Gosnay, France: The only European village with two Carthusian monasteries

The village of Gosnay in Pas-de-Calais, France, is unique in Europe for having two Carthusian monasteries founded less than a kilometer apart. This distinction is unmatched anywhere else on the continent. Founded in the early 14th century by Thierry Larchier, a bishop and opportunist, the two establishments were placed under the austere Rule of St. Bruno. The men's charterhouse is now a luxury hotel, while the women's has become a major archaeological site. The women's charterhouse, whose last prioress was guillotined in 1794, was later used as a mining settlement until 2012. The village church also features a modern sacred art installation by René Ducourant.