Abbey of Gethsemani

The Abbey of Gethsemani is a Trappist monastery founded in 1848 by French Cistercian monks in rural New Haven, Kentucky, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Trappist communities in the United States. It gained international renown through Thomas Merton, the monk, poet, and spiritual writer who entered the community in 1941 and lived here until his death in 1968 — his autobiography 'The Seven Storey Mountain' drew countless readers to contemplative Christianity. The monks follow a rigorous daily rhythm beginning with Vigils at 3:15 a.m., and the surrounding woodland silence is a tangible part of the experience. Visitors may attend public liturgies, arrange private retreat stays in the guesthouse, or stop at the monastery shop for the abbey's handmade goods, including aged cheeses, fruitcake, and bourbon-laced fudge.