ABBAYE NOTRE-DAME DE FIDÉLITÉ

Overlooking the Durance valley, some twenty kilometers from Aix-en-Provence, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fidélité is home to a community of nuns living according to the rule of Saint Benedict. The monastery was founded in 1967 near the village of Jouques. Sent by the Abbey of Saint Louis du Temple in Limon, Essonne, a small group of nuns settled at Pey de Durance, in farm buildings surrounded by several hectares of vines. The novitiate opened in 1970, and the monastery became an abbey in 1981. Today, the community is made up of around fifty sisters of all generations, brought together here by Christ's call to leave everything behind and follow him. Liturgy, lectio divina, personal prayer, work and fraternal life punctuate their days and nourish their common walk in monastic life. Through personal and community joys and trials, it is God's faithfulness that sustains them. As for manual labor, so dear to Saint Benedict, the sisters cultivate the vines to produce the wine (mainly grenache, merlot, uni blanc and cinsault) you'll find in the store. Over the years, a large orchard and lavender have also been planted on the estate, and beehives have been installed. More recently, an old olive grove has been restored: the old plants, lost among the pines, have been moved and replanted on around 2 hectares. These plantations are cultivated naturally, and the sisters have no time to be idle! Intellectual work is also part of each sister's task, to exercise her intelligence in the service of God. The monastery guesthouse can accommodate relatives and friends of the community, individuals and small groups wishing to retreat in a climate of prayer and peace. But it is very much in demand, and struggles to satisfy all requests... On the other hand, services are always open to all.

Offices : matins at 5 am on weekdays, lauds at 7:30 am on weekdays, tierce and mass at 8:30 am on weekdays and mass at 10:30 am on Sundays, sexte at 12:45 pm, none at 2:45 pm, vespers at 5:30 pm, compline at 8 pm. Divine Office and Gregorian mass.

Accommodation : Around thirty rooms. Full board available.

Store : open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 12:15pm and 3pm to 5:15pm. Sale of gourmet products (jams, almonds, olive oil...), wine, cosmetics (soaps, essential oils, lavender water...), CDs and DVDs, gifts, bookshop. Delivery available (online store).