Yzeron Carmel
Located 40 minutes from Lyon city center, due west, Yzeron Carmel welcomes you in the Monts du Lyonnais for a retreat following in the footsteps of the great Carmelite figures: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of the Yzeron community
Founded by four Carmelite nuns from Arles, Yzeron Carmel began in 1861 in Oullins, in the working-class suburb near Lyon. While awaiting the construction of a monastery, the sisters were housed in a dilapidated and unsanitary hovel. Despite this, postulants flocked to them: ten in one year. This was the beginning of the history of Yzeron Carmel.
From 1898 to 1914, the community stagnated and its numbers fluctuated between eight and ten sisters, as they were no longer allowed to accept postulants. After the war, new difficulties emerged: the municipality undertook urban development projects and streets cut through the monastery garden. The Sisters were then forced to leave and relocate elsewhere.
The community's 23 sisters then moved to Lyon in 1926 to the Point du Jour neighborhood (Lyon 5). However, forty years later, increasing urbanization forced the community to move again. This is how the community settled at 800 meters altitude in the Monts du Lyonnais, in Yzeron, in 1967.
The life of the Sisters at Yzeron Carmel today
At the heart of the current Carmelite community's prayer life is mental prayer (i.e. individual and silent prayer), for two hours each day: "Mental prayer is the cement of this house," said Saint Teresa of Avila. Very concretely, the community's life is organized around two essential poles:
- The first is that of a hermit's life, consisting of work, solitude, and silence in search of God.
- The second is that of fraternal life lived through liturgy, times of gathering, and meals.
The Carmelites devote themselves to studying and listening to the Word of God, as well as reading the lives and works of the great Carmelite spiritual figures (Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint Edith Stein alias Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, etc).
The pillars of spiritual life at Yzeron
The Sisters of the Order of Carmel are called "Carmelites." They strive to walk in the footsteps of Saint Teresa of Avila, a mystical Spanish saint of the 16th century declared a Doctor of the Church.
The Carmelites seek to live with the same ardor and resolution as their foundress, in a spirit of witness to what inspires them. The Carmelites also have a life marked by mental prayer, a time of recollection and silent prayer. From this God whom the Carmelites nourish themselves with, they seek to draw all their strength.
What to expect during your stay
Living a time of spiritual retreat at Yzeron Carmel
For those who wish to experience a time of silence and contemplation far from their daily routines, Yzeron Carmel is an ideal destination, for those ready to embrace a hermit's life!
The Carmel's guest house is quite modest. It consists of two double rooms and two single rooms, along with everything necessary for a retreat (dining room, library, bathrooms). The Carmel's chapel is accessible throughout the day to participate with the sisters in the divine offices, Mass, or to come and pray in silence.
Since the Carmelites are cloistered nuns, meal times, work, or recreation are not shared with guests, but it is possible to request a meeting with a sister during your stay.
Geography and activities
West of Lyon, discover the small village of Yzeron
The original building from which the Carmel was founded was the "Beau Site" hotel. It was well-named, as the Carmel offers a breathtaking view of Lyon and the Rhône Valley.
The village of Yzeron offers several activities for sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers: a giant zip line and treetop adventure courses are in the immediate vicinity of the Carmel. You will also discover the water body developed on the river of the same name, the Yzeron.
Furthermore, the municipality is deeply committed to environmental concerns, particularly regarding a zero pesticide policy for local farms, the preservation of local flora and fauna, municipal composting, and the conversion of the municipal heating system to renewable energy.
Finally, near the village are Ronzey Lake and Romanesque chapels: the Chapel of Châteauvieux, dating from the 11th century, and the Chapel of Rochefort (in the municipality of Saint-Martin-en-Haut). The village also has numerous hiking trails, for walking or mountain biking.
Exploring the surroundings in the Monts du Lyonnais (69)
In the neighboring municipality of Courzieu, there are several exceptional sites. You can visit the Châtelard oppidum, which dates from the second Iron Age. Also the Brévenne aqueduct (which also passes through Montromant and reaches Lyon), dating from the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius (1st century).
The municipality of Vaugneray also has one of the four aqueducts that supplied Lyon: the Yzeron aqueduct (which predates the Brévenne aqueduct by a few decades).
Practical information
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