This US town has been making bourbon-soaked fruitcake for 175 years

The 44 French Monks’ Flight to Kentucky

In 1848, French monks fled a land that no longer wanted them.

Dom Maxime sent scouts to find new ground in Kentucky, where they bought land from the Sisters of Loretto. Soon after, 44 Trappists left France under Eutropius Proust’s lead as revolution swept their homeland.

One monk died at sea, but the rest made it to New Orleans by December. They then sailed up the Mississippi on a steamboat, reaching Gethsemani just days before Christmas.

Through it all, they held tight to a wooden cross marked with their goal.

The Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown still stands today as America’s oldest working Trappist monastery, where that same cross remains on display after 175 years.

French Monks Fled Revolution to Find Peace in Kentucky

The 1840s brought hard times for religious folks in France. Political trouble spread as another revolution brewed.

Dom Maxime, who ran Melleray Abbey, saw problems coming. Government officials didn’t trust monks.

Anti-church feelings grew stronger. Regular people turned against religious orders.

The monks had survived earlier revolutions, but this time felt worse.

Dom Maxime knew they needed a backup plan – somewhere far away where they could practice their faith in peace.

Two Brave Monks Scouted American Wilderness

Dom Maxime picked two trusted monks for a special trip in 1847. He sent them to Kentucky to find a good spot for a new monastery.

The pair met Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget in Bardstown, who helped them. Bishop Flaget showed them land called “Gethsemani” owned by the Sisters of Loretto.

The monks got excited when they learned other Trappists had lived there before. It seemed like a sign – this spot had already been blessed by their brothers in faith.

Kentucky Farmland Became Their New Holy Ground

The monks made a deal with the Sisters of Loretto for about 1,400 acres of Kentucky countryside. The property wasn’t fancy – just some simple log cabins and a small wooden church.

The rolling hills and forests reminded them of quiet places Trappists always looked for. The land gave plenty of room for farming and alone time.

Local Catholic families lived nearby and welcomed the idea of holy men moving in.

Monks Packed Up As France Fell Into Chaos

On October 26, 1848, a group of 44 monks said goodbye to their French home. Father Eutropius Proust led the brave band of brothers toward an unknown future.

They brought few things but carried one special item – a wooden cross carved with the words “Vive Jesus, Vive sa croix” (Long Live Jesus, Long Live His Cross). Back in France, riots broke out in the streets.

People attacked churches. They left just in time as things got worse for religious folks.

The Dangerous Ocean Journey Claimed One Life

The monks spent six awful weeks at sea. Storms rocked their ship.

Tight spaces made sleep hard. The brothers kept their prayer schedule despite the troubles.

Sadly, one monk got sick and died during the trip. His brothers said prayers as they buried him at sea.

The other 43 monks kept going, fighting seasickness and worry. When they saw land on December 11, 1848, they thanked God for bringing them safely to New Orleans.

Steamboat Martha Washington Carried Monks Upriver

After reaching New Orleans, the monks got on a steamboat called the Martha Washington. The boat moved slowly up the big Mississippi.

They went on to the Ohio River, watching America’s wild lands pass by. Catholic families along the way gave them food and supplies.

The monks turned heads with their robes and quiet ways. Many Americans had never seen Trappist monks before.

The brothers kept to themselves, praying at set times and talking only when needed.

Christmas Came Just Days After Reaching Their New Home

The tired travelers finally got to Gethsemani on December 21, 1848. Winter made the simple cabins feel very cold and empty.

The monks put their travel cross in Kentucky soil, marking the start of their new life. Just four days later, they held Christmas Mass in their plain chapel.

The first winter tested them with freezing cold and few supplies. But they had made it – their journey of faith had brought them to their promised land.

Trappist Traditions Took Root in American Soil

The monks quickly set up proper monastic life. They followed their strict schedule – waking at 2 a.m. for prayers, working the fields during daylight, and staying quiet most hours.

They planted crops that would grow in Kentucky’s climate, changing their French farming ways. Neighbors brought extra blankets, food, and tools during those first tough months.

The brothers started making plans for stone buildings to replace the wooden ones.

America’s First Abbey Blessing Happened in Bardstown

A big milestone came in 1851 when Gethsemani became an abbey. This made it the first true abbey in the United States.

On October 26, 1851, exactly three years after leaving France, Father Eutropius Proust became Abbot Eutropius. Bishop Flaget did the special blessing at Bardstown Cathedral.

Local Catholics filled the church to see this historic event. The upgrade gave Gethsemani official standing in the worldwide Trappist order.

Gethsemani Spawned Monasteries Across America

As years passed, Gethsemani grew stronger and sent monks to start new monasteries. It became the mother house for all American Trappist communities.

The Kentucky abbey trained newcomers in the Trappist ways before sending them to found new houses. The monks created their own American style while keeping core traditions alive.

They found ways to support themselves through farming and crafts. Their reputation for discipline and devotion spread throughout the Catholic world.

The Wooden Cross Still Stands After 175 Years

Gethsemani Abbey has kept its doors open for 175 years without ever closing.

The monks survived the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and countless other challenges. In the 1940s, a writer named Thomas Merton joined the community and made the abbey world-famous through his books.

The original wooden cross that traveled from France still remains at the monastery today. Visitors can see this humble symbol of faith that guided those first monks to Kentucky.

The brothers still follow the same daily rhythm of prayer, work, and contemplation established by their French founders.

Visiting Bardstown, Kentucky

You can visit the Abbey of Gethsemani at 3642 Monks Road in Trappist, where French monks built America’s first Trappist monastery in 1848.

The Welcome Center opens Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 9am-5pm with free self-guided tours about monastic life. Browse their gift shop for monastery-made bourbon fudge and fruitcakes.

The abbey offers silent retreats with advance reservations and has 1,500 acres of hiking trails with maps from the Welcome Center.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Maker’s Mark exists because this man hated his family’s bourbon recipe
• This Kentucky distillery is a must-visit for hardcore bourbon lovers
• Kentucky’s revenge: the slaughter that doomed Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames