This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Silence, the luxury par excellence? Certainly, more and more of us are looking for it. Beyond spas and other wellness centers, some places – religious or not – welcome visitors for a small contribution and regardless of beliefs. Because, no, we don’t all want to hide in a cabin deep in the woods to recharge our batteries! Here are three places to escape the din of everyday life, including meals.
Val Notre-Dame Abbey, Lanaudiere
In Saint-Jean-de-Matha, the Val Notre-Dame abbey attracts both outdoor enthusiasts and gourmets. In addition to the many possibilities for activities and the appetizing boutique filled with forest products, the monastery, located at the foot of the Coupée mountain, has a hotel component. Fourteen individual rooms with toilets and showers are available to visitors. “It’s open to anyone who needs to recharge their batteries, to have a moment of tranquility and to renew themselves internally, regardless of beliefs, specifies Brother André Gauthier, responsible for reservations. We emphasize respect for silence. We insist a lot on that. » Retreats can be done from Monday to Thursday or from Friday to Sunday. “What we offer is a room, meals and a climate of tranquility. There is a monk and a priest available if people need to talk. Meals are taken at set times, and in silence. “The advantage here is that we have a lot of hiking trails. You can go for a walk in the forest. It is a nature bath. We listen to the silence. Les silences…” The suggested rate is $70 per night per person, for a maximum of six nights. “We don’t refuse people who cannot pay this amount”, specifies Brother André Gauthier, who adds however that this is not an appropriate place for anyone with an addiction problem or who can disturb the tranquility of other visitors. Reservations are preferably made online.
Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Eastern Townships
The Benedictine monks of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, near Magog, also evolve in an enchanting setting. However, only a small part of the site is accessible to visitors, even outside. “The 534-acre monks’ land is not accessible to the public,” says David Morel, communications coordinator. The small part open to all is in the undergrowth next to the path that leads to the abbey. Again, religion is not an eligibility criterion. “It’s open to everyone, believers or not,” explains Mr. Morel. The only thing the monks want to make sure is that the person is coming for a healing stay. For example, people have already arrived by car with their bicycles for cycle tourism. Rather, we want them to stay put and take advantage of the healing spaces. Here, men and women live in different buildings. Forty rooms are on the men’s side and fifteen are in the women’s section. “There are two places: the hotel, for the men, and the Villa Sainte-Scolastique, a small house, for the ladies. The midday and evening meals are taken within the enclosure of the abbey. They take place in two phases: the women eat first, then the men. If it is not forbidden to speak outside the enclosure of the abbey, as soon as one crosses the threshold, silence is required. Meetings with a monk can nevertheless be organized. Suggested price for one night: $75 per person. “People can give less if they can’t give that amount. As for the guided tours of the abbey, they take place only in summer, from June 24th.
Vipassana Centre, Outaouais
In Montebello, the Quebec Vipassana Center is housed in a former private school on a quiet row, on 600 acres of land. For a minimum stay of ten days, an introduction to one of India’s oldest meditation techniques is offered. The day begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. About ten hours of meditation are on the program. “All students participating in a course observe ‘noble silence’, meaning silence of body, speech and mind, the website reads. They agree to refrain from communicating with other meditators. On the other hand, the students are free to speak with the teacher and to contact the managers of the course about their material needs. Silence is observed for the first nine full days. On the tenth day, speech is restored, to allow students to resume a normal lifestyle. » No financial contribution is required, whether for accommodation, lessons or food. “Every student who attends a Vipassana course receives this gift from a previous student. […] All Vipassana courses around the world are run on a strict voluntary donation basis. »
Other places to unwind
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.