<p>This is an annotated translation of the classic <em>Description de l&#39;abbaye de La Trappe</em>, the most important eye-witness account of life at the abbey of La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Ranc&eacute;. The work includes a map showing the physical layout of the abbey and detailed discussions of the monks&#39; daily life and practice. It was written by Andr&eacute; F&eacute;libien des Avaux for Jeanne de Schomberg, duchess of Liancourt, in 1671, with a new and enlarged edition being published in 1689. That is the edition translated here, with copious notes to help the reader appreciate F&eacute;libien&#39;s account.</p>