A place steeped in history
Built on the remains of an old castle after the Revolution, our characterful building carries within it the legacy of the sisters and the founding Father. Once a place of education and care for the countryside of Quercy, the Convent is now a unique living space where the hospitality of yesteryear is now expressed through your receptions and moments of gathering.
Welcome to the heart of the Causses du Quercy regional park, in peaceful surroundings steeped in nature. It is here that for two centuries, the Couvent de Vaylats has nestled, a large characterful building preserved by the sisters who live there.
A place of contemplation, hospitality and welcome, the Convent is above all a timeless living space, where generations and communities cross paths, meet and come together in all simplicity.
For special occasions or for the duration of a stay, let yourself be carried by the soul of the place.
"Hospitality, respect, humanism: those were their values. That remains our commitment."
A look back over 2 centuries of history
1820
The birth of a vocation
It all begins after the turmoil of the Revolution. On the ruins of an old castle, a visionary priest from the Lot, Father Jean Liausu, imagines a refuge for the poorest. Faced with illiteracy in the countryside, he founds the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus. These courageous women build their Mother House here, with a clear mission: to care for, educate and protect those whom society forgets.
Borderless solidarity outreach
Up to 200 nuns live there and radiate through more than 130 schools created for the children of the Lot. They are affectionately known as the "Sœurs Piqures" for the nursing care they provided to farmers. This dedication soon goes beyond our borders to bring medical and social assistance as far as Africa and Central America.
19th & 20th
the 80s
Against loneliness, the warmth of home
True to their DNA, the sisters open the convent’s doors wide to fight the isolation of older people in our rural communities. What began as nothing more than a winter refuge offering "a warm roof over your head and a hearty meal" has become an institution of hospitality. The convent is establishing itself as an intergenerational place to live, a precursor of shared housing.
Six years of transformation
A new chapter is being written with the merger of the Daughters of Jesus of Kermaria. A colossal six-year project begins to modernise this majestic heritage site. The aim? To combine the charm of the old with today’s comfort requirements. In 2016, management became more professional with the creation of the Hostellerie du Couvent, ensuring the long-term future of this unique place.
2014-2020
Today
Taking action for solidarity
Today, Hostellerie de Vaylats is much more than a hotel: it is a supportive ecosystem. By hosting your seminars, groups and events, we fund the quality of life of our senior residents and our development projects internationally. Here, every booking has purpose. You are stepping into a story that has lasted for 200 years, where hospitality remains our finest calling.
A preserved spiritual dimension
The Convent remains a place of living spirituality. Sisters from the community still live there, providing a caring and fraternal presence. The chapel is open to all for prayer and contemplation.
Masses are regularly celebrated, and spiritual retreats are welcomed for those who wish to spend time renewing themselves in this place steeped in faith and history.