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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Apr 2025
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37
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Description
Who Are We?
We exist as a centre for peace and meditation, offering retreats, seminars and a sanctuary for healing. The property was bought in 2017 through funds raised from the international network , a world-wide community of meditators rooted in the contemplative mystical traditions of Christianity
Restoration of the chateau and farm buildings began in January 2018 and since then a small resident community has been developing, seeding the regular rhythm of life for what is now known as the Abbaye, guest house and retreat centre. Meditation takes place four times a day in a beautifully converted barn.
The community's hospitality to all, and its care of the land and buildings is underpinned by the inspiration of Benedictine spirituality. The foundation of this 'rule of life' acts as a context for finding human ways to live together in accordance with nature and the current needs of the world. The coming and going of volunteers is essential to the weave of this fabric. People of all ages, nationalities and faith traditions with an interest in exploring their meditation practice, or learning to meditate for the first time, are welcome to come to live and help as part of the community.
Some History
The Chateau dates from the 1700's, built around the foundations of an 11th Century monastery. Before the renovations, the other buildings consisted of a collection of farm buildings (a farmhouse, stables and a barn), and a gatehouse and hunting lodge. The land offers 160 acres of grassland, woodland, a walled garden and a huge diversity of wildlife. The river ‘Rune’ intersects the land which feeds an ancient fishing lake embedded in the south-facing aspect of the Abbaye. There are also marshes peppered with three natural springs and 24 ecosystems of local and national heritage. Part of the land is now inhabited by a small organic farm and small-holding, run by two members of the wider community.
Workaway
The Workaway volunteer program began in 2018. Inviting volunteers has been a hugely successful experience on both sides. Together we share the beauty of the land and buildings, the richness of our meditation practice, and our daily life and work . It has been wonderful to learn how welcoming volunteers is a vital part of this life and vision. A vessel for mutual learning, the chance for everyone to feel valued and empowered in their specific skills, making a contribution to a greater whole and spiritual development through participation in the day-to-day rhythm of community life.
Our Workaway volunteering opportunities begin with a month. After that an extension can follow a conversation between the volunteer and the community. Please note that stays of a month are preferable / desirable to enable volunteers to find rhythm and integrate with the life of the community. However we will consider volunteers for periods of a minimum of 2 weeks. The requirement is five hours of help a day and a willingness to join at least two periods of meditation a day and other community activities. Wednesdays and Saturdays are days off for volunteers as Sunday is a day of community activity.
We are looking for people who enjoy living on the land in quiet countryside and are willing to offer a flexible open-minded approach to doing what needs to be done, as well as participate in the day-to-day rhythm of meditation, care of guests and meal times. A space to be in relationship with others whilst exploring the nourishment of silence and solitude is at the heart of life here. We aim to encourage varying levels of silence as part of the every day life here and with the support of the community and resident teachers this is an opportunity to discover or deepen your own spiritual practice.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn through working collaboratively with others from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, running retreats and courses, gardening, land management, house-keeping, cooking, as well as through meditation and spiritual teachings from Christian and other traditions.
The daily rhythm hopes to encourage the experience of solitude and community, unity in the midst of diversity, and to nurture the inner wellsprings of joy that deepen our capacity to learn and to love.
Help
Our Workaway volunteering opportunities begin with a month. After that an extension can follow a conversation between the volunteer and the community. Please note that stays of a month are preferable / desirable to enable volunteers to find rhythm and integrate with the life of the community.
Type of help needed
Helping to run a Retreat Centre
Creating and maintaining a vegetable garden
Forest clearance and fencing
Managing wood collection for fires
Cooking / shopping for the community and guests
Cleaning of communal spaces
Animal care
Other
Small admin tasks
Recording and managing online and on-the-ground events
We are looking for people who enjoy living on the land in quiet countryside and are willing to offer a flexible open-minded approach to doing what needs to be done, as well as participate in the day-to-day rhythm of meditation and meal times. A space to be in relationship with other whilst exploring the nourishment of silence and solitude is at the heart of life here. We aim to encourage varying levels of silence as part of the every day life here and with the support of the community and resident teachers this is an opportunity to discover or deepen your own spiritual practice.
Typical Daily Rhythm (please note this is adjustable with the change of seasons)
Sunday to Saturday
7.00 – 7:30 - Silent meditation (optional)
7.45 – 8.35 - Morning meditation
8.40 – 9.15 - Breakfast in silence
9.30 – 10.00 - Study / Reading / group sharing (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - Saturday)
10.00 – 12.00 - Help
12.15 – 13.00 - Midday meditation
13.00 – 14.00 - Lunch / Clean-up
14.30 – 17.30 - Help
18.00 – 18.45 - Evening meditation
18.50 – 19.30 - Dinner
Wednesdays are silent days of no work, a chance to read, study, renewal of your inner peace, rest, be creative or in silence …
Saturdays are days off to have the chance to do some cultural or relaxing activities with other volunteers.
Sundays are days of community life: eating and doing light tasks together.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Accommodation
Workaways are accommodated in bedrooms in the newly renovated Abbaye. Volunteers will be invited to share in the cooking of meals in the community kitchen, which will be eaten in the dining hall with community residents. Volunteers are invited to join the community for lunch and dinner every day, consisting of a blend of international cuisine, where we will accommodate as far as possible any special dietary requirements. The Abbaye building provides a good WiFi connection.
What else ...
Our place is situated amidst beautiful countryside for walking and many places of historic and cultural interest. The nearest village is Marçay, 2 kilometres away and situated along the route Jacque de Compostella, which is a section of the known Santiago de Compostella. The nearest market town is Vivonne with supermarkets and other facilities. The ancient Abbey of St Martin at Ligugé is 6 kilometres to the north. Fifteen kilometers away the medieval city of Poitiers (which has an airport Biard along with local and TGV train links from Paris) boasts one of the most significant gothic cathedrals in France. Further afield there are also the cities of Tours and Saintes and the coastal town of La Rochelle.
On arrival, we can arrange pick-ups from Vivonne train station (regional line from Poitiers) as well as from Poitiers main line station or airport.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
wi-fi is available throughout the buildings
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (21)
accompanied by the daily prayer and… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
accompanied by the daily prayer and… read more
Victoria fitted in immediately… read more
Mike - Core Community member
Its not the 'cheap travel and blow my hair off' archetype of Workaway. Its set in nature, there is a meditation and work routine, and a caring, open hearted-minded core community, bound together on spiritual grounds. The work is fair, varied… read more
Mike - Core Community member
Thanks for having been that warm welcoming winter shelter I needed.
Thanks for accepting me as I am.
Thanks for letting me join laying down in labor with you.
In labor of our consciousness, of our freedom & fearlessness, of our souls & truths, of Christ within you & me.
Thank you for your devotion & rhythm, your… read more
Many thanks for your wonderful feedback about your stay at the place.
We remember that you said you would do this, but this is more than we expected.
You are a beautiful person: seeking, open for new insights, sincere and humble enough to receive wisdom.
Ww loved the running moments with you.
Thanks for feeling at home here …
We… read more
And it’s difficult to describe it in a few sentences, the place is just magic! The forest where I had daily walks, the villages around where I rode my bicycle, the sunrises I used to see after the… read more
I… read more
Thank you for your comments, Jonathan. It's heartening to see how well you understood and entered so generously into the experience. We were all very happy with your presence and participation among us… read more
Everyone was extremely friendly, the food and accommodation was excellent and the nature around the place was amazing.
I would 100% recommend it to other workawayers!
Intense work on becoming more essential a human being. Never having meditated before, it rather felt like jumping in the deep end, with three med. of 30 minutes a day. All voluntary, though, and no… read more
