Abbaye Saint-Pierre, Solesmes

The Story:

Abbaye Saint-Pierre is a Benedictine Monastery in Solesmes near Sarthe, France. Founded in 1010, The Abbey had been sacked during the Hundred Years’ War of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, but was rebuilt at the end of the 1400s. It was closed at the time of the French Revolution as all religious vows were prohibited during the brutal oppression of Catholics (especially those in religious life) in France during these years. In 1831, local Priest Fr. Proseper Guéranger purchased the abbey and restored the monastery to a fully functioning house under the Benedictine Order. By 1833 with renovations completed, the Benedictine Monks returned and received Papal approval by 1833, now officially recognized as an abbey and founded as te French Benedictine Congregation. Fr. Guéranger was Abbot there for almost 40 years.

In 1866 the convent St. Cecilia’s Abbey was founded by Mother Cécile Bruyére. The monks and nuns of Solesmes have famously preserved the use of the Latin language and Gregorian Chant in their liturgies, along with giving special attention to the visual aspects of the Mass with their vestments, ceremonial gestures and incense. Today they remain at the forefront of papal, monastic and Gregorian chant research, while continuing to live the motto of the Benedictine Order, Ora et Labora.

Accommodation: There are many 3* and 4* hotels in Solesmes, as well as in the nearby towns of Sarthe and Le Mans.

Transportation: By car, the Abbey is located approximately a 3 hour drive from Paris (160 miles) via the A11 & A81 motorways. By train, the SNCF station at Sable-sur-Sarthe is reachable by TGV from Paris. Upon arriving at the Sable-sur-Sarthe station, take a 10 minute taxi drive to the Abbey.

Address: Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes 1, Place Dom Guéranger 72 300 Solesmes, France

Tel: 02 43 95 03 08
Fax: 02 43 95 68 79