Monks Road, Trappist, Kentucky, USA
Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani
A Trappist monastery in the hills of central Kentucky, famous as the home of Thomas Merton and one of the oldest continuously operating monasteries in the United States.
Gethsemani sits in the quiet hills of Nelson County, Kentucky, about fifty miles south of Louisville. Trappist monks from France founded the community in 1848, and monks have lived, prayed, and worked here ever since. The abbey church is simple — white walls, clean lines, wooden choir stalls where the monks gather seven times a day for the Divine Office. This is where Thomas Merton lived from 1941 until his death in 1968, writing the books that introduced millions of people to monastic life. The monks make bourbon-barrel fudge and fruitcake to support themselves. The retreat house is open to visitors of all faiths who want a few days of silence. The landscape around the abbey — rolling Kentucky hills, old stone walls, quiet roads — is part of the experience.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Louisville
Style: Monastic Gothic Revival
What to See
The abbey church is stripped to essentials — white walls, wood, and the sound of monks chanting. That's the point. The grounds are beautiful in every season. The cemetery where Merton is buried is marked by simple white crosses, all identical.
Pilgrim Notes
The retreat house accepts guests for stays of several days. Book well in advance — it fills up. Day visitors can attend some liturgical hours. The gift shop sells the monks' fudge and cheese. The drive from Louisville passes through Bourbon Country.