Notre-Dame de Campénéac Abbey
La Joie Notre-Dame Abbey is a unique place in the heart of nature, on the edge of the legendary Brocéliande forest.
Alone, in a group, or with family, come experience a renewing stay, a unique experience in Brittany!
This is the time to rest, to (re)find peace, to contemplate, meditate, or even study for your exams. Don't leave the way you came.
Retreats organized by the community
The Cistercian community of Campénéac Abbey
After living for several years in Sainte-Anne d'Auray where they felt somewhat cramped, the sisters settled in the municipality of Campénéac in 1951 thanks to the solidarity of the brothers from Notre-Dame de Timadeuc Abbey.
It is here, in direct proximity to the legendary and mysterious Brocéliande forest, that this community of 23 sisters lives in complete simplicity.
Founded in 1892 and better known by the name Trappist, the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance to which the sisters belong is characterized by a spirituality devoted to the search for God, in prayer and work.
From mental prayer to biscuit-making at Campénéac Abbey
The community follows the Rule established by Saint Benedict in the 7th century. Balanced, the nuns' life is divided between the seven daily offices, from Vigils at 4:00 a.m. to Compline at 7:30 p.m., work at the guest house, lectio divina, and the making of chocolate delicacies and biscuits.
Indeed! If the name Campénéac Abbey sounds familiar, it's because you've probably already succumbed to their Breton biscuits or chocolates, now recognized by the Confederation of Chocolatiers and Confectioners of France!
What to expect during your stay
Making a spiritual retreat in Morbihan at La Joie-Notre-Dame Abbey
Hospitality is an essential value for the Cistercians and a duty desired by Saint Benedict. This document on monastic life emphasizes, in chapter 53, the great importance of receiving guests and the unconditional welcome extended to each person: « All guests who present themselves shall be received as Christ ».
Believers or not, the guests who spend a few days at the abbey come for very diverse reasons: the desire to deepen their faith, enjoy a setting of calm and serenity, take time for themselves, alone or with the help of a sister.
Whether you're seeking a place of silence and peace to pause in your life and fill up with hope, the guest house of La Joie Notre-Dame Abbey in Campénéac welcomes you for stays ranging from one to seven days. You will have the opportunity to share in the community's prayer, to which you are warmly invited!
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The guest house for a week-long retreat at Campénéac Abbey
Renovated in 2013, the guest house has the following facilities:
- 25 rooms, all brand new!
- An oratory, for meditation.
- A beautiful library.
- And, the icing on the cake (pure butter), a study room to review for your exams in complete peace.
Adjacent to the monastery, the Ville Aubert annex allows for welcoming groups autonomously. It has a kitchen equipped for 40 people, three meeting rooms, bedrooms, and small dormitories.
Geography and activities
Campénéac Abbey, a place of peace in the heart of Brittany
The abbey is located halfway between Rennes (35) and Lorient (56), in the heart of Brittany.
Situated next to the village of Campénéac and near the Brocéliande forest, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the legend of King Arthur. Between moors and ponds, along paths populated with centuries-old trees or at the foot of megalithic rocks, magic is everywhere!
Nature takes center stage: an abbey just steps from the Brocéliande forest
In Campénéac, nature is omnipresent and offers magnificent sites perfect for walks.
The region is a festival of colors in every season: yellow when the moorland blooms around May and June, the green of remarkable trees, the blue of numerous ponds, and the red of the schist rocks of the region with which houses were once built, like the Château de Trécesson, a structure built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
The abbey is surrounded by a wealth of hiking trails or mountain bike paths for the more adventurous.
7.5 miles from La Joie Notre-Dame Abbey, Notre-Dame de Paimpont Church
Located in the heart of the forest, the church of the former Notre-Dame de Paimpont Abbey is what we call an architectural gem! Built in the 13th century in Gothic style, its nave impresses with its high stone walls, its vault shaped like an upturned boat hull, and its carved wooden pulpit.
Less than 12.5 miles away, the fabulous little town of Josselin
In the heart of Morbihan lies a lovely medieval « Small Town of Character » that perfectly combines history and nature. A must-see for its 15th-century château and the Oust, the river that flows through it, Josselin is a gem for anyone seeking charm around every corner.
Practical information
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