Campénéac Abbey of Our Lady
Campénéac Morbihan Founded in 1951
A clearing of silence on the edge of Brocéliande
Abbaye La Joie Notre-Dame, in Campénéac in Brittany, is a Cistercian monastery run by a community of twenty-three Trappist sisters, on the edge of the legendary Brocéliande forest. Established in the commune since 1951, the nuns belong to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict: their day is divided between the seven offices, from Vigils at 4:00 a.m. to Compline at 7:30 p.m., lectio divina, work in the guest house, and the making of well-known Breton biscuits and chocolates.
Surrounded by moorlands, ponds, and hiking trails, halfway between Rennes and Lorient, the abbey offers a peaceful setting where nature is ever-present. Alone, in a group, or with family, guests come for a restorative stay: to rest, rediscover peace, contemplate and meditate, or even study for exams.
What awaits you
Practical information
Guest house
The guest house, renovated in 2013, includes 25 rooms, an oratory, a library, and a work room. The Ville Aubert annex accommodates groups independently: a kitchen equipped for 40 people, three meeting rooms, rooms, and small dormitories. Please bring your own bed linens if possible.
Meals
Lunch and dinner are served on site. Self-catering meals are possible in the gîte.
Liturgy
The community celebrates seven daily offices, from Vigils at 4:00 a.m. to Compline at 7:30 p.m. Guests are warmly invited to join the community in prayer.
Hiking & nature
The abbey is surrounded by hiking trails and mountain biking paths. The Brocéliande forest, with its moorlands, ponds, and megaliths, is right nearby. The Château de Trécesson and the town of Josselin are less than 20 km away.
Getting there
Go to Rennes train station and take a bus toward Ploërmel.
RN 24 between Rennes and Lorient
Weaving through the trees of the Forêt du Roi Arthur