Dzogbégan Abbey

Dzogbégan is a Benedictine monastery on the Danyi plateau north of Kpalimé, founded in the 1960s at around eight hundred metres where the climate is cool and the ground good, and the community farms: coffee, fruit, honey and cheese are made and sold at the monastery shop. The church is plain and services use Ewe and drumming. A guesthouse takes visitors on retreat. A companion community of Benedictine sisters is established nearby and also farms and produces for sale.

What you actually see

• The monastery farm - coffee, honey and cheese produced by the community.
• The plateau setting - around eight hundred metres with a cool climate.
• The church - the plain building where services use Ewe and drumming.
• The shop - the outlet for what the monks make.

When to go

November to March is the dry season and easiest for the road. Services follow the monastic hours. The guesthouse takes bookings in advance.

Honest expectations

It is a working monastery and visits should respect that. The guesthouse is basic and for retreat rather than tourism. The road up is winding and slow.

Nearby

Kpalimé is south, and Badou is north.