Sanctuaire Notre-Dame des Enfants
Châteauneuf-sur-Cher Cher
In Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, in the Berry region, the Fraternité missionnaire du Saint-Esprit welcomes you at the foot of the basilica of Notre-Dame des Enfants, a Marian sanctuary built at the end of the 19th century. This community of consecrated virgins, present in the diocese since 2024, leads a common life in the spirit of Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena.
Guests are welcomed year-round, by request, individually or in groups. The community offers a time of prayer, formation, and encounter, in a contemplative spirit nourished by Gregorian liturgy and the study of truth in the school of Saint Thomas Aquinas — a welcome open to all, young and old, believers and seekers alike.
What awaits you
Practical information
Meals
Meals can be taken in silence or accompanied by the broadcast of the Fraternity's reading in the guest house, in a spirit of recollection shared with the community.
Accommodation
8 rooms for 15 guests, across two gîtes.
Silence
An atmosphere of recollection is encouraged, without being imposed at every moment.
Manual work
Retreatants who wish to may participate in gardening or small renovation tasks.
In the area
The town of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, crossed by the Cher river, attracts kayaking enthusiasts. The Cistercian abbey of Noirlac is 20 minutes away. The cathedral of Bourges and the Palais Jacques Cœur are a half-hour drive away.
Getting there
From the train station, the sanctuary is a 15-minute walk away. However, the community can pick up retreatants by car.
Located 2.5 hours by car from Paris, Châteauneuf-sur-Cher is a half-hour drive from Bourges.
Walking pilgrimages, hikes, and cycling routes are possible.