Saturday 14th - Monday 23rd July 2012

Taizé is a pretty little village in Burgundy, France. Perched on top of a small hill, visitors to the secluded spot are treated to beautiful views of the surrounding country-side. Rivers, streams, vine-yards, forests and hills combine to create a tranquil, peaceful environment that seems to soak away stress. The village has got an ancient little church that can seat around 80 at a push, a few houses, a couple of dogs and some cows in a field. There's nothing else there really...

Nothing that is, apart from a community of over a hundred monks, three to six thousand young people who stay there each week in the summer, a bar, a kitchen that can feed all of them, and the new church, which seats a meagre seven or eight thousand people, where they all sing and pray and be silent together (apart from the cows, they stay in the field). Sleepy little place really. Not.

So what's going on?

Why are they there?

What are they doing?

Can you imagine yourself there?

If you want to find out more, read on...

In 1940 a young Swiss man, Roger Schultz was looking for a place where he could live a simple community life. He bought a house in Taizé, and began his little community. Praying for reconciliation and sheltering refugees from the war, Brother Roger backed his prayers with action. Others began to join him, and over time the community got bigger and bigger. Now there are over 100 brothers from different countries, continents and denominations.

Young adults from around the world began visiting in the late 1950's and 60's. In an idealistic age, Taizé was a place they could see some of their ideals lived out in concrete reality. Today we like to think we are more realistic than our 'hippy' predecessors, yet huge numbers are still drawn to Taizé, in fact, more that in the sixties.

Part of what attracts young adults to Taizé is the way that the community combines idealism and realism. This echoes the way that, right from the beginning, Brother Roger combined prayer and action. The community is well rooted in the down to earth realities of real lives, yet it also points beyond them. In Taizé you meet people from all over the world, and can learn about their struggles and their dreams. You can also spend time reflecting on what matters for you, sharing that with others, and looking for ways forward.

As well as providing space for you to get to know yourself and others better, Taizé also gives space for you to explore your relationship with God. The worship in Taizé is famous across the world for its simplicity,  use of silence and the beauty of its songs. With the daily prayers in the specially extended church, the bible studies and the discussion groups, exploring spirituality is not an optional extra at Taizé, but at the heart of what goes on.

That does not mean you have to be a committed Christian with all the answers sussed out before they let you in! People of no faith and different faiths are welcome at Taizé. Taizé is first and foremost a place for those who are searching. As Brother Roger put it several years before his death

“from its beginning the community has had a twofold intention: to seek communion with God through personal prayer and the beauty of community prayer, and also be a leaven of peace and trust in the midst of humanity.

Coming to Taizé is an opportunity to seek communion with God in prayer, silence and reflection. In inner peace it can be possible to rediscover ‘what life is for’ renewing."

A week in Taizé

So if you come, what are you letting yourself in for?

The note below shows what you might expect to do during a typical day.

It's all about being part of a community for the week, and getting into the rhythm of community life – gathering with the Brothers of the community at prayer times, joining with people from other countries for meetings, meals, small group discussions and practical tasks – serving meals, washing up etc. There is a strong expectation that people will try and get into the rhythm of the place, and not just sunbathe all day! This may take a while, but by the middle of the week most people find that they are into the swing of things.

It looks quite full,

but there is plenty of free time built into the day for relaxing.

If this has got you interested click on our pilgrim's guide to Taizé  for more information about our trip. 

You can also dowload this page as a leaflet  to print.

Download a booking form  here, or the poster below here taizeposter.pdf .

For details of required deposit, payment dates and where to send the booking form contact us.

Probable Costs 

15-24 yr olds   £€€€180 

25-29 yr olds   £200

grants may become available