Colline de Taizé

Taizé

On 20 August 1940, a young Swiss man of twenty-five, Roger Schutz, the son of a pastor, settled on this hill in the Mâconnais. Alone in his house, he took in those who knocked at his door; four brothers joined him in 1944. In 1949, the first seven brothers committed themselves for life to the common life: the ecumenical community of Taizé was born, bringing together Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox around the reconciliation of Christians. The village's little Romanesque church having grown too small, the Church of Reconciliation was inaugurated in August 1962. From 1966, and massively in the 1970s, the international youth meetings drew tens of thousands of pilgrims who camped on the hill, praying to the rhythm of the repetitive chants that have become famous the world over; John Paul II, visiting as a neighbour, said that one passes through Taizé "as one passes close to a spring". On 16 August 2005, Brother Roger was murdered during evening prayer, in his church; Brother Alois succeeded him. The hill remains one of the most visited spiritual places in Europe.

Getting there : Village of Taizé (71250), some ten kilometres north of Cluny by the D981; community reception car parks, prayers open to all three times a day in the Church of Reconciliation, youth meetings hosted all year round.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound