Timadeuc Abbey
In the heart of Central Brittany, between Pontivy and Josselin in Morbihan, the Trappist abbey Timadeuc Abbey welcomes individuals and groups for refreshing, authentic, and inspiring stays!
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of Timadeuc Abbey
Timadeuc was once a manor lost between the moorland and the Breton forest. In 1841, three monks from the Trappe of Soligny settled here to restore the monastic life that had disappeared from this region during the French Revolution.
Since that time, men desiring to practice this centuries-old wisdom have never ceased knocking at the monastery door.
The community has grown over the years, constantly improving this once desolate place. Through prayer and through the work of their hands, the monks have given the abbey the appearance we know today.
The life and work of the Cistercian monastic community of Timadeuc
The monastic community of Timadeuc aims to be a school for learning to serve God. This mission rests on three pillars: prayer, community life, and work.
The community belongs to the Cistercian Order, a religious order founded at Cîteaux at the end of the 11th century. As such, the brothers of Timadeuc follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. According to the motto "Ora et Labora", the day of Cistercian monks is balanced between prayer and work.
In addition to maintaining the grounds, welcoming guests, and running the shop, the Brothers of the Cistercian community of Timadeuc produce delicious fruit jellies and cheeses renowned worldwide: la Trappe and Timanoix, aged in walnut liqueur.
What to expect during your stay
Making a spiritual retreat at Timadeuc Abbey
The community values living in silence and contemplation. While this is not a requirement for visiting, each guest is invited to participate in the brothers' prayer times that punctuate the day in the church. Guests are also invited to take time for silence, reading, or walking. The abbey also has a library, an oratory, and a garden.
Hospitality is a core value for 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 offered to everyone: "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ".
Believers or not, guests who spend a few days at the abbey come for very different reasons: the desire to deepen their faith, enjoy a calm and peaceful setting, take time for themselves, alone or with the help of a brother.
Living a time of spiritual retreat in Brittany at Timadeuc Abbey
The abbey welcomes you for a time of spiritual retreat in its guest house, which allows you to find renewal in an atmosphere of silence.
It also has a reception center with 29 beds. Located outside the enclosure but adjacent to the monastery, "Maison Saint-Julien" is ideal for welcoming groups. It is a place for sharing and exchange where young people can gather, sing, dance, talk, and laugh in complete freedom!
The center provides:
- Two dormitories and a room reserved for the group leader
- An equipped kitchen (guests must bring their own food)
- A meeting room
There is also a large field and the possibility to welcome tents for scout camps!
During your retreat or camp at the abbey, you will have the opportunity to meet with a brother for a personal or group conversation and to participate in the community's prayer times. Seven in number, the divine offices take place between 4:15 AM (you need to be motivated!) in the morning and 8:05 PM in the evening.
The abbey also has a shop offering monastic products and a very rich collection of books.
Geography and activities
The abbey is located in the heart of Brittany, a rural region of fields and forests. It sits at the crossroads of the GR 37, a path to Santiago de Compostela, and the Nantes to Brest canal. Located in the town of Bréhan, it is surrounded by the small Breton towns of Pontivy, Josselin, and Loudéac.
What to do in Central Brittany around Timadeuc Abbey?
The abbey is located in a preserved area in the heart of the Breton countryside. In the immediate vicinity of the abbey:
- The Nantes to Brest Canal (5 minutes on foot): 360 km long with 236 locks, it will delight walkers and cyclists.
- The small town of Rohan (7 minutes by car)
Activities and places to visit around Timadeuc Abbey
A bit further:
- Stroll through the town of Josselin (20 minutes by car): the castle of the Dukes of Rohan (still inhabited and open to visitors), the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Roncier (you can climb to the top of the bell tower and admire the Oust valley).
- Discover Central Brittany (20 minutes by car): head toward Loudéac and discover the Central Breton heritage by traveling the "Route du Lin" through the towns of Le Quillio, Saint-Caradec, Saint-Thélo, and Uzel-près-l'Oust. On the way there or back, stop at the castle of La Chèze and admire its 12th-century tower.
- Walk through the streets of Pontivy (25 minutes by car): former stronghold of the Rohans, then nicknamed "Napoléonville", Pontivy impresses with its history. Discover its fortress castle, let yourself be charmed by its streets, and sail on the Blavet, the river that flows through it...
- The Sainte Anne d'Auray sanctuary, a major pilgrimage site in Brittany, is an hour's drive away.
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