The beautiful Mt Melleray Cistercian Abbey is a fully functioning monastery with 28 Trappist monks, but welcomes visitors wishing ‘to take time 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 (closed Monday) and a heritage centre. It’s signposted 6km north from Cappoquin in the Knockmealdown foothills. Turn right off the road to Mt Melleray for the forest walks and picnic spots at Glenshelane Park .
