FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please note that many answers to the queries we receive daily are answered on our website. Here is some additional information.
Please check to see if your question is answered here before contacting the office about any queries or questions you have about your stay and travel to Le Moulin.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Arrivals are on the first day of your retreat – not the day before. For example if your retreat is from the 24th – 30th July, you will arrive after 2pm on the 24th July.
Please arrive between 14h00 and 19h00, not any earlier as the team are busy getting Le Moulin ready for your group. If you arrive later than 19h00 please let the office know. We will leave a note on the main notice board in the main building directing you to your room.
Supper is offered between 6pm and 6.30pm on the first day, the retreat starting at 8pm.
Please note, if your place was booked via an external organisation, please check arrival and departure times with your teacher.
Departures are on the last day of your retreat, not the day after. So if your retreat is from the 24th – 30th July, your last session will finish around 12pm on the 30th July. Your room needs to be vacated before, by 10am, and you are welcome to stay for lunch at 12.30pm. We ask that you leave the property by 14h00.
Unfortunately it is not possible to arrive earlier or stay on later than your retreat dates, unless you are attending the next retreat, see more information below.
BOOKINGS
Sharing
If you are coming with a friend or partner and would like to share a room or a tent, both of you need to book and pay for a shared room/tent place separately. You can name your partner on the booking form, which allows us to allocate the same room/ tent for both of you.
Meals
All meals are included in the price you pay at booking which is all-inclusive.
Meals at the moulin are plant based and gluten free. Dishes containing gluten, dairy and eggs are served separately.
Room Availability and Prices
You can see which rooms are available if you click on the ‘book now’ button and scroll down to the prices section.
Please note – it is only possible to see room availability before booking if your retreat is organised by Le Moulin. If the event is organised by an external organisation, we advise that you contact Le Moulin to check availability if you require a specific type of room (eg single / single en-suite), before paying your teacher fee.
To see photos of rooms, go to the photo gallery.
What to wear/ bring – more information can be found here:
moulindechaves.org/staying-at-le-moulin
STAYING BEFORE AND AFTER
It is only possible to stay the night(s) before or after if you are attending two consecutive retreats.
There are a couple of gites in the village and below are the websites. Most of the owners do speak english.
https://lachartreusedumaine.fr/
https://www.gites.fr/gites_le-nid-des-oiseaux_cubjac_h893011.htm
Otherwise there is a campsite also a small walk away.
http://www.domainelafaurie.com/campingdelilot/
Otherwise if you google Cubjac, you may come across something else. The town of Périgueux is 30 minutes by car and there are many options available.
COVID GUIDELINES
Please follow the link below for more information:
www.moulindechaves.org/covid-guidelines-at-the-moulin
These guidelines are regularly updated so we ask that you please read them in the days before your arrival, even if you have already done so.
PERSONAL RETREATS
It is only possible to come to Le Moulin if you are attending a programmed retreat. Personal retreat weeks are sometimes available each year and can be booked via the Retreats Page if available.
CANCELLATIONS
Please find our Cancellation policy here, under ‘Cancellations’:
GETTING TO THE MOULIN
Please follow the link below for more information:
www.moulindechaves.org/travel-information
A shared google document will be sent to you at registration, in which you will be able to contact other participants in order to offer or ask for a shared taxi, or car-share.
TAXIS
Please follow the link below for more information:
KARMA YOGA - WORK PERIOD
Moulin de Chaves is a non profit Association. For most retreats everyone will contribute a small hour each day to support the maintaining and caring of le moulin. It is also a wonderful opportunity to practice mindfulness with a simple task with the silence and support of other practitioners. This may be anything from washing up, veggie chopping, cleaning, or gardening. We thank you in advance for this offering.
SILENT RETREATS
Is a silent retreat totally silent?
Participants remain in silence throughout the retreat, except for speaking in individual or group meetings with the teacher(s), or in asking the teacher(s) questions in the meditation hall. On most silent retreats, silence also means refraining from reading and phone use. The silence is designed to allow the retreatant to slow down and open up, to stay attuned to subtleties of immediate experience, and to more deeply penetrate mind and body.
Can anyone attend a silent retreat?
Unless stated otherwise, silent retreats are open to anyone. Prior meditation experience is not necessary. Silent retreats are designed to be equally accessible to both beginning and experienced meditators.
Can I talk to the teacher?
There will be various ways to speak with the teacher(ds), including Q&A in the hall, small group meetings and one to one dialogues.
Can I read or journal?
Reading is discouraged as part of the context of silence. Journaling is permitted and encouraged, with the advice to keep it minimal.