The beautiful Mt Melleray Cistercian Abbey is a fully functioning monastery with 28 Trappist monks, and it welcomes visitors looking for quiet contemplation. The abbey was founded in 1832 by 64 monks who were expelled from a monastery near Melleray in Brittany, France. There are tearooms (open noon to 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday) and a heritage centre. It’s signposted 6km north of Cappoquin in the Knockmealdown foothills.
Turn right off the road to Mt Melleray for the forest walks and picnic spots at Glenshelane Park.
