Opaline Lotion

From Ireland to Poland, from Italy to Scotland, monasteries protected and developed large and important parts of Europe's cultural and spiritual heritage. In medieval times monasteries were - even by today's standards - large and important enterprises. Work and worship continues to this day in many places; there are about 4 dozen monasteries and convents all over Europe which produce wines and spirits, delicacies, traditional bodycare products, handcrafted items and books. We have decided to present a few of these items: top of the range body care products made by monks and nuns from Wales, France and Italy.

Chantelle is an old Romanesque complex near Vichy, which resembles a fortress. Since 1853 it has housed Benedictine nuns, in the abbey of St. Vincent. Although it is not one of the great and famous monasteries, the building complex high above the river possesses a great deal of charm and originality. For this reason alone, the monastery has become a fixture on the itinerary of any traveller exploring the Départment of Allier. But there is also another reason to visit the Benedictines, namely the personal care products that have been made by the sisters since 1954. In fact, in order to cope with the growing work, the monastery now employs appropriately trained employees. Nevertheless, St. Vincent is the only monastery in France where the personal care products are developed, manufactured and bottled on site in the abbey.