Lagrasse Abbey
Under the Occitan sun, in a landscape of vineyards and hills, come and experience a spiritual retreat with the canons of Lagrasse Abbey.
A true medieval jewel, nestled among hills and facing the village of Lagrasse, Sainte-Marie Abbey bears witness to over 1200 years of history and prayer. Throughout the year, the canons of Lagrasse welcome retreatants who wish to enjoy a few days in the peaceful and prayerful atmosphere of their monastery.
Guardian of centuries-old historical, cultural and spiritual heritage, the abbey benefits from a restoration project for its Gothic chapel, a true "catalog of architecture," led by the Historic Monuments authority. This new momentum follows the complete restoration of the guest house, now ready to welcome families and retreatants in a calm and caring environment.
Retreats organized by the community
Their community, the "Canons Regular of the Mother of God," was founded in the 1970s. Established at Sainte-Marie Abbey of Lagrasse since 2004, they lead the canonical life in a place sanctified by centuries of religious presence.
In this abbey founded by Charlemagne in 779, there are currently 34 religious, devoted to contemplative life and apostolate, both rooted in community life.
What is a Canon of Lagrasse?
A canon is a priest living in community under the Rule of Saint Augustine, dedicated to the service of a church. His life is built on three pillars:
- A common life in Charity where each person renounces his possessions to serve God and his brothers more freely.
- Liturgical prayer, the chanting of psalms and the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
- Apostolate, made fruitful by this prayer and strengthened by the total gift of self that community life allows, in charity and poverty.
Entrusted with the official prayer of the Church, the Canons Regular see in it the inexhaustible and powerful source of their mental prayer, their contemplation and their apostolate.
3 Days and 3 Nights, the book to rediscover Lagrasse Abbey
Released in late 2021, this unique polyphonic work brings together the words of 10 French literary authors and tells the great journey of writers to Lagrasse Abbey. Each spent 3 days and 3 nights there, and offers a singular testimony. The authors of this book donate their royalties to the canons of Lagrasse for the restoration of their abbey.
Here is the list of authors who took part in this project: Pascal Bruckner, Sylvain Tesson, Camille Pascal, Jean-René Van der Plaetsen, Frédéric Beigbeder, Jean-Paul Enthoven, Jean-Marie Rouart of the Académie française, Franz-Olivier Giesbert, Sébastien Lapaque, Thibault de Montaigu, Louis-Henri de la Rochefoucauld, Boualem Sansal, Simon Liberati, Xavier Darcos of the Académie française.
What to expect during your stay
Making a spiritual retreat at Lagrasse Abbey
Making a retreat at Lagrasse Abbey offers you the opportunity to experience a privileged moment. You can:
- Pray with them by participating in the offices in Latin, punctuated by Gregorian chants. These take place 6 times a day, between 6:10 am and 8:45 pm.
- Discover the village of Lagrasse, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.
- Meditate and recharge by letting yourself be amazed by a sublime landscape of vineyards and hills.
- Meet a canon if you wish to talk, confide or receive particular teaching.
- Dedicate yourself to small manual tasks if you want to help out the community.
Geography and activities
Activities in the region around Lagrasse Abbey
What to see around Lagrasse Abbey?
Sainte-Marie Abbey of Lagrasse is located in the Aude department, in the Occitanie region. Between Narbonne and Carcassonne, it enjoys an ideal location for anyone wishing to visit the magnificent surroundings!
- Lagrasse is located in Occitanie, 45 minutes from Narbonne and Carcassonne, in a landscape of vineyards and hills. The village is ranked among "the most beautiful villages in France". It is a village of taste with its Corbières wine and a village of craftsmanship, which its artisans will be pleased to share with you.
- The two parts of the abbey can be visited independently. The public part, administered by the Departmental Council of Aude, includes notably the courtyard, the monks' dormitory, the north transept of the church and a lapidary museum. The private part, administered by the Canons, comprises 3/4 of the buildings, with the abbey church, the cloister, the 18th century conventual buildings, the south transept and the garden.
- For hiking, the surrounding nature is a gift. From the village, from Mont Carla to the Fesses de Charlemagne (yes, really!) via the sculptural trail of Mayronnes, you won't be disappointed! Also, you are in the famous Cathar Country where castles perched on mountains are abundant. For example, the grandiose castle of Peyrepertuse and that of Aguilar are each 50 minutes from Lagrasse. Plenty of ideas for itineraries near the abbey.
Practical information
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