Accomodations at a Convent or Monastery in France.
 

I just read an interesting article about staying in a Convent in Florance, Italy. If anyone is interested there is information at www.monasteriesofitaly.com My questions is, are there any convents or Monastery in France that travelers can stay at? Is there a list of them on the Internet?

This is almost surely not the answer you want, but in Talloires, France (near Annecy), there is L'Abbaye - - a FORMER monastery - - now an exquisite luxury hotel and restaurant - - but still architecturally true to its roots. <BR> <BR>See their website - - www.abbaye-talloires.com/gb/indexgb.html - - for more info. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Randy, <BR> <BR>Thank you for your kind e-mail, even if it wasn't what you are looking for. I thought it might be easier to find something of this sort - - and I have come to the conclusion that such monasteries - - or convents (that is, actual working locations that train prists or nuns and invite guests in for overnight lodging) - - might simply not exist in France. <BR> <BR>If they do, they may well not exist in historic locations. One feature about the French revolution was that the church - - just as much as the monarchy - - was seen as the "establishment" - - and the wrath of revolutionaries was directed at institutionalized religion (not the great cathedrals, fortunately) as it was against Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. <BR> <BR>So many abbeys are in ruins, and many that were spared were perhaps knocked out of their pre-revolutionary function. <BR> <BR>Anybody else have any additional insight into this phenomenon? <BR> <BR>And for what it's worth, I did find ONE other RESTORED abbey that now serves as a "chateau hotel" - - Abbaye des Sept Fontaines - - at Fagnon, in Picardie - - and not nearly as expensive as Talloires - - 460 to 850 FF per room per night. <BR>

Randy, <BR> <BR>This may be close to what you're looking for: www.relais-du-silence.com In the US call 800-927-4765. <BR> <BR>Here's something else for you. The tele is in France and is 01-48-00-76-99 This is the Guide St. Christophe and is located at 277 rue St. Jacques, 75005, Paris. <BR> <BR>Dr. Betty

Dear learned one from Denver: <BR> <BR>How do these places qualify as a convent or monastery? Neither cheap nor monastic. Maybe you and I understand Randy's question differently? <BR> <BR>There IS one abbey listed at the website you cite, but it is 4 star (Villeneuve). Interestingly enough, it does say that it was (partially) destroyed during the revolution. <BR>