We warmly invite friends to join the sisters of Lower Hamlet for a week of mindfulness practice with the Plum Village community.
During the Mindful Living Weeks, retreatants mostly join the daily rhythm of the residential community. This includes sitting and walking meditation, as well as eating meditation. There are sessions specifically designed for those who are new to the practice, so no prior experience is required. At the same time, the weeks offer a gentle opportunity to deepen an existing practice.
Mindful Living Weeks are different from the larger themed retreats. The overall schedule is lighter and more spacious, allowing more time for rest, personal practice, and enjoying the natural surroundings.
Retreatants also join two Days of Mindfulness with the wider Plum Village community. Each Day of Mindfulness includes a Dharma talk and Dharma sharing.
Arrival day & check-in times: Fridays from 3pm to 7.30pm
Departure day: Fridays from 7am to 12pm
Language: English with French Translation (1-8th of May English only)
Location: Lower Hamlet: Village des Pruniers, 1336 Route de Lalande, 47120 Loubès-Bernac, France
Costs: Contributions vary according to the price tier and the type of lodging you choose in the registration section below. The price includes lodging (except if you book as a “Commuter”), daily vegan meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), teachings and activities.
Who can register: Women and couples (mixed/women)
Registration
Coming soon.
Click here to view our updated payment and cancellation policy
Registration & Payment
Payment Structure
For retreats from January 3, 2026 onwards, your contribution will be split into two payments:
- Main payment to Bienvenue Aux Pruniers S.A.S. (BAP) for practical retreat aspects (food, accommodation, facilities, administration, taxes)
- Monastery contribution to Congrégation Bouddhique Zen Village des Pruniers (CBZ) to support the monastic community
Your bank statement will show two charges, and you will receive two invoices.
Note: For retreats taking place in 2025 until January 3, 2026, retreat contributions are received by Communaute Bouddhique Zen du Village des Pruniers, the religious nonprofit 1901 association operating our activities from 1988-2025.
Payment Methods
Our online booking system accepts:
- Credit card payments (worldwide)
- European direct debit (SEPA) for European bank accounts
All payments are processed via the secure Stripe payment gateway. We do not store payment details. Due to strict French regulations, we cannot accept cash, cheques, or manual bank transfers for retreat payments.
Cancellation Policy
To ensure fair access for all, we have revised our cancellation policy to encourage participants to book a retreat place only when certain they can attend.
Cancellation by Participants
If you need to cancel:
- 28+ days before arrival: Full refund minus €100 admin & cancellation fee
- 14-27 days before arrival: 50% refund after deducting the €100 non-refundable admin fee
- 13 days or less before arrival: No refunds possible
We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance to cover retreat cancellation fees in case of unforeseen circumstances, including personal illness or family emergencies.
For those generously coming to Plum Village to help as a volunteer, the cancellation fee is €25 (to cover admin costs).
Cancellation by Plum Village
Plum Village reserves the right to cancel a retreat under any circumstances. If this occurs, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to us, including the admin fee.
Plum Village accepts no further liability beyond the retreat registration fee refund. We cannot be liable for funds spent on advance travel arrangements, such as flight tickets and visas. We strongly recommend obtaining travel insurance that covers this.
In the buttons below:
- Please indicate whether you are coming alone or with someone.
- Next, select your gender identity.
- After that, carefully review the information about the price tiers and choose the tier that applies to you.
- Once you’ve selected a tier, click the “See Availability” button at the bottom of the price section to view the accommodation options in the next page.
More information about coming to practice with us