Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross Congregation
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Former Fontevrault monastery - related to the monastic order of Fontevraud - from the 12th century, located in the heart of Poitou, the Daughters of the Cross community has welcomed guests for several generations in this peaceful place, which is also a living and working environment. This green haven is surrounded by magnificent scenery, conducive to contemplation and reflection. With over 900 years of existence, this place steeped in history is the ideal setting for a time of retreat or rest.
Retreats organized by the community
A rich and abundant history
This place tells two stories: it was first a Fontevrault monastery before becoming the Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross!
The monastery was built in the year 1111 by Robert of Arbrissel, founder of the order and Fontevraud Abbey. The community improved the area, taming the water and forest through various installations. Thus, the place was made welcoming and self-sufficient, allowing the construction of a village, livestock farming, fish farming, and agriculture!
During the French Revolution in 1789, the last nuns were driven out, and the order disappeared after a history of nearly 700 years! The building, pillaged and partially destroyed, remained unoccupied or used for agricultural storage by the village inhabitants.
But in 1820, Jeanne Elisabeth Bichier des Ages, founder of the Daughters of the Cross order, searched with Father André Hubert Fournet for a place to house the growing community. This abandoned monastery at La Puye was the ideal location! Through hard work, seeking benefactors, and privations, the place regained its vocation.
It became the motherhouse where the sisters regularly gathered, sent out in small groups to care for and teach in the surrounding villages.
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The Daughters of the Cross community
Founded in 1807 by Jeanne Elisabeth Bichier des Âges, the Daughters of the Cross congregation offers a community life of prayer and action. They are present to the world "through all kinds of good works." Their mission is guided by simplicity and encounter.
They pray and work with the Word of God. Living in small communities in the midst of the world, they are in solidarity with populations in trials and in joy. They live from their salary and pension, on mission to the most fragile, the poor, and isolated persons.
The Daughters of the Cross, much sought after by numerous dioceses, established themselves in the Paris region and in the Southwest, where they opened schools, clinics, and hospitals. In 1901, French laws passed against congregations encouraged the Daughters of the Cross to develop their charism, that is, the particular spiritual gift accorded to the community, abroad. This is how they are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America.
At the Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross, you will meet sisters from various backgrounds who have come to rest and find renewal, as well as the welcoming team, available for listening and sharing their charism.
What to expect during your stay
A retreat adapted for everyone at the Daughters of the Cross!
The Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross has the vocation of welcoming sisters from around the world, but also any person, believer or not, desiring a time of rest and renewal.
You can stay alone or in a group, self-catering or with hotel service, with or without spiritual guidance. Close to nature, guests can enjoy a calm and serene setting to:
- Walk in nature to relax
- Enjoy the silent setting
- Journey inward to question oneself
- Meet the community
- Deepen the charism of the community
- Follow a preached retreat
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A guest house that takes great care of its guests
The motherhouse guest house offers various facilities for a wonderful retreat!
- 18 single rooms with showers and toilets
- 11 double rooms with showers and toilets
- A group accommodation (The Mill) self-catering with nearly 16 places in dormitory, several rooms including one with wheelchair access. This accommodation also offers a fully equipped kitchen as well as a large dining room for 30 people
- 2 fully equipped studios, self-catering
Guests also have access to the gardens, the cloister, the Great Chapel, and the cellars converted into lounges! If you need quiet, there is also a library and an oratory. For groups, meeting rooms are available.
Geography and activities
Between Poitiers and Châtellerault, come on retreat with the Daughters of the Cross!
The Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross is located in a village in Poitou, also 20 minutes from Châtellerault (Manufacture Museum, on the banks of the Vienne River). It is also near Poitiers (Old Town and Futuroscope) and less than 2 hours from La Rochelle.
In the opposite direction, 30 minutes away, the Brenne Regional Natural Park (Indre) offers its typical landscapes with numerous ponds and characteristic fauna and flora.
Activities around the Motherhouse of the Daughters of the Cross
In La Puye itself, swimming is open in summer in the small pond, and fishing is practiced in the large pond during authorized periods. Hiking trails allow you to discover the valley landscapes, villages, and forests. You can even take the Saint Martin pilgrimage route, which connects Poitiers to Tours.
- 10 minutes away, in the Gartempe valley, the village of Saint Pierre de Maillé offers you a pilgrimage to the founding places of the Daughters of the Cross, marked by the lives of Saint Jeanne Elisabeth and Saint André Hubert.
- 15 minutes away, the village of Angles sur l'Anglin allows you to admire from its heights the Gartempe valley, the castle, and the caves.
- 20 minutes away, Saint Savin Abbey Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lets you admire its unique frescoes.
15 minutes away, Chauvigny, a medieval town crossed by the Vienne River, offers museums and a collegiate church in its upper town, as well as a rail bike ride. You can go down the Vienne or Gartempe rivers by canoe or kayak, and also enjoy swimming spots!
Practical information
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