Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There:
Drivers follow
La Communauté
signs and park in a dirt lot. SNCF
buses (free with railpass) serve Taizé from Chalon-sur-Saône to the north (4/day, 1 hour)
and from Mâcon to the south (6/day, 1 hour).
Tourist Information:
At the southern (Cluny) end, the Welcome Office provides
an orientation and daily schedule, and makes a good first stop (pick up a copy of the bi-
monthly
Letter from Taizé
and the single-page information leaflet,
The Taizé Community
).
Visiting Taizé:
Taizé is an ecumenical movement—prayer, silence, simpli-
city—welcoming Protestant as well as Catholic Christians. Though it feels Catholic, it
isn't. (But, as some of the brothers are actually Catholic priests, Catholics may take the
Eucharist here.) The Taizé style of worship is well known among American Christians for
its hauntingly beautiful chants—songbooks and CDs are the most popular souvenirs from
here. The Exposition (next to the church) is the thriving community shop, with books,
CDs, sheet music, handicrafts, and other souvenirs.
The community welcomes visitors who'd like to spend a few days getting close
to God through meditation, singing, and simple living. Although designed primarily for
youthful pilgrims in meditative retreat (there are about 5,000 here in a typical week),
people of any age are welcome to pop in for a meal or church service. Time your visit for
one of the services (Mon-Sat at 8:15, 12:20, and 20:30; Sun at 10:00 and 20:30; Catholic
and Protestant communion available daily).
During services, the bells ring and worshippers file into the long, low, simple, and
modern Church of Reconciliation. It's dim—candlelit with glowing icons—as the white-
robed brothers enter. The service features responsive singing of chants (from well-worn
songbooks that list lyrics in 19 languages), reading of biblical passages, and silence, as
worshippers on crude kneelers stare into icons. The aim: “Entering together into the mys-
tery of God's presence.” (Secondary aim: Helping Lutherans get over their fear of icons.)
