The medieval Cistercian abbey was founded on the island in 1207. Monks lived a monastic life here for more than three centuries. In 1532, during the Reformation in Scandinavia, the abbey was dissolved and its lands passed to the Crown. Sources differ slightly on the exact date the community dispersed and on which house it was founded from, so 1532 is best read as the general end point of the abbey's story.

What can you see today?

Sizeable ruins of the abbey church remain. They are relatively well preserved and have long been a favourite destination for visitors to the island. The ruins stand in open, peaceful scenery beside the water, which suits a slow walk and photography. The nearby modern monastery shows that Cistercian life here was interrupted and then resumed after several centuries.

Who is it for?

• Lovers of medieval history and the story of the church in Scandinavia.
• Travellers who want silence and fjord scenery away from the main tourist routes.
• Visitors to Trøndelag who want to see both ruins and a living monastic community.

Since this is a place of prayer, visitors should stay quiet and respect the sisters' daily rhythm. Check opening hours and visiting rules in the monastery's official information before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tautra Mariakloster? On the island of Tautra in the Trondheimsfjord, in Frosta Municipality, Trøndelag, Norway.

When was the old abbey founded? In 1207, as a Cistercian abbey.

When did the abbey cease to exist? In 1532, during the Reformation, when its lands passed to the Crown.

Do monastics still live there? Yes. Since 1999 a community of Trappistine nuns has lived on the island, the first permanent Cistercian settlement in Norway since the Reformation.

Can I see the medieval church ruins? Yes. Sizeable, relatively well preserved ruins of the abbey church remain and are a popular place to visit.

What makes the place special? Medieval Cistercian heritage and revived monastic life meet in one spot, on an island surrounded by the waters of the fjord.