We tell you about our night visit of the Charterhouse of Saint-Sauveur, a unusual experience unforgettable. With us, dive into a magical universe, to the chanting of the monks and the light of the candlesâŠ
An enchanting place
With my companion, we arrive at the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur after a pleasant dinner in a restaurant in the center of Villefranche. It is not quite 21 p.m., night begins to set in and offers a new setting to the monastic ensemble. Our guide Ludovic is waiting for us, a lantern in hand. The decor is set, let's go for 1h30 of visit!
Au twinkle of stars, the monastery takes on its finest assets. From the great cloister to the conventual chapel, a path of light takes us to the heart of a real architectural gem. Silence seizes the group, the nature's magic operatesâŠ
A privileged moment
Ludovic draws our attention to sculpted details. A dog and a lion fight over an acanthus leaf, a small snail sways on an oak branch. We would never have seen these details alone!
After observing the rich carvings appearing on the mercies and discovered the secrets of the legend of Jean de l'Ours, a teenager from our group is invited to pull on the rope to ring the bell! A whispered vibration in the ear of the sleeping world...
After a few steps, surprise... A aerial bat broom goes over our heads. Our guide informs us that this protected species nests every summer in the monastery to ensure its reproduction. You may also be lucky enough to see some...
A moment out of the world
During the visit, we learn more about the fascinating history of the Carthusian Fathers whose life of solitude was very rigorous. We even find a tabula, a kind of Excel table of the time allowing the monks to know their schedule. It's quite intriguing!
Once in the convent chapel, a new experience awaits us. Immersed in the absolute black, we relive the ceremonial that the monks had before taking their place in their stall. For a brief moment, we are immersed in the time when the Carthusian Fathers celebrated the office of the Matins in the dark, for long hoursâŠ
This visit was a magical moment, imbued with wisdom and serenity⊠A good nightâs sleep awaits us before continuing our visit to Villefranche and its surroundings.
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