La Trappe Abbey | Roman Catholic church

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Is a monastery in Soligny-la-Trappe, Orne, France, and the house of origin of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae), Reformed Cistercians or Trappists, to whom it gave its name.It began as a small oratory chapel to the Virgin Mary, built in 1122 by Rotrou III, Count of Perche, as a memorial to his wife Matilda (illegitimate daughter of Henry I), who drowned in the White Ship disaster of 1120. A few years later he built a monastery adjoining, which he offered to the monks of Breuil-Benoît Abbey near Dreux, a house of the Order of Savigny, highly respected at that time for its fervour and holiness. In 1140 the monastery of La Trappe was itself raised to the status of abbey. In 1147 Savigny Abbey, with all its affiliated monasteries, was united to the Cistercian Order, and from that time onwards La Trappe was a Cistercian abbey, immediately subordinate to the abbot of Clairvaux.From 1664 La Trappe was the centre of a thorough reform of the Cistercian Order, led by de Rancé, to which the abbey gave its name, and which made it famous.
The abbey did not escape the general fate of religious houses under the French Revolution and pursuant to the decree of 13 February 1790 against the religious orders of France, was suppressed. Some of the monks were martyred.
The monastery was entirely rebuilt the new church was consecrated on 30 August 1895.
These are the buildings, in Neo-Gothic style, which are still to be seen, and are still occupied by the Trappist community of 34 monks (2009). The Cloistered Monastery is very limited regarding visits.