Solesmes Abbey
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At Solesmes, about forty Benedictine monks live in Solesmes Abbey. Come discover their magnificent Gregorian offices, sung in Latin.
It is with these monks that you can come to find renewal and rest in the middle of the Sarthe countryside in this monastery bordered by the river and greenery.
Retreats organized by the community
Solesmes, the thousand-year-old abbey in the heart of Anjou
Located in the Pays de la Loire region, a few kilometers from Sablé-sur-Sarthe, on the borders of Maine and Anjou, the monastery was founded in 1010. Originally a simple priory, the monastery is now known especially for its magnificent sculptural ensembles, the "Saints of Solesmes", masterpieces of 15th and 16th century French art, and also a true theology through imagery.
In 1833, Dom Guéranger restored monastic life there, which had been interrupted by the Revolution. It is to him that the monastery, soon elevated to an abbey and head of congregation, owes its deep attachment to monastic spirituality, liturgy and Gregorian chant, as well as devotion to the Virgin Mary and filial attachment to the Pope.
The abbey, gradually formed, houses an 11th-century church, enriched during the Renaissance with the Tomb of Christ (1496) and the Beautiful Chapel (after 1550).
Around the abbey church, buildings such as the classical priory (1722), the large neo-Gothic wing (19th century), and modern additions like the library, the large cloister and the guest house symbolize a life centered on the abbey church and therefore on prayer.
The life of the Benedictines of Solesmes
The Benedictine monks of the abbey are happy to welcome you to share their lives governed by the Rule of Saint Benedict from the 4th century. This rule shapes the life of Benedictine communities by dictating a balance between prayer, study and manual work under the motto: "Pax" (meaning "Peace").
The Father Abbot governs the community of Solesmes Abbey but is also president of the Congregation of Solesmes, which brings together twenty-three monasteries of monks, to which are attached eight monasteries of nuns in France and around the world.
The community's days are structured around the offices and daily Mass, constituting the spiritual heart of the monastery.
In parallel, the warm welcome of guests and visitors occupies a significant place. The porter's lodge, with its shop, offers visitors a variety of monastic craft products, a religious bookstore and gastronomic specialties, thus enriching the journey to Solesmes.
A community with multiple talents!
Beyond daily activities, the monks participate in various workshops, reflecting the diversity of talents present in the community.
From publishing to bookbinding, from stonecutting to shoemaking, from baking to chocolate-making, from orchards to vegetable gardens, each brother contributes to the richness of the whole, in a spirit of sharing and pooling skills.
Finally, the community invests in activities dedicated to sacred art, culture and a particularly precious practice: Gregorian chant.
The monks dedicate time to preserving and promoting this liturgical musical heritage. Gregorian chant, a true treasure of the Church, adds a profound spiritual dimension to monastic life.
This attachment to sacred music represents a natural extension of monastic life, nourishing the soul and the spirit.
What to expect during your stay
Solesmes Abbey: a dream setting for a successful retreat!
"All guests who arrive shall be received as Christ" (Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 53)
Hospitality is a priority in Benedictine life and is fully part of the Rule of Saint Benedict that the monks of Solesmes strive to follow. Whether close to the Church or not, everyone will be welcomed for a time of silence, conducive to renewal, contemplation and meditation.
At the guest house, you will be welcome whatever your expectations to:
- Participate in the Mass and offices of the monastery.
- Take time for prayer in silence in the abbey church or the guest house oratory.
- Meet with a brother and receive spiritual guidance.
- Take a break and rest, enjoying the tranquility of the place and walks around the abbey.
- Help the community with manual work
Students can also study for exams in a setting conducive to concentration.
The guest house of Solesmes Abbey:
The abbey has 4 options to accommodate you:
The interior guest house has 24 single rooms for men with:
- A garden
- An oratory
- A library
- Meeting rooms
- Meals are taken in the refectory with the monks
Five houses near the abbey in the village for women, couples and families with:
- Single or double rooms
- Small gardens
- Possibility to attend the monks' offices
- A kitchen is at your disposal to prepare your meals.
La Marbrerie - For large groups with:
- Large room of 190 m²
- A kitchen that allows preparing meals for more than 100 people
- Two dormitories (20 and 23 beds)
- One room or mini-dormitory with 4 beds.
Maison Saint Clément - For smaller groups (with wheelchair access) includes:
- Room with fireplace
- A kitchen
- A dormitory with 15 beds
- A room with 4 beds (2 beds + 2 bunk beds)
For accommodations outside the internal guest house (houses in the village, La Marbrerie and Maison Saint Clément), sheets are not provided and meals are self-catered. In the village, there is a bakery, a grocery store, a creperie, a restaurant with takeout, a local producers' market on Tuesdays, and a supermarket 3 km away.
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Geography and activities
What to do along the Sarthe River and around Solesmes Abbey
Located on the banks of the Sarthe River, Solesmes offers a peaceful setting in the gentle Pays de la Loire region. Visitors to the abbey can enjoy numerous pleasant walks in the picturesque surroundings, particularly the village of Juigné and the banks of the Sarthe (GR trail).
Just 5 kilometers away, the Marian sanctuary of Notre Dame du Chêne and its spiritual center attract retreatants seeking a place of contemplation.
For those who prefer exploration, short excursions by car or bicycle offer the opportunity to discover treasures such as Malicorne, renowned for its artisanal faience, and especially Asnières-sur-Vègre, a medieval village of exceptional beauty.
Two birds with one stone: Solesmes is very close to the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-du-Chêne
Practical information
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