Randol Abbey
Cournols Puy-de-Dôme Founded in 1971
In the land of volcanoes, liturgy and light
Notre-Dame de Randol Abbey, in the Puy-de-Dôme, is a Benedictine monastery nestled in the heart of the Auvergne mountains, south of Clermont-Ferrand. Since 1971, monks from Fontgombault and Solesmes have lived here according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, in community with their Abbot. Their primary work is the praise of God through the chanting of the Divine Office, with the Mass at its heart, in a day shared between prayer, lectio divina, work, and welcoming guests. An age-old liturgy celebrated in modern buildings transfigured by light, the abbey is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Surrounded by lush greenery, the monastery holds a large estate devoted to dairy farming, cheese-making by the monks, and forestry. Faithful to the Benedictine tradition of hospitality, the monks open their doors for a calm and contemplative retreat, in a setting conducive to recollection and renewal, amid varied landscapes and beautiful hiking trails.
What awaits you
Practical information
Accommodation options
Three options are available: accommodation at the abbey (men only, individual room, meals with the monks in the refectory); accommodation in the hamlet of Randol, 350 m away (families and women, self-catering cottage, kitchen available); camping on the grounds for scouts and guides.
Meals
Retreatants staying at the abbey take their main meals with the brothers, in silence, in the refectory. For guests in the hamlet, meals are not provided, but cooking equipment is available.
Liturgical offices and liturgy
Guests are invited to join, as much as possible, the monastic offices that mark the rhythm of the day at the abbey church. The abbey church is freely accessible to all guests, including those staying in the hamlet.
Hiking
Many hikes and walks are accessible from the abbey, in the heart of the Auvergne mountains. The Puy de Dôme is about a 3-hour walk away. The varied landscapes are protected from modern development.
Meeting with a monk
A meeting with a brother is possible during the stay. The community offers a fraternal presence that can take the form of a conversation with a monk.
Getting there
Clermont-Ferrand train station, then bus to Saint Saturnin; or "Les Martres de Veyre" train station, then on foot
A75 Paris-Montpellier, then take exit no. 5 south of Clermont
From Puy-de-Dôme, it's only about an hour's ride