Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe
Nestled in the woods and less than an hour from Paris, Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey is a haven of peace away from urban bustle.
Led by a fraternity of laypeople and priests, it offers innovative spiritual retreats for groups of young people!
Retreats organized by the community
The many lives of Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey
Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey was founded in the 12th century!
Legend has it that King Louis VII, while hunting in the forest of Dourdan, became separated from his companions. Not knowing where he was, he called out for a long time and prayed. Day was beginning to decline when, near a clearing, he was heard and rescued. His companions, who were also searching for him, had "heard" his calls and came to his aid. So he had a chapel built on this spot and gave the place the name "Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe" (Our Lady of Hearing)!
After donating it to the Grandmontain monks, the Benedictine Sisters of Saint-Rémy des Landes settled there in 1770. The French Revolution and the vicissitudes of history temporarily halted the abbey's activities.
It wasn't until 1945 and the arrival of the Ursuline Sisters that the abbey once again became a place of welcome for young people from the diocese. After their departure, the premises were purchased and completely restored by the Diocese of Paris with the aim of making it a diocesan guest house.
Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe: guest house of the Diocese of Paris
At Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey, young and old, laypeople, priests, singles, and families come together to form a diocesan fraternity, united by a common purpose but enriched by its diversity. It's this small detail that makes all the difference and allows them versatility in welcoming their guests!
The house is therefore run by this fraternity in service of a common mission: welcoming groups coming to the abbey. The members of this fraternity are nourished by a personal and communal spiritual life, through, in particular, times of prayer (the Eucharist is celebrated every day at 11:45 a.m., each day begins and ends with a time of prayer) and shared celebration, as well as chapter meetings, mission review times, and weekly sharing around Scripture.
What to expect during your stay
Spiritual retreats to develop your inner life
At Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe, in a magnificent setting, the community offers educational workshops, modules, or programs to accompany your young people on the path of their inner life!
Depending on their journey or current situations with your young people (big questions, challenges encountered, sacrament milestones, etc.), the community can accompany and support you in your stays at the abbey. Don't hesitate to contact them to build an innovative, renewing, and energizing project!
"Interiority is not burial, withdrawal into oneself, or navel-gazing. It is not synonymous with spiritual or religious life. Every human being has an inner life. Inner life is the sum of our thoughts, emotions, representations, desires and aspirations, which are nourished by our 'outer' life. Interiority is, in a way, the digestion of what we live through, and it enriches our existence."
Using guided meditations, in a physical, artistic, or nature-based approach, all their workshops and modules are built with a symbolic and reflective dimension, which means that personal reflection is offered in connection with one's inner life.
It is a group experience through which participants are invited to allow themselves to be touched in their deep Being, in a personal way. Finally, each workshop or module is followed by a time of review and group sharing to put words to the experience, give meaning to what was lived, and deepen awareness of one's inner experience.
Concretely, several types of stays are possible:
- Training for educational or pastoral leaders
- One-day recollections
- Exam and entrance test study retreats
- Thematic group spiritual retreats
- Retreat before first communion, profession of faith, or confirmation
The guest house of Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey: modern and ideal for groups
Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe has a recent guest house designed for welcoming groups. It has 70 three-bed rooms, including 4 two-bed rooms accessible to people with reduced mobility, for a total accommodation capacity of 207 beds. The abbey also offers the option to reserve three-bed, two-bed, or single rooms depending on occupancy.
The house has about twenty equipped meeting rooms that can accommodate from 5 to 300 people. Offices and spiritual times can take place in the 200-seat chapel or in one of their two 20-seat oratories, including the summer oratory in the 15th-century dovecote.
The catering service includes two soundproofed dining rooms for a total of 250 place settings. The cuisine, which is excellent, is managed by a caterer and offers varied menus based on market offerings and seasonal produce.
The fully enclosed two-hectare park is accessible to all groups during their stay. A ball game field and an aviary with farmyard animals complete the picture. In short, there's plenty of space to host dynamic and open-air weekends or stays!
Geography and activities
Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe, an abbey close to Paris and accessible by public transportation!
Nestled in the middle of a forest, l'Ouÿe Abbey is a haven of peace away from the bustle of the city in the department of Essonne (91), at the gateway to the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse regional natural park.
Located 50 km from Paris, it is very accessible! Two large parking lots are available for guests (also accessible to coaches).
By car :
- 50 km south of Paris via A10, Exit 10 Dourdan.
- For your GPS: Route de l'Ouÿe in Dourdan. The abbey is located at the very end of the road.
- On Waze: Abbaye Notre Dame de l'Ouÿe, Dourdan.
By public transportation, with your Navigo card :
- RER C, Dourdan stop (1h10).
- Direct TER from Paris-Austerlitz, Dourdan stop (40 min).
- RER B, Massy stop then Bus 9103 Massy Dourdan stop (30 min).
- TER Centre (Paris, Dourdan, Châteaudun, Vendôme).
We have set up a partnership with a local coach company that connects the RER station: 55 people per coach. For small groups, taxis also allow you to make the trip, count around €15 per trip and you can fit 4 people in the taxi.
What activities around Notre-Dame de l'Ouÿe Abbey?
The medieval town of Dourdan, very close by, echoes the abbey's history through its past. A royal construction, Dourdan Castle, which celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2022, is the iconic site of the area! Stroll through its cobbled streets and immerse yourself in the different eras that have marked the town (19th-century market halls, 13th-century Hôtel-Dieu, 1,700 m of ramparts, the Parterre Castle, the 12th-century church...).
In the l'Ouÿe forest, many footpaths allow for strolling or meditation. You can even discover some remarkable oak trees (Oak of the Six Brothers, Marie Poussepin Oak...). With its 1,600 hectares of walking paths and greenery, the royal forest of Dourdan also lends itself to all your desires, on foot or by bike! A "Guide de la forêt domaniale" map is available at the Tourist Office reception. A riding center, a golf course, and an aquatic center are also nearby.
Practical information
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