Our Hamlets

Plum Village, France is actually composed of three separate monasteries, called “hamlets” located in three different towns.

The hamlets are self-contained communities where the monastics and lay practitioners live, eat, practice, work and relax as a spiritual family. All three hamlets come together at least twice a week (on Thursdays and Sundays in the Spring, Autumn and Winter season) to listen to a teaching and enjoy a full day of mindfulness practice as a community.

Visiting Plum Village, France

To visit one of our hamlets you can either register for a retreat or visit on a scheduled Day of Mindfulness.

[For overnight stays, each hamlet can only receive guests who have registered and paid for one of our retreats in our Retreat Calendar. We are unable to welcome people who arrive without a prior registration confirmed by the Registration Office, nor can we accommodate guests who wish to stay overnight outside the retreat dates. Thank you for your support and understanding.]

Who can stay where for retreats?

New Hamlet and Lower Hamlet are the two communities of Plum Village nuns (or “sisters”). If you are a woman coming on your own, please register once only at either New Hamlet or Lower Hamlet. They are located about 18 km apart. If you are a woman coming with a partner or a family member, you can also register in New Hamlet and Lower Hamlet. 

Upper Hamlet is where the Plum Village monks live and practice. If you are a man coming on your own, please register in Upper Hamlet. If you are male or non-binary and coming with a partner or a family member, you can also register in Upper Hamlet. 

For particular retreats or practice weeks: 

• Upper Hamlet welcomes single men, single women, couples, and non-binary friends.
• New Hamlet welcomes single women, single men, couples, and non-binary friends. 
• Lower Hamlet welcomes single women, single men, and couples. 

All hamlets accept couples and families for short-term retreats. However please note that special programs for children aged 6-12 and teens aged 13-17 are offered once a year during our Summer Opening retreat in July. For long-term retreats, such as the Rains Retreat, requirements may vary, so please check the individual registration form for each Hamlet or contact the Hamlet directly. 

For any questions, kindly reach out to the appropriate Hamlet, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Contact information

Please note that the Registration Offices in the three hamlets have different opening hours.

Upper Hamlet

For single men, couples, and families

Pháp Vân Temple – 法雲寺
Address: Village des Pruniers – Hameau du Haut, 437 Chemin du Pey, 24240, Thénac, France
Office hours:
Varies according to retreat schedule. It is best to send an email and the office team will try to reply within 3-7 days.
Contact: Contact Form

Note: The Upper Hamlet Registration Office team prefers to receive messages through our online Contact Form. If you would like to post a letter to the above address, please make sure to include an email address, so we can reply directly with an email.

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Lower Hamlet

For single women, couples, and families

Cam Lộ Temple – 甘露寺
Address: Village des Pruniers, 1336 Route de Lalande, 47120 Loubès-Bernac, France
Office hours:  11am-12am and 16pm-18pm on Fridays.
The office is closed every Monday, Thursday and Sunday.
Phone: +33 (0) 5.53.94.75.40  (Please note that due to the monastery schedule, it is best to reach us by email rather than phone).
Contact: Contact Form

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New Hamlet

For single women, couples, and families

Từ Nghiêm Temple – 慈嚴寺
Address: Village des Pruniers, 757 Route du Duras, 33580 Dieulivol, France
Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday from 16:45 to 17:30.
Friday from 10:00 to 11.30 and from 15:00 to 17:30.
The office is closed every Monday, Thursday and Sunday.
Phone: +33 (0) 7.65.19.37.45
Contact: Contact Form

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