Wisdom is not knowing more. It is knowing deeper, knowing with more of you. Wisdom fundamentally describes a higher level of human consciousness characterised by a supple and alert awareness, compassionate intelligence, a substantial reduction in the “internal dialogue,” and the capacity to engage reality directly, without the superimposition of mental constructs and categories. It is the original Integral Knowing.
The retreat offers balanced movement from prayer to work, from intellectual stimulation to silence—and back again. A ‘Wisdom School’ has more talking than a meditation retreat but also more silence and physical embodiment than a seminar. The Wisdom model suggests that it is not through specialisation in any one mode (contemplative silence, thinking, bodywork) that one learns Wisdom, but through the ability to move smoothly and rhythmically through all these modes without getting stuck in any one of them.
Cynthia Bourgeault
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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Cynthia Bourgeault
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Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, and theologian. For thirty years she worked closely with Fr. Thomas Keating as a student, editor, and colleague and has taught and written extensively on Centering Prayer. She is a core faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and founding director of an international network of Wisdom Schools. In addition to her work on Centering Prayer, she is the author of numerous other books on the Christian Mystical and Wisdom tradition, including The Wisdom Jesus, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, and her most recent, Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm.
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Schedule
A Wisdom School
| Arrival | Tuesday 30 September 2025, check-in: 13h30 – 15h30 |
| Departure | Sunday 5 October 2025, after lunch (15h00) |
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Contribution (per person)
| Single room with ensuite bathroom | €950 |
| Single room with shared bathroom | €800 |
| Shared twin room with ensuite bathroom | €600 |
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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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Registration
Cancellation
— Please ensure you have travel insurance in place as we cannot refund cancelled travel for any reason.
— If you cancel your Bonnevaux booking up to 30 days before the event starts, you will be refunded the full cost of the event. Cancellations occurring within 30 days of the event start will be offered a voucher for a future event. Bonnevaux reserves the right to cancel events at any point – cancellations occurring within 30 days prior to the event start date will be subject to the voucher refund policy only.
Membership Fee ** – 10€
Membership fee is paid once per year, valid from Jan – Dec.
** 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 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.
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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