Hauterive Abbey stands as a remarkable testament to Cistercian monastic architecture, notable for its blending of spiritual simplicity and harmony with nature. Founded in 1138, the Abbey has experienced several periods of change and has not always been occupied by monks. In the 19th century, after the monks had been expelled by the Radical powers of the day, it became a school of agriculture and then a teacher training college. The monks returned in 1939 and took up residence again.
The Abbey stands in a meander of the Sarine, a position chosen for its tranquillity and rich natural resources. The Cistercians favoured sites such as this, which offered an ideal setting for prayer and meditation. The river crossing its lands supplied water to the Abbey and was used for crop irrigationas well as providing power to a mill.
The cloister, the heart of the monastery, was built in the 14th century from local sandstone and reflects nature’s fundamental elements, offering a perfect analogy to the natural world. Combining water, plants and stone, the open garth evokes a peaceful world in communion with its Creator. Two fountains symbolise the presence of God, the source of all life and beauty. The atmosphere inside the cloister, in a harmonious mirroring of the world outside, invites contemplative silence and prayer.
Cistercian architecture is characterised by its simplicity. Its sturdy yet extremely elegant constructions feature no superfluous ornamentation and manifest the ceaseless, deep searching for authenticity proper to the life advocated by these monastic communities. Hauterive Abbey is no exception to the model. Over the centuries, it has received new additions, suchas its oak-wood choir stalls, recognised as a masterpiece of medieval sculpturein Switzerland.
The community living in the Abbey today continuesto fulfil its original mission, celebrating God in seven Offices a day and once during the night. It also welcomes those seeking a place of prayer and spiritual retreat.
The monks support themselves by working the landand creating a variety of artisanal products, such as the almond ‘palet’ biscuits available in their shop.
Sources :
- Guide artistique de la Suisse 4b
- https://www.abbaye-hauterive.ch/la-communaute/labbaye-cistercienne/qui-sommes-nous
- Father Abbot Dom Marc, Hauterive Abbey
- Brother Emmanuel, Hauterive Abbey
- Dr Corinne Charles, art historian(www.abecedart.ch)
