The Carthusian Order, founded in 1084, is one of the oldest and most austere contemplative orders in Christendom. It had nearly two hundred monasteries by the early 16th century and today has about twenty. The Grande Chartreuse, located in the town of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, is its mother house.

The Carthusians’ solitude is balanced by a degree of communal life. In addition to the daily gatherings for Mass, night prayer, and Vespers, certain spaces are shared by the community. The refectory is used only on Sundays and feast days. Lunch is eaten there together, in silence, while a monk reads from the pulpit. On Sunday afternoons, the community gathers for chapter to discuss communal matters, followed by the weekly recreation period.

Once a week, on the first day off, there is a walk lasting about four hours, known as “spaciement.” During this walk, the monks speak freely and walk in pairs. Several times a year, a social gathering brings together fathers, brothers, and novices. Today, the Grande Chartreuse is home to about thirty monks.