Some Biblical stories, such as the story of Jonah and the whale, have found a firm place in popular imagination from childhood onwards. But what sort of wisdom do they hold out to us as we seek a deeper understanding for our lives?
For those who are already practicing meditation this retreat offers a unique opportunity to join with other practitioners and go to a deeper and simpler place – together in solitude into the ‘great silence’.
There are seven daily periods of meditation, times of contemplative walking and a 15-minute personal session with one of the leaders of the retreat. Apart from a short morning teaching by the retreat leader and the contemplative Eucharist in the evening there are no spoken prayers, readings or other activities. It is a full silence and a loving and friendly experience of what the silence reveals to us – something that is easier, more natural than you might have thought. Many who have done it – once or annually – say it has re-simplified them and reminded them that they had not lost their innate capacity for inner peace and clarity.
On the application form we invite you to give a description of your journey so far and your hopes which will help us to discern if this retreat is right for you.
This event takes place at Bonnevaux and offers an opportunity to discover the rich cultural and historical French and European heritage of the 12th-century Abbaye de Bonnevaux, as well as to explore the varied and natural beauty of the land which we cultivate as a model of ecological responsibility.
Important Information
This retreat is an intensive retreat and provides an opportunity to benefit from the sustained silence and stillness of meditation over an extended period. It will be a transformative time with long-term benefits.
In order to participate you should already have a regular meditation practice and should be familiar with the essential teaching of the WCCM.
It is required that you attend the whole retreat and therefore, that you do not arrive late nor leave early as this disrupts the group. It is not a time for study or extensive reading. You will be expected to practice a ‘digital fast’ and not to use your phone or computer. This will help us be fully present and undistracted together.
In the embodied practice of our communal meditation times insight into our relationship with Christ deepens and we see how this is lived in commitment to each other as we grow in self knowledge. Each day there are seven sitting meditation sessions with three contemplative walking sessions. A short teaching in the morning and a contemplative Eucharist help the silence reach its full potential. You will also have a daily 15-minute one-to-one meeting with one of the retreat team.
This is a rare opportunity to go significantly deeper in the work of silence.
Bonnevaux (Bonne Vallée , or Good Valley) is set within a beautiful valley formed by the river Rhune (la Rhûne) which descends past the Chapel and the 12th-century Abbaye, emptying into the lake beyond. The beauty and peace of Bonnevaux´s 65 hectares (160 acres) reflects the contemplative life lived here from its foundation as a Benedictine monastery in 1119 until the French Revolution. The community is continuing this policy as a living witness to the link between ecology and the human spirit. The land has over 20 different plant habitats, some of which are of heritage value.
Bonnevaux is located near Poitiers, in the southwest of France. The closest airport and train station is in Poitiers. You can get a taxi from there to Bonnevaux which is about a 20 minute drive away.
By Road
Parking is available on site.
Bonnevaux is about a 5 hour drive from Paris via the A10 motorway. Directions
By Air
The closest airport to use is Poitiers-Biard Airport. It is served by several low-cost airlines and convenient for those coming from Europe and the UK. There is a direct Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Poitiers.
For International travellers, you will need to fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport. It is a major international hub with flights from around the world.
You could also fly into Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, another international option, in southwest France.
If you are flying into Paris or Bordeaux airports you will then need to take a train to Poitiers to reach Bonnevaux.
By Train
There are some direct trains from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Poitiers. Please check your connecting times.
From Paris all trains for Poitiers leave from Montparnasse Station. These high-speed trains are frequent and the journey takes about 1.5 hours.
By Taxi from Poitiers to Bonnevaux
The airport and train station at Poitiers is about a 20 minute drive to Bonnevaux.
There are several independent taxi companies you can contact to pre-book your ride:
gosebdriver.fr allocab.com poitiers-taxi.fr taxipoitiers.com
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Speakers
Leader
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Liz Watson
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Liz Watson is a member of The World Community for Christian Meditation and lives by the sea in Cornwall,UK. She has served the meditation community in various capacities over the past 28 years, including a term as UK National Coordinator. She now focuses on teaching meditation in a wide range of settings – speaking and writing – leading retreats and offering spiritual direction. For WCCM she has recorded the CD ‘Images of Meditation’ with its accompanying booklet, contributed chapters to the book ‘Journey to the Heart’ and to the website ‘Contemplative Path through the Crisis’. Read more about Liz Watson
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Schedule
Deep Silent Retreat
Lessons from Jonah, the whale, and others
| Arrival | Saturday 17 January 2026, check-in: 13.30 – 15.30 |
| Departure | Sunday 25 January 2026, after lunch (15.00) |
We understand that you may need to arrive early or depart later due to your travel schedule. We are happy to accommodate this whenever possible. Please note that the cost of an extra night will depend on the room type you have booked for the retreat. Extra nights can be arranged after you complete your retreat booking. If this applies to you, please do not hesitate to contact us on contact@bonnevauxabp.com so we can assist with the arrangements.
