The Journey of the Stones: Fr. Paul Mark Schwan (Part 2)

The California Frontier Podcast

In the first half of my interview with Father Paul Mark Swan, Abbot of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, we left off talking about William Randolph Hearst's scheme to rebuild a medieval Spanish monastery in California.

The Great Depression put a stop to Hearst's plans, but in Part 2, Abbot Paul explains how the stones were brought from Golden Gate Park and later reassembled in the heart of California's Central Valley.

We learn about the meticulous process of restoring the Romanesque-Gothic church, as well as the architectural experts and stonemasons who made it possible. We also hear about the monastery's successful venture into the California wine industry and how you can visit and appreciate this unique California location.