Léoncel Abbey - Maison Saint-Hugues
Located in a hamlet in the Drôme Vercors at an altitude of 920m on a plateau surrounded by mountains and forests, Maison Saint-Hugues is a diocesan house adjacent to the Cistercian abbey of Léoncel, built in the 12th century.
Since the French Revolution, no community has lived on the premises, but a team of volunteers takes turns welcoming you on-site year-round. Depending on the sessions offered and the time of year, the place focuses more on silence or conviviality.
Retreats organized by the community
A brief introduction to Léoncel Abbey and Maison Saint-Hugues
Come and discover the Cistercian abbey of Léoncel, founded in the 12th century. Since the French Revolution, there has been no monastic community. However, you can visit the abbey church, a symbol of the transition between the austere Romanesque style in the choir and Gothic in the nave.
Today, a hermit chants the Liturgy of the Hours there, that is, the offices that structure the day for monks and nuns. In summer, Mass is celebrated daily.
To welcome you, lay volunteers have been taking turns at Maison Saint-Hugues for twenty years. This place aims to be a place for Christian formation, retreat, and rest.
As its name suggests, it is a house with a garden that can accommodate a dozen people. For larger groups, there is the possibility of "overflowing" into the communal lodges adjacent to Maison Saint-Hugues.
A team of volunteers present to welcome you
Volunteers take turns during the months of July and August to ensure the welcome and well-being of those present. These volunteers have very different backgrounds and stories regarding their personal situations (family, church, professional...).
An opportunity for you to meet people engaged in the Church from all walks of life!
What to expect during your stay
Varied programs according to your wishes
On-site you can:
- Participate in spiritual sessions (biblical, monastic or spiritual authors, based on various themes: interior silence, awakening to the light...);
- Take time for an artistic practice or body work;
- Walk and pray;
- Enjoy nature;
- Benefit from spiritual guidance (outside of July and August, spiritual direction is provided by a hermit sister present in the village)
Teaching and exchanges occupy 4 to 5 hours per day. Sessions begin on Monday in the late afternoon and end on Saturday morning after breakfast. Session leaders generally provide teaching in an interactive dynamic in connection with the natural environment, "walk and pray" sessions, or the practice of an art...
During individual stays, people are invited to embrace silence, nourished by the beauty of the place.
Also note that every Sunday afternoon, concerts take place at the abbey!
Experience a time of spiritual retreat in the Vercors
The guest house capacity is 12 people. If you are more numerous, it is possible to overflow a little into the lodges around the house. You can enjoy a bed in a single or double room as well as a fully equipped studio with kitchen.
A small library is available to guests.
During sessions, a cook prepares the meals. Their methods and choices are part of respect for the environment and aim to introduce everyone to the pleasures of plant-based cuisine, which is generally much appreciated by guests. Outside of these sessions, individual retreatants or groups prepare their own meals, unless requested otherwise.
In the off-season, the house is open but no meals are provided on-site.
Geography and activities
What to do around Maison Saint-Hugues?
You can begin your walk by stopping at Léoncel Abbey. Then, you can go hiking to enjoy the beauty of the landscapes, the fauna and flora (there are even wolves in the region!). You can visit the Druise waterfalls, the starting point for numerous hiking trails toward the col de la Bataille, the roc de Toulau, the Ambel plateau (where in autumn many enthusiasts come for the deer rutting season), and the grand Echaillon (cross-country ski resort).
It is also possible to visit the museum of the Resistance in Vassieux-en-Vercors, the water museum in Saint-Jean-en-Royans, the basilica and village of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, or discover the iconic Palais idéal du facteur Cheval.
Practical information
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