The Plum Village Foundation has acquired a new practice center in the French village of Verdelot, close to Paris. The first monks have moved into the monastery and have begun preparations for the center’s first official retreat.

The foundation acquired the new center to accommodate overwhelming interest in mindfulness retreats, not least from people living stressful lives in large cities such as Paris. An announcement on the Plum Village website reads:

Each year thousands of new practitioners discover the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and want to apply them in their daily lives. To meet the needs and wishes of those who would like to come to our centers, we have founded a new monastery an hour east of Paris. We hope to bring the essence of Plum Village, within easy reach of one of the largest cities in the world. (Plum Village)

Healing Spring Monastery, as the new center has been named, is situated in the village of Verdelot, located between the cities of Paris and Reims. The center is accessible via public transport from Paris—taking just 85 minutes by bus—making it an ideal location for visitors from Northern Europe. The monastery is situated on 1.8 hectares of land surrounded by green hills and has its own spring and two small rivers, from which it derives its name. The 19th century buildings of the monastery used to house a catholic convent.