Over five days in the heart of the French countryside, a small community of young adults will gather at Bonnevaux — a place of rare beauty and deep peace — to explore what it means to live from the inside out. Through Christian meditation, shared silence, embodied movement, and honest conversation, we will journey together into the inner life.
We will sit with St Paul’s paradox: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Weakness, vulnerability, authenticity — not as obstacles to be overcome, but as the very doorway to transformation. Meditation teaches us that we do not need to wear masks. In the silence, we discover we are already held.
This retreat experience is an opportunity to deepen your sense of life as a spiritual journey. It will combine a variety of practices – meditation, contact with nature, prayer, body work, solitude, talks and exchange with young adults (18-45) from all over the world.
A Pause That Changes Everything
Have you ever felt the need to pause — not just to rest, but to truly listen? In a world that constantly pulls us toward performance, comparison, and noise, it takes real courage to stop and ask: Who am I, really? What is calling me from within?
This retreat is an invitation to do exactly that.
Why a Retreat Matters
A retreat is not an escape from life — it is a return to what makes life meaningful. The contemplative tradition teaches us that the quality of our outer life flows from the quality of our inner life. When we take time to be still, to pay attention, to simply be — something begins to recalibrate. We start to see more clearly. We begin to act from a deeper place.
For young adults navigating questions of identity, vocation, relationships, and faith, this kind of inner work is not a luxury. It is essential. Bonnevaux offers a unique space to explore these questions not in isolation, but in community — alongside others who are also learning to be honest, to be vulnerable, to be alive to what is real.
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 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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Tayna Malaspina
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Taynã is a WCCM oblate and Director of Meditation for Young People, having started her work in the community with a meditation project with children. She graduated in Social Communication with a Master’s degree in Social Psychology, a postgraduate degree in Positive Psychology: Science of Well-being and Self-Realization (PUC-RS), certification in Neuroscience and Well-being Science (PUC-RS) and a postgraduate degree in Spirituality and Consciousness Studies (PUC-RS). Taynã lives on a farm near Sao Paulo, Brasil, with her husband and they have two daughters (4 and 9 years old). “Christian meditation was the path I found on my spiritual journey that deepened my Christian faith through the experience of being with God in silence. Bonnevaux is an oasis of peace in a world usually busy with distractions. Living in the spiritual energy and natural beauty of Bonnevaux helps us to be calm and clear, to look at our current lifestyle and ‘recalculate our route’, seeking a better balance between action and contemplation.”
Other Leaders
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Laurence Freeman
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Fr Laurence is a Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto. He is Director of Bonnevaux and of The World Community for Christian Meditation.
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James Alison
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James Alison is a Catholic Priest, theologian and author. He earned his doctorate from the Jesuit Faculty in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. James has lived in many countries and works as an itinerant preacher, lecturer and retreat giver. He is one of the principal theological