--- title: "Abbaye de la Pierre-qui-Vire: Visiting the Morvan Monastery" description: "Benedictine monks have lived in this Morvan forest valley since 1850: services, the rocking stone, a shop. About an hour, 1 h 45 from Beaune by driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/abbaye-de-la-pierre-qui-vire lang: en updated: 2026-09-30 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/abbaye-de-la-pierre-qui-vire.png --- # Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey (Abbaye Sainte-Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire) > Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey: a living Benedictine monastery deep in the Morvan forest, beside a legendary rocking stone. Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey is in Saint-Léger-Vauban (Yonne), 1 h 09 by road (91 km) from Beaune. Allow 1 hour · Private driver from Beaune: €250 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The Abbaye de la Pierre-qui-Vire lies in a wild, wooded valley of the northern Morvan, beside the rocky torrent of the Trinquelin. A community of Benedictine monks has lived and prayed here since 1850. Visitors can attend services, walk to the famous stone and browse a shop of books and monastic products. ## Key facts - Type: Abbeys & churches - Where: Saint-Léger-Vauban · Yonne - Location: 70 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.3611, 4.0567 - 1 h 09 from Beaune - Allow 1 hour - Saint-Léger-Vauban - Official website: [apqv.fr](https://www.apqv.fr/) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 09 · 91 km - €250 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 09 by road (91 km), €250 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History Father Jean-Baptiste Muard, a priest of the diocese of Sens, discovered the Rule of Saint Benedict on a journey to Subiaco in Italy. He founded the community in 1850, on land given by the Chastellux family, at a place called La Pierre-qui-Vire. Muard died in 1854. Laws against religious congregations sent the monks into exile in 1880 and 1903, and they only returned for good in 1921. The monks built their monastery between 1850 and 1953, and the church, consecrated in 1871, was deeply remodelled in 1992. From 1951 the abbey was known for the Zodiaque books on Romanesque art, printed on site until the early 2000s. In 1938 the monks bought a nearby farm. Since the late 1980s a farming couple has run it, and most of its milk is made into cheese and yoghurt. ## What you will see The name means the stone that turns. A large rock rests on another, and it is said that it could once be rocked by hand. It is now fixed in place and topped by a statue of the Virgin. In the reception building, a bookshop sells works of faith, monastic crafts and the farm's cheeses. Visitors are welcome at services in the church. ## Planning your visit Allow about an hour, more if you attend a service or walk in the forest. The abbey is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Beaune. It is a working monastery, so dress modestly and keep your voice low. The abbey announced traffic disruption near the monastery in autumn 2026. Please check the official website for opening times and service times. ## Did you know? In 1969 the abbey farm switched to organic farming, after chemical fertilisers had harmed its herd. According to the monks, it was the first farm in Burgundy to do so. ## Around Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey What to combine with Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey on the same day, nearest first. ### Châteaux - [Château de La Roche-en-Brenil](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-la-roche-en-brenil) (10 km away): A moated château on the edge of the Morvan, saved from demolition by the writer Charles de Montalembert. - [Château de Chastellux](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-chastellux) (13 km away): A towered fortress at the gateway to the Morvan, still lived in by the family of its name. - [Château de Bourbilly](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-bourbilly) (17 km away): The Serein valley home of Saint Jeanne de Chantal and the Marquise de Sévigné, still lived in today. ### Things to do - [Morvan Regional Nature Park (Parc naturel régional du Morvan)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/parc-naturel-regional-du-morvan), 10 km away: Burgundy's little mountain of granite, forests and lakes, with its park headquarters at Saint-Brisson. - [Museum of the Resistance in the Morvan (Musée de la Résistance en Morvan)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/musee-de-la-resistance-en-morvan), 10 km away: The story of the Morvan maquis, told in the heart of the forests where they fought. - [François Pompon Museum (Musée François Pompon)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/musee-francois-pompon), 16 km away: Sleek animal sculptures by the Saulieu-born artist who made the famous White Bear. ## Questions about Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey ### How far is Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey from Beaune? Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey is about 1 h 09 from Beaune by road (91 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €250 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey take? For the visit, allow 1 hour. ### When is Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (apqv.fr) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Pierre-qui-Vire Abbey? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:pierrequivire): €250 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - --- Canonical page: