Fontgombault The Abbey of Notre-Dame of Fontgombault

Pierre de l’Étoile, a hermit of the Creuse valley, founded the abbey around 1091, and its Romanesque church was built in the following century. Emptied at the Revolution, it had Trappist monks in the nineteenth century, and Benedictines from Solesmes have lived there since 1948.

The community celebrates the Mass in its traditional Latin form and sings the Office in Gregorian chant. It has founded several monasteries in France and one in the United States, Our Lady of Clear Creek, in Oklahoma. Guests are welcome at the Office in the abbey church.

Further reading: Gregorian Chant in France: Monasteries Open to Pilgrims.

• The abbey churchRomanesque, on the bank of the Creuse; the Office is open to all.

• Via BenedictiThe Way of Saint Benedict, seven daysDay I, Paris to Fontgombault · Day II, Fontgombault · Day III, Fontgombault to Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire

About two hours by train from Paris to Châteauroux, then about fifty minutes by road.

• PellevoisinThe Shrine of Our Lady of Pellevoisin, about 30 miles as the crow flies
• L’Île-BouchardThe Church of Saint-Gilles, about 41 miles as the crow flies
• ChinonThe Royal Fortress of Chinon, about 49 miles as the crow flies
• ToursThe Basilica of Saint Martin, about 52 miles as the crow flies