Discover how biblical texts and the songs of Leonard Cohen invite us into a true encounter with the Divine.
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) was a Canadian poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter whose work was deeply shaped by spiritual questions and the search for meaning. Born into a Jewish family in Montreal, he remained connected to his Jewish heritage throughout his life, drawing on biblical imagery, prayer, and religious traditions in many of his songs and poems. [en.wikipedia.org]
Despite his strong Jewish identity, Cohen spent decades exploring other spiritual paths. Beginning in the 1970s, he studied Zen Buddhism and, in 1994, entered the Mount Baldy Zen Center in California. He was ordained as a Zen Buddhist monk in 1996, receiving the name “Jikan,” meaning “ordinary silence.” [qz.com], [gurumag.com]
Cohen often said that he was not seeking a new religion but relief from depression and a deeper understanding of life. His spiritual journey influenced songs such as Hallelujah, which blends sacred and human themes. Throughout his career, he explored faith, doubt, redemption, love, and mortality, creating a body of work that resonated with people of many beliefs
Leonard Cohen spoke several times about the importance of ‘inhabiting the biblical landscape’. By that he meant finding the meeting place between our experience and that of the writers of the Scriptures. Our lives, like theirs, are characterised by the awareness of God’s presence and absence, and Leonard’s lyrics frequently gave beautiful and profound expression to that tension.
In this retreat we will make connections between a selection of his songs and scriptural texts as we take time out to inhabit the biblical landscape, a place of encounter with the divine.
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.
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 30-minute drive away.
To make your journey easier, we offer a taxi booking service for our guests.
If you’d like us to arrange a ride, after you register, we will ask you for your arrival/departure time. We aim to group travellers together to share the cost and the journey; however, please note that carpooling depends on other arrivals and isn’t always guaranteed.
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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Sean Goan
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Sean Goan is from Belfast. He is a Scripture scholar and teacher who has studied in Rome, Jerusalem and Chicago. He has published books on the lectionary readings and the Gospel of John and has given scriptural courses and retreats all over Ireland. He is married with three adult children.
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Schedule
‘That's How The Light Gets In’
Reading The Bible With Leonard Cohen
| Arrival | Sunday 3 October 2027, check-in: 14.30 – 15.30 |
| Departure | Friday 8 October 2027, after lunch (14.00) |
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. Please note that some elements may be added or adjusted. The final schedule will be provided upon arrival.
| Sunday | |
| 14.30 – 15.30 | Check-in |
| 16.00 | Tour of the Abbey |
| 17.00 | Introduction to meditation |
| 18.00 | Evening prayer and meditation |
| 19.00 | Dinner followed by Welcome and Orientation |
| If you cannot arrive until later, please let us know, so we can keep some dinner for you. | |
| Monday – Thursday | |
| 7.00 – 7.30 | Meditation (optional) |
| 7.45 | Morning prayer and meditation |
| 8.30 | Breakfast in silence |
| Session led by Sean Goan | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 12.15 – 13.00 | Midday prayer and meditation |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| Time for rest and solitude | |
| Refreshment break | |
| Session led by Sean Goan | |
| 18.00 | Evening prayer and meditation (Contemplative Eucharist on Thursday) |
| 19.00 | Dinner |
| Friday | |
| 7.00 – 7.30 | Meditation (optional) |
| 7.45 | Morning prayer and meditation |
| 8.30 | Breakfast |
| Closing session | |
| Refreshment break | |
| 12.15 | Midday prayer and meditation |
| 13.00 | Lunch and Good-byes |
| If you need to leave earlier, please let us know. |
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Contribution (per person)
| Room Type | Event Contribution | Extra Night Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Single room with ensuite bathroom | €950 | €90 |
| Single room with shared bathroom | €800 | €85 |
| Shared twin room with ensuite bathroom | €600 | €75 |
Gather your group and save!
A special group discount is available for groups of 4 participants or more attending the retreat together.
Discount rates
Shared room (booked by members of the same group) – 15%
Single room with shared bathroom – 10%
Single room with ensuite bathroom – 5%
Important information
Group discounts apply only to registrations with accommodation.
Discounts must be approved before booking.
Group discounts cannot be combined with other offers or financial support.
Discounts cannot be applied retroactively to existing registrations.
Group members may come from different countries.
Places available with the group discount are limited and subject to availability.
To Request a Group Registration
Before making any bookings, the group leader should contact us at contact@bonnevauxabp.com with the subject line:
Group Discount Inquiry + Title of the Retreat
Please include the following information for each group member:
First name
Surname
Email address
Preferred room type
Meal preference (vegetarian or non-vegetarian)
Any food allergies or intolerances
Once the discount has been approved, the group leader will coordinate payment for the whole group.
Cancellation Policy
If the number of participants in a group falls below four, the standard tariff will apply to the remaining participants and only the difference
will be refunded.
This adjustment applies only up to 31 days before the retreat.
From 30 days before the retreat onward, group registrations are non refundable, and the group tariff remains unchanged regardless of
cancellations.
A cancelling participant may be replaced by another person for a €25 administrative fee.
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
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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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 (no meat or fish), 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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Registration
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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
Group bookings are subject to specific conditions, which will be communicated in writing prior to registration. These conditions may differ from the standard individual cancellation policy above.
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)
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