L’Abbey de Bonnevaux - A Centre for Peace

In the final days of this trip we have had the privilege of visiting and staying at Bonnevaux, near Poitiers in France. 

Bonnevaux is the international centre of the World Community for Christian Meditation, and home to the contemplative community that prays, works and studies in the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict. The spirit of silence is at the centre of life here at Bonnevaux.

At the heart of its prayer life, the community meditates in the tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (fourth century), following the teachings of John Main (1926 - 1982), a Benedictine monk and founder of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). 

Here’s the community house where we were warmly welcomed and accommodated. It was lovely to see Father Laurence Freeman and other members of the community we have come to know over the years of our involvement with the WCCM.

From the 12th century till the French Revolution this was a Cistercian Monastery.





After the Revolution it was owned by the same family for over one hundred and fifty years, before being purchased in the 1960s by a couple of Parisian designers! The WCCM has now bought it and it’s being lovingly restored and returned to its monastic roots. The large grounds have never been industrially farmed, and it is home to a significant eco-system of plants, insects, birds and wildlife.

The winding stone staircase to our room. Some treads were so worn down by the monks of centuries’ past that they’ve had to be patched.



And the view from a window upstairs.

A little further up the slope from this main house is the centre where retreatants eat and sleep.

Here’s another view of the retreat centre, and the barn beside it where meditation happens (three or four times each day) and where larger groups gather for teaching and reflection. Both buildings are sensitively restored and beautifully appointed.

Some of the trees here we planted before the French Revolution. This London Plane tree is old and majestic - the trunk is enormous...

and the canopy is glorious.

There is a garden where veggies are grown and chickens raised. And part of the property has also been given to sustainable farming. It was inspiring to see and we will come home with some ideas for our humble veggie patch.

This wooded path leads around to the lake.



There are places to pause.

And other ways to wander.

Some of Bonnevaux’s feathered and furry residents.

Two Musk Rats washing in the stream. The community also describes them as Beaver Rats. There’s a family of five in residence!

Buildings old and new.

A wood carpeted with cyclamens...

and a glade with views and pews.

Our time here has been a delight - a warm and interesting group of people (mostly young!), a regular rhythm of prayer and silence, and simple but delicious food. It’s been a fantastic way to draw our time in Europe to a close and ready ourselves to come back into the community of Benedictus and our family and friends.

Tomorrow we get the train from Poitiers to the airport in Paris, and we fly out on Wednesday morning - full of gratitude for our time away and the many wonderful people who have enabled it and with whom we’ve connected along the way. 

Buen Camino,

Neil and Sarah