Cistercian knowledge

The association is keen to meet its members' expectations regarding knowledge of the Cistercian world.

The Charter therefore organises visits to abbeys, holds its General Assembly in Cistercian sites, coordinates regional meetings, welcomes guest speakers and disseminates information from research conducted at member sites.

The Charter also makes this possible by organising biennial two-day sessions (in French) which we now call ‘Cistercian Knowledge Days’.

Research has progressed considerably over the last three or four decades. The days when scholarly works could be counted on the fingers of one hand are long gone. The 900th anniversary of Cîteaux in 1998 was a milestone.

There is a wealth of documentation, ranging from popular works to the most specialised studies. The subjects covered are both general and specific: history, archaeology, architecture, gardens, hydraulics, music, illuminations, etc.

The ‘Cistercian Knowledge Days’

These days are open to member abbeys, subject to a contribution towards costs.

These sessions traditionally take place in a so-called living abbey, i.e. an abbey where a Cistercian community lives. Participants stay and eat at the guesthouse of the host abbey. The sessions last two days, which is the time needed to listen to the speakers and engage in dialogue with them.

Eight to ten lectures are on the agenda. They cover general or specialised topics (see above). It should be noted that these conferences are all the more valuable and enriching because they provide researchers with a unique opportunity to present the results of their ongoing research. In other words, these are not academic presentations, but lively discussions. This is one of the facets of these sessions.

Another facet, no less enriching, is the dialogue that naturally arises: dialogue with the speakers, of course, but also dialogue between the participants; dialogue with the monks, but also dialogue with the association's leaders who are present.

Needless to say, these exchanges also provide an opportunity to gather opinions and suggestions for improving future sessions.

These study days are an opportunity to visit the host abbey and its surroundings in depth. They usually take place in the spring.