ABSTRACT
Many food products in Europe are associated with the monastic image and heritage. Beer, cheese and wine are known for their monastic roots, and some abbey names are known more for these products than for their community. Monastic products have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in Europe. Lay companies sometimes use the monastic image to profit from their reputation of producing high-quality goods. The culmination of the recomposition of monastics between their religious and commercial roles lies in the pastoral purpose associated with monastic trade. The decision as to the choice of products to be sold is an essential parameter that determines the pastoral or commercial dimension of the shop. The monastic shop, as a mercantile place in the monastic utopia, also needs to be spatially and temporally integrated into the monastic framework. The spatial organisation of the shop reveals the trade-off between economy and religion.
