The Abbey of Our Lady of Belloc (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Belloc en français; Belokeko monasterioa in Basque; Abbatia Immaculati Cordis Mariae apud Bellum Locum in Latin) is an abbey of Benedictine monks located in Urt, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Nouvelle Aquitaine). This monastery was founded in 1875.
The Abbey of Our Lady of Belloc is located at the crossroads of the Basque, Béarn, and Landes regions. The monastic community there is composed of Benedictines, who are part of the Order of Saint Benedict.
The community belongs to the diocese of Bayonne (France), Lescar, and Oloron.
Today, the community of Benedictine monks of Our Lady of Belloc consists of about ten monks. Since July 2022, they have moved into the Sainte Scholastique Monastery of Urt, 500 meters from the Abbey, where they continue their activities.
The Habitat et Humanisme association has been working in collaboration with the Benedictine friars since 2019 to ensure the restoration of the site. The project is to create activities centered around training, housing, as well as spirituality and culture.
History
In 1875, Father Bastres, a priest of the Diocese of Bayonne, founded with a few confreres the first Benedictine abbey in the Basque Country, called Notre-Dame de Belloc Abbey. Its history has been profoundly marked by the crises of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Ho to get to?
From Pau: 1 hr 3 min (96 km) via A64
From Bordeaux: 2 hr 7 min (205 km) via A63
From Andorra: 4 hr 37 min (390 km) via A64
From Barcelona: 5 hr 44 min (483 km) via A-2
From Paris: 7 hr 5 min (789 km) via A10
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
See here Andorra travel guide
