Chartreuse de la Verne
Collobrières, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
The Chartreuse de la Verne is a Carthusian monastery founded around 1170 in the remote Massif des Maures, south of Collobrières in Provence. Built from distinctive…
What it's like here
The Chartreuse de la Verne is a Carthusian monastery founded around 1170 in the remote Massif des Maures, south of Collobrières in Provence. Built from distinctive local green serpentine stone and fortified on a rocky spur, it sits deep in a chestnut and oak forest, reached by a narrow winding road and then a gentle 700-metre walk on foot. The site has been burned and rebuilt three times in its medieval past, abandoned after the French Revolution, and is now home to a community of Bethlehem nuns who live in individual hermitages dedicated to silence, prayer and craft work.
What draws visitors is the quiet itself. The 12th-century Romanesque church is the only space shared between the nuns and guests, and both move through it in silence — a rare and deliberate pause in a trip. The self-guided route takes you through the gatehouse, the bakery, a preserved monk's cell, and the fortified ramparts and towers visible through the trees as you approach. Photography is permitted throughout. The whole visit asks for and repays a slow, contemplative pace: this is not a bustling heritage site with crowds or crowds or audio tours, but a working monastery that allows visitors into its rhythm.
The setting is isolated and forested, part of what makes it worth the effort to reach. The approach road is narrow and not suitable for large vehicles, and from June to September it may close entirely on high fire-risk days as part of forest fire prevention in the Var department — worth checking the local risk map before setting out. Allow 1–2 hours for the visit, which works best in the morning or afternoon when light moves well through the stone.
The nuns sell handmade ceramics and crafts in the shop at the Porterie. Admission is modest, and a printed guide booklet is provided; the route is straightforward to follow independently. The monastery sits listed as a historic monument and is a place for those who appreciate history, solitude and architecture in genuine quiet — couples, solo travellers and small groups all visit, though it is not designed for wheelchair users or those seeking lively interaction.
Highlights
- The 12th-century Romanesque church, shared in silence between nuns and visitors
- Green serpentine stone ramparts and towers, quarried locally and fortified on a rocky spur
- Preserved monastic spaces: gatehouse, bakery and monk's cell, with printed guide for self-guided route
- Handmade ceramics and crafts made and sold by the nuns at the Porterie
- The isolated forest setting: 700-metre walk through chestnut and oak after parking, with Lac de la Verne nearby
Good to know
Hours vary seasonally (roughly 11:00–18:00 June to August, 11:00–17:00 September to May); closed Tuesdays from All Saints' Day to end of March, all of January, and on religious holidays. Admission from €7 (adults €7, students €5, ages 12–18 €3, groups of 10+ €5 per person). The access road is not suitable for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and coaches are prohibited; parking is free but limited. From 21 June to 20 September, the road may close on high fire-risk days — check the Var department's fire-risk map before travelling. No wheelchair access. Photography is allowed. Check the official website or local listings for exact seasonal hours before your visit.
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Questions people ask
Can I visit any time of year?
Most days yes, but there are closures to check: Tuesdays after All Saints' Day until the end of March, all of January, and religious holidays. From June to September, the access road may close entirely on high fire-risk days, so check the Var department's fire-risk map before travelling in summer.
How do I get to the monastery?
You drive along a narrow winding forest road to a free car park at the end, then walk 700 metres on a flat dirt track through the forest to the monastery. The access road is not suitable for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and coaches are prohibited.
Who lives there now?
A community of Bethlehem nuns has lived there since 1986 in individual hermitages, following a life of silence, prayer and craft work.
Attributes & facilities
Facilities
Time
Other
Last verified: September 12, 2026