Solesmes Abbey

A well-known place for Gregorian Chant

Solesmes, located in the heart of the Sarthe department, is a must-visit destination for heritage lovers and cultural tourism enthusiasts.

The Abbey of Solesmes is renowned for its remarkable historic architecture and its world-famous Gregorian chants. Meanwhile, the village’s audio walking tour offers a unique way to explore Solesmes and uncover its hidden stories.

This unforgettable experience combines history, culture and nature, offering visitors a truly enriching getaway. From guided tours and peaceful walks to moments of contemplation, Solesmes invites you to immerse yourself in its unique heritage and discover the soul of this charming village in the Sarthe Valley.

Discover the village of Solesmes

New: Discover Solesmes through an immersive audio walking tour!

Start your visit to Solesmes with a unique new experience: the audio walking tour. Using your smartphone and headphones, follow the voice that reveals the village’s stories, local anecdotes and hidden secrets, starting from Dom Guéranger Square.

Simply scan the QR code on the information panels or on the map, and set off on a self-guided journey through history, exploring Solesmes at your own pace.

Along the way, don’t miss Saint Peter’s Abbey, discreet from the village side yet truly impressive when admired from the river. Just a few steps away, discover Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, home to the Benedictine nuns, bringing a peaceful and timeless atmosphere to the village.

Saint Peter’s Abbey of Solesmes

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Saint-Pierre abbey of Solemses - Statue of saint

Timeless

The romantic and powerful silhouette of Solesnes Abbey can be seen from afar, reaching up towards the clouds, while some other more bleak, Medieval-looking constructions built in 1896, reflect onto the peaceful waters of the Sarthe.

Once you pass through the Medieval door of this abbey church, you’ll come face-to-face with two exceptional sculptures of the famous Saints of Solesmes.

Well-known place of Gregorian Chant

Solesmes Abbey has witnessed several centuries of this liturgical music. To see a service with this Chant with your own eyes is a moving and unforgettable experience, that will awaken some deep spiritual and musical emotions.

To really get the most out of this moment, we recommend the Vespers, every day at 5pm (lasts 30 minutes). (times may vary depending on the season)

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Solesmes abbey - chapel and cloister
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Abbaye de Solesmes

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Solesmes abbey Gregorian chant book Sarthe valley
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Abbaye de Solesmes

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Solesmes abbey Monks prayers Sarthe valley
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Abbaye de Solesmes

View from up above

Practical information

Daily services:

10:00 am: Sung conventual Mass
(lasting 1 hour 15 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour 45 minutes on Sundays and feast days)
5:00 pm: Sung Vespers
(lasting 30 minutes)
The Abbey shop is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, outside liturgical services and meal times.

1 Place Dom Guéranger – Solesmes
Tel.: +33 (0)2 43 95 03 08
Email: [email protected]

Good to know

The monks and nuns follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, a way of life based on prayer, work, silence and hospitality.

For this reason, visitors cannot access the interior of Saint Peter’s Abbey. However, the Abbey shop is open every day and offers the opportunity to discover more about monastic life, with an Abbey model and videos showing glimpses of the monks’ daily lives.

The Abbey shop is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, outside liturgical services and meal times.

In the words of Father Soltner...

Get the

Solesmes experience

The 'Tour de l'Abbaye" trail

This hiking or cycling trail leaves from Solesmes and takes you on a discovery of the two Abbey Churches.

Tour des galibots

Follow in the footsteps of the galibots, the young apprentice miners who every morning, with their "briquet" (snack) in their sack, walked along the sunken lanes of Juigné to...

Visites guidées de Solesmes et de l'abbaye

Discover the heritage of Solesmes on a walk through the heart of the village!

Basilique Notre Dame du Chêne

Marian pilgrimage and diocesan spiritual centre, Academy for Integral Ecology

Where can we eat and sleep?

in Solesmes

from9.99 €

Restaurant Buffalo GrillWORLD FOOD

Some ideas

during your stay