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The Benedictine abbey of Chantelle, a half-day north of Clermont-Ferrand

Published 4 June 2021

The Abbaye Saint-Vincent de Chantelle is in the Allier, some sixty kilometres north of Clermont-Ferrand, about an hour's drive via the A71. A community of Benedictine nuns has lived there since 1853: visitors come to see the Romanesque church, enjoy the peace of the place and leave with the cosmetics the nuns make themselves.

Getting there from Clermont-Ferrand

The simplest route is to take the A71 towards Paris, leave at the Gannat exit, then continue on departmental roads to Chantelle. Allow between 50 minutes and an hour depending on where you start in the conurbation. There is no practical public transport link for a day visit: a car is essential.

The village is small and the abbey is easy to find. The address to enter in your GPS is 14 rue Anne de Beaujeu, 03140 Chantelle.

What you will find there

In the mid-19th century the nuns took over a church and convent buildings that were then in poor condition, and they have kept them alive ever since. The visit is nothing like a museum: it is a living place of prayer, which you enter quietly.

• The abbey church, Romanesque and dedicated to Saint Vincent. It remains open to visitors who wish to pray or reflect.
• The shop, selling the skincare products developed by the nuns since 1954: soaps, shower gels, bubble baths and eaux de Cologne. This is why many visitors already know the name Chantelle.
• Guided tours, organised by the local Maison du Tourisme at certain times of year. For a group visit, contact the abbey directly.

For 2026, the published visiting hours are as follows: Monday from 2 pm to 5 pm, Tuesday to Friday from 9.45 am to 11.30 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm, weekends and public holidays from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Admission is free. These times may change depending on the life of the community: check them on the abbey website before setting off. Animals are not allowed.

A full day in the north of the Puy-de-Dôme and the Allier

An hour's drive for an hour's visit is not much: the idea is to group several stops in the same area, between Gannat and the Sioule valley.

1. Charroux, about ten kilometres away, the only village in the Allier listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France). See our article on Charroux.
2. Gannat and its dinosaur park, on the way back: our Paléopolis page explains how to organise it.
3. The Sioule valley, for a rail bike ride or a canoe trip when the season allows.

With children, the most comfortable order is often Paléopolis in the morning, a picnic, then Chantelle and Charroux in the afternoon, bearing in mind the abbey's opening hours.

A few practical tips

• Keep silent in the church, especially during services.
• Bring a means of payment for the shop if you plan to buy products.
• Many walkers pass through: the abbey is on the GR 300, one of the Way of St James pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela, and offers monastic hospitality.

Leaving from Clermont and returning in the evening

Chantelle is easy to visit as a return trip from Clermont-Ferrand, so you can keep the same accommodation throughout your stay. If you are travelling as a family or a group, a holiday house around Clermont on the north side of the conurbation shortens the journey a little; in the city centre, the Résidence Jaude lets you enjoy Clermont in the evening. Our properties can be booked from one night, cleaning and linen included, and the map helps you find the one that best suits your outings.