Sainte-Marie du Rivet Abbey
Sainte-Marie du Rivet Abbey is a place steeped in history, with foundations dating back to... Charlemagne! Bordered by the Rivet, a small stream that gave its name to the monastery, the setting is idyllic and far from noise.
The open and dynamic community welcomes in its guest house all people wishing to pause, find renewal, encounter monastic life, and experience contemplation.
Retreats organized by the community
Sainte-Marie du Rivet, a thousand-year-old abbey in Gironde
It was in the time of Charlemagne that the abbey's foundations were laid, likely established according to the Benedictine Rule. This monastery was affiliated with the Cistercian Order in 1189, through Ponteaux Abbey, itself of the Pontigny filiation.
It was erected as an abbey in 1408. Severely tested by the Hundred Years' War, which was terrible in the region, the abbey had only five religious left in 1478. The monastery suffered from pillaging, demolitions, and fires, leaving the community in poverty and ruins.
The history of Rivet Abbey through the centuries
In the 17th century, several abbots of Rivet restored monastic life and the buildings, marked by the construction and baroque ornamentation of the abbey: it was a prosperous time.
It was only in 1938 that the Cistercian nuns of Blagnac, searching for a new home following the construction of the famous airport, settled at Rivet. Much restoration and renovation work was necessary during the war years, which were difficult for the sisters, working tirelessly and living in great poverty to meet all these expenses. Today, monastic life can thus continue in this place steeped in history!
The Sisters of Rivet Abbey, a living Cistercian community
The community at Rivet has always been small, simply living monastic life in a beautiful fraternal and industrious atmosphere. It belongs to the monastic family of the Cistercian Order and follows the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Here is what characterizes their daily life:
- the place of the liturgy with sung divine offices
- the place of lectio divina (meditated and daily reading of the Bible)
- the place of work, since Benedict considers that monks must live by the work of their hands
- the place of fraternal life with a balance, always delicate to find, between community life and solitude
Making a silent retreat in southwestern France
The abbey lives to the rhythm of various activities: a shop with a variety of monastic products, the making of dry cookies (delicious) and santons, as well as various handicrafts (decorated candles, painted scarves).
The sisters also tend a garden with a commitment to organic cultivation.
What makes Rivet Abbey unique? The history with an ancient place, the presence of a grotto identical to the one in Lourdes, the presence in its time of Bernadette Soubirous's cousin, a mill built by the monks on the Beuve, a stream into which the Rivet flows, and above all, a simple and fraternal life!
In short, an ideal place to make a peaceful and restful spiritual retreat.
What to expect during your stay
Making a spiritual retreat at the guest house of Rivet Abbey
The monastery's guest house warmly welcomes anyone wishing to find silence, share the community's prayer, find renewal in a simple and beautiful setting, for a duration of a few days to a week.
The community is available to accompany those who would like to meet and talk with a sister during their retreat time.
The abbey also welcomes groups with their preacher. The sisters themselves can give a retreat if there is a minimum of about ten participants. Various sessions are regularly offered, mainly in summer.
A stay at Rivet Monastery to find renewal
Two accommodations, close to the monastery, are at your disposal:
- Tibhirine: with 14 rooms and a capacity of 20 beds;
- Les Kellia: with 16 rooms and a capacity of 20 beds.
Single or double rooms are offered, as well as couple's rooms.
An oratory, a reading room, a private garden, and a library are available to retreatants. Several rooms can accommodate groups. Guests thus benefit from a silent setting and are invited to come pray the divine offices with the community.
For meals, the sisters offer a choice between a dining room where guests can converse during meals or a silent dining room. Animals are not allowed. A health pass is required.
Geography and activities
Rivet Abbey, located in the village of Auros in Gironde
Located in southern Gironde, more precisely near Graves and Sauternais, the abbey is surrounded by vineyards that make the richness and pride of the region. The monastery's village is called Auros, the main town of the canton of Bazadais. It is situated on a height overlooking the Garonne valley.
Practical information
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