Lower Hamlet Long-term Autumn Retreat

Imagine a month of your life held in profound silence—where each step is a meditation, each meal a ritual of gratitude, and each dawn brings you deeper into the present moment. The Lower Hamlet Long-term Autumn Retreat at Plum Village offers exactly this: an immersive 30-day residential program in one of the world's most established mindfulness communities, led by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Running from early September through early October 2026, this retreat invites seekers to step away from the rhythms of daily life and into the rhythms of monastic practice—a rare opportunity to practice mindfulness not as a technique, but as a way of being.

This is not a weekend workshop. This is an extended pilgrimage into contemplative living. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner seeking deeper roots or someone called toward a more intentional life, the Lower Hamlet retreat offers the container, community, and guidance to transform your relationship with presence, peace, and purpose.

What to Expect

You'll rise with the sangha (community) for early-morning sitting meditation, moving through the day with a blend of structured practice and contemplative work. Walking meditation in the French countryside, mindful eating, Zen teachings rooted in Thich Nhat Hanh's approach to present-moment awareness, and periods of silence anchor each day. The extended month allows for a gradual deepening—the restlessness of the first week gives way to genuine calm, habit patterns soften, and you begin to embody mindfulness rather than simply practice it. You'll live alongside monastics and fellow practitioners, sharing meals, chores, and the sacred ordinariness of community life. By the end, you'll carry home not just insights, but new neural pathways—a nervous system rewired toward peace.

About the Artist

Thich Nhat Hanh was a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk and pioneering mindfulness teacher whose influence reshaped contemporary spirituality across five decades. Through his writings, retreats, and tireless peace activism, he brought the practice of present-moment awareness into mainstream spiritual consciousness, offering a gentle, accessible path to enlightenment rooted in the Zen tradition. His approach emphasizes the sacred in the everyday—mindful breathing, walking, and eating become doorways to liberation. At Plum Village, his vision continues to guide the community's practice.

Venue & Logistics

Plum Village, located in Thénac in the Dordogne region of southwestern France, is a thriving international mindfulness community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh. The Lower Hamlet is one of three residential areas within Plum Village. The retreat begins Friday, September 4, 2026, and runs approximately four weeks. Bring comfortable, modest clothing suitable for meditation and simple living; the Dordogne is beautiful in autumn. Plum Village welcomes practitioners of all backgrounds and physical abilities; contact the venue directly for accessibility support.