This is a provisional programme intended to give you an idea of the daily rhythm. Each day there will be seven sitting meditation sessions with three contemplative walking sessions. A short teaching in the morning and a contemplative Eucharist help the silence reach its full potential. You will also have a daily 15-minute one-to-one meeting with one of the retreat team. Please note that some elements may be added or adjusted. The final schedule will be provided upon arrival.
| Saturday | |
| 13.30 – 15.30 | Check-in |
| 18.00 | Evening prayer and meditation |
| 19.00 | Dinner |
| 20.15 | Orientation session |
| If you cannot arrive until later, please let us know, so we can keep some dinner for you. | |
| Sunday | |
| 7.00 | Meditation (optional) |
| 7.45 | Morning prayer and meditation |
| 8.30 | Breakfast in silence |
| Refreshment break | |
| 12.00 | International Contemplative Eucharist |
| 13.45 | Lunch |
| Introduction to the retreat | |
| 16.15 | Meditation |
| Silence begins | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 17.00 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walking | |
| 17.50 | Meditation |
| 18.30 | Dinner |
| 20.00 | Meditation |
| Monday – Saturday (except Thursday) | |
| 7.00 | Meditation |
| 07.30 | Contemplative walk |
| 07.50 | Meditation |
| 08.30 | Breakfast |
| Session led by Liz Watson | |
| One-to-one meetings | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 11.30 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walking | |
| 12.20 | Meditation |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| One-to-one meetings | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 16.30 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walking | |
| 17.30 | Contemplative Eucharist and meditation |
| 18.30 | Dinner |
| 20.00 | Meditation |
| Thursday – Desert Day | |
| 7.00 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walk | |
| 7.50 | Meditation |
| 8.30 | Breakfast |
| Refreshment break | |
| 12.20 | Meditation |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| Refreshment break | |
| 16.30 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walking | |
| 16.30 | Meditation |
| 18.30 | Dinner |
| 20.00 | Meditation |
| Sunday | |
| 7.00 | Meditation |
| Contemplative walk | |
| 7.50 | Meditation |
| 8.30 | Breakfast |
| Silence ends | |
| Reflecting on the week | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 12.00 | International Contemplative Eucharist |
| 13.45 | Lunch and Good-byes |
| If you need to leave earlier, please let us know. |
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Contribution (per person)
| Single room with ensuite bathroom | 1120€ |
| Single room with shared bathroom | 960€ |
Membership Fee
An annual membership fee of 10€ must be paid before attending an event. This is valid from January to December.
By French law you must be a ‘member‘ of the charity (association ABP) Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre Pour la Paix in order to participate at an on-the-ground event at Bonnevaux – 86370 Marçay, France.
Membership is non-binding. It simply means that you are invited to attend the annual general meeting if you wish and that you may receive information about our events during the year.
The prices reflect the need to achieve self sufficiency. If you are able to give a little more we would be very grateful. Please click here to donate.
Concessions
Full and partial scholarships are available. We do not turn anybody away for lack of resources. If you need a concession please do not hesitate to email us on contact@bonnevauxabp.com
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Reviews
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Dietary Information
We provide three freshly prepared meals per day, and throughout the day, refreshing drinks (coffee and tea) and fruit snacks are available for all retreatants.
Our kitchen offers vegetarian, non-vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free meal options. You can select your preferred option during the registration process.
Unfortunately, we cannot cater for specific intolerances and allergies as we do not have the facilities for this. Please also be aware that traces of allergens (e.g. nuts) may be found in the food at Bonnevaux.
To help us ensure your comfort and safety, please inform us of any other special dietary needs by emailing us at contact@bonnevauxabp.com at least 15 days before the event. Without this information in advance, we will provide our standard menu.
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Application
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Cancellation Policy
Reimbursement Policy for Events and Retreats
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that prevent participation in our events and retreats. To ensure fairness and clarity, please review our reimbursement policy below:
1 Cancellation by Participant
- Up to 31 days: full refund
- 30 – 22 days: 50% cancellation fees
- 21 – 8 days: 75% cancellation fees
- 7 – 0 days: 100% cancellation fees
An additional operational fee of 5% will be charged for any refund or cancellation.
Membership fees are non-refundable and non-transferable (not applicable to another person or another year).
2 Cancellation by Organizer
In the unlikely event that the organizer must cancel or postpone the event/retreat, participants will receive a full reimbursement of all fees paid. The organizer cannot be held responsible for any disrupted travel arrangements or any additional costs such as off-site accommodation.
3 Method of Reimbursement
Approved reimbursements will be issued to the original payment method within 14 business days of cancellation approval.
4 Travel Insurance
We strongly advise all participants to obtain travel insurance to cover unexpected situations such as illness and injury, family and personal emergencies, travel disruptions, event cancellations or other unforeseen situations. This provides peace of mind and protection against expenses outside the scope of this reimbursement policy.
For insurance claims, we can provide participants with an official certificate of paid contribution and non-attendance. Please email us at contact@bonnevauxabp.com to request this documentation.
The Abbey of Bonnevaux is the spiritual home of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) which includes a Conference and Retreat Centre dedicated to peace. The on-the-ground activities of the Abbey are organized under the responsibility of l’Association Abbaye de Bonnevaux – Centre pour le Paix (ABP). The Association, which is governed by the French law of 1st July 1901, is registered in Poitiers under the reference RNA: W863007299.
Address : Bonnevaux, 86370 Marçay, France.
Phone number : 06 33 43 71 71 / 06 61 96 57 74.
José Pype (President of the Association); Krzysztof Albinski (Executive Director)
Site hosting: Flywheel
Image from pixabay