The most beautiful religious buildings France

Founded four centuries ago, in 1616, at Moulins in the Allier, this monastery was restored after the Revolution at La Charité-sur-Loire in 1818, then at Nevers in 1854. In 1908, the nuns went into exile in Belgium and returned to Nevers in 1935. And it was in 1993 that the Salesian community of Visitandines settled at the foot of a hill, on the route des Saulaies, on the banks of the Loire. Their guesthouse, located in a green and silent setting, can welcome you for a spiritual break not exceeding 8 days. A 3.5 km long footpath runs along the Loire River in front of the monastery, and is a great place to go for a walk.

You can share the services with the community. On Sundays: readings at 8am, Lauds at 9am, midday at 11:30am, Vespers at 5:45pm, Eucharist at 6:30pm. During the week, readings at 7:30 a.m., matins at 8:30 a.m., Eucharist and midday at 11 a.m., Vespers at 6 p.m., Compline at 8:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, the day of desert, Eucharist at 11:00 am. The services are celebrated in private.

The Visitandines receive young women, ladies and nuns who wish to spend a few days in silence and prayer to take stock of their situation or to better face everyday life with a stronger faith. They can also receive men and pilgrims from Santiago de Compostela. All these people can, if they wish, meet a nun. Books are at their disposal and they can also ask for recordings of conferences to help their meditation.

In 1206, the nuns were founded by Saint Dominic in Prouilhe near Toulouse, in the heart of Cathar country. In 1860, this Dominican community was established in Marseilles, to serve the incurably ill and the infirm of all orders abandoned by all. The monastery of Saint-Maximin was created in 1972 from the work of Sainte-Catherine. The monastery moved in 2009 to the hill of Deffends, a preserved place of the city of Saint-Maximin at 400 m altitude. Its location offers retreatants a view and an atmosphere conducive to rest and recollection, changing with the seasons. The nuns offer to all those who wish to share their liturgical life of prayer and contemplation for a few days. The reception is open to all people for individual stays or in groups organized for retreats or training sessions. And also young girls who are reflecting on a vocation... and more generally any person who is looking for God and wishes to share the prayer and life of the community. They welcome people for a day or for a stay of between two and eight days and provide, in addition to accommodation and meals, places for prayer, two conference rooms and a library. Finally, for guides and scouts, there is a space for camping and an altar for outdoor celebrations.