Frileuse Carmel
At the crossroads of Greater Paris and the Beauce region, in the Essonne department (91), the nuns of Frileuse Carmel welcome anyone seeking renewal, silence and greenery.
A guarantee of a spiritual retreat that is both practical and renewing!
Retreats organized by the community
Frileuse Carmel in Briis-sous-Forges
The Carmel was founded in 1937 in Plessis-Robinson by the Carmel of Nogent-sur-Marne where the sisters were very numerous!
In the 1950s, since the Plessis-Robinson property was no longer suitable, the sisters searched for another location in the Paris region and eventually purchased an estate in the town of Briis-sous-Forges, the "Château de Frileuse", dilapidated but with its magnificent park and trees beautiful in all seasons.
In 1957, the entire community was gathered there. For several years, the sisters then transformed the property into a monastery.
In 1982, the chapel was built with its magnificent framework crafted by the Compagnons de France.
The Carmelites of Frileuse, true artisans in porcelain decoration and bookbinding
Life at the Carmel today is a hidden life with Christ in God, entirely centered on him, in solitude and in fraternal life. It is therefore a life that rests on four pillars:
- A life of prayer: Silent prayer (mental prayer) and communal prayer punctuate the days at the Carmel
- A life in fraternal community: Communal recreation time and feast days are important moments. The sisters are very different from one another in age, in their experiences before entering the Carmel, and in their interests. This welcoming of differences that they live out together constantly in the same place is a beautiful challenge for community life. Times of solitude are also essential.
- A life of work: The sisters have two craft activities: bookbinding and porcelain decoration. The rest of their activities are those of daily life: cooking, laundry, garden maintenance, bursar's office, housekeeping, building maintenance, etc.
- A life set apart yet open to the world. In the Essonne department characterized by its youth, the very diverse origins of its inhabitants, the contrasts between urban and rural areas, the sisters stand there, at the heart of this world, in their vocation to keep watch as a community according to the Gospel.
What to expect during your stay
Taking a spiritual retreat in Briis-sous-Forges, just outside Paris
Everyone is welcome to make a spiritual retreat, take a time of rest, a moment apart, at Frileuse Carmel!
The sisters offer silent retreats with participation in the community's liturgical and silent prayer.
You can also enjoy the orchard, a very pleasant place to rest or walk as well as hiking trails that pass near the Carmel.
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Here is how hospitality is organized at the Carmel:
In the main building:
- On the ground floor, the dining room and meeting spaces
- On the upper floor, 4 rooms with sink. One of them is equipped with 2 beds. The toilets and shower are shared
At the entrance to the garden, a pavilion:
- On the upper floor 2 rooms, toilets, shower
- On the ground floor, a room that can accommodate 15-20 people, a kitchen where groups can prepare their meals, toilets, shower
In the guest dining room, a small library is at your disposal. Don't hesitate to ask the hospitality sister for advice and to borrow a book during your stay!
Geography and activities
Around Briis-sous-Forges, hiking trails and beautiful places to visit
Frileuse Carmel is located in the diocese of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes, 40 km south of Paris. Around the Carmel are many exceptional places that are worth the detour if you plan to take a walk before, during or after your spiritual retreat!
The basilica of Longpont-sur-Orge (15 km away), the Château du Marais (9 km away), the Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard (9 km away), the park and Château du Val Fleury (9 km away), the Vaux de Cernay (19 km away, in Yvelines) are very beautiful excursion destinations by car, bicycle or on foot.
Frileuse can also be a stopover on the Chartres pilgrimage.
Practical information
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