Where? Notre-Dame de Lérins Abbey on Saint-Honorat Island.
Why zen? Twenty Cistercian monks tend vineyards amid ancient olive trees, eucalyptus, cypresses, and Aleppo pines. Retreat for 2 days or a week—shielded from noise except bells and gulls. Help with vines, join daily tasks, and savor a pristine island.
Get there! Book ahead: tel. 04 92 99 54 20, hotellerie@abbayedelerins.com. 20-min ferry from Cannes via Planaria (tel. 04 92 98 71 38).
More options: Hôtel de l'Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud**** for Priory breakfast or dusk walks in the monastic city. Or Franciscan Monastery of Saint Jerome, Ugljan, Croatia (near Zadar beaches). Spartan rooms. Tel: 00385 (0) 23 28 80 91.
