Silence is golden at this wilderness retreat

"The new abbey is the result of an architectural contest in which 60 companies submitted designs for structures that would be free of toxic materials and ecologically progressive, using geo-thermal heating and recycled waste and rain water. Pierre Thibault of Quebec City won the commission and created a cluster of low-slung buildings with few frills other than wall-sized windows that let in the beauty of the landscape.

The abbey's own in-house specialities are chocolate truffles, caramel and chocolate spreads and peanut butter. And if you want your holiday fruitcake to have that special spiritual infusion, this is the place to buy it. The monks bake as many as 800 cakes each week at this time of year. And yes, they are soaked in wine. "

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