Le Havre Carmel
.webp)
.jpeg)
Since 1894, the Sisters of Le Havre Carmel have kept watch and prayed like a hamlet of peace in the heart of the city. Founded by a small group of Carmelites from Lourdes, the community first settled in the Rond-Point neighborhood, near the train station. After World War II, the construction of a tunnel forced the community to relocate, and in 1953, the sisters moved into their new Carmel on Rue Félix-Faure, where they still reside today!
The contemporary architecture of the monastery resonates with that of the city, rebuilt after the war, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
Retreats organized by the community
.JPG)
A brief history of Le Havre Carmel
The community belongs to the Discalced Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the branch of Carmel reformed in the 16th century by Saint Teresa of Avila. It is therefore part of a large network of monasteries that live by the same spirit and support one another, while each maintains its own specific character.
In Le Havre, the community reflects the city's identity: a port, open to the ocean and social diversity. The community currently includes 16 sisters, ranging from 30 to 90 years old, with diverse geographic origins, varied professional backgrounds, and unique personal stories. All these differences enrich community life and communion: they reveal that the other, always different, reveals the Wholly Other, the God whom the Sisters seek and worship in prayer and in life...
%2520(1).jpeg)
The Sisters' life at Carmel today
Daily life for the Carmelites is built on mental prayer and fraternal life, manual work lived in silence and solitude, prayer, and celebrating the rhythm of the liturgical year, as well as important events in the community's life! Grounded in their faith, the sisters live everything in God's presence.
Following in the footsteps and heritage of Saint Teresa of Avila, here is a glimpse of some treasures of the spiritual tradition that animates the Carmelites:
"Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verse 19)
"Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us" (Saint Teresa of Avila, The Book of Her Life, chapter 8, § 5)
It's not easy to sum up this life in a few words: the best thing is to go there and meet the Sisters in situ and in concreto!
What to expect during your stay
Experience a spiritual retreat at Le Havre Carmel
The sisters gladly welcome retreatants throughout the year, individually or in groups, as well as scout groups!
During a retreat with the sisters, you are simply asked to participate in the liturgical offices and mental prayer with the community. Outside these prayer times with the sisters, everyone lives their retreat as they wish:
- Immerse yourself in silence and savor this time of renewal and rest
- Borrow a book from the library in the guest house, available to retreatants
- Enjoy the monastery's various prayer spaces: chapel, guest house oratory, Garden of Silence
- Walk to discover the neighborhood churches: Saint-Vincent Church, Saint-Joseph Church, Saint-Denis Church
- Go pray or get some fresh air by the sea (10 minutes on foot)...
The Carmelites also offer personal spiritual direction if you wish, to help you respond to life's questions and challenges, to learn to pray... Special retreats reserved for young people also allow participants to share in the sisters' daily life.
A place conducive to meditation and rest
The guest house offers various spaces:
- On the ground floor: a space for conversation and meals
- On the 1st and 2nd floors: rooms with a single bed (convertible to double), and individual bathroom with private shower and toilet.
- On the 1st floor: the Saint Elijah oratory and a library, including works on Carmelite saints and on prayer.
- Beyond the chapel, the Garden of Silence, for fresh air, walking, prayer, meditation... Various paths are offered to help you enter into a prayer experience.
Geography and activities
Le Havre, its port, its sea... and its monastery!
Le Havre Carmel is located two hours from Paris, 30 minutes (by bus or on foot) from Le Havre train station, and 10 minutes on foot from the seaside... In the heart of the city, the monastery grounds, set back from the streets, are a true island of silence and calm.
Just steps from the monastery, sweeping views over the city of Le Havre, the port, and the sea offer breathtaking displays of beauty! Reason to bless the Lord and admire all the human activities unfolding before your eyes...
Walking and discovering the Le Havre area
In the city of Le Havre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, many places are worth visiting, such as:
- the "Jardins suspendus" (Hanging Gardens) (20 minutes on foot)
- the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art (MuMA)
- Saint-Joseph Church built by architect Auguste Perret...
Finally, the seaside towns of Étretat and Honfleur are each 30 minutes away by car: always the sea and Norman tranquility!
Here are more options for Normandy!
Practical information
Discover more locations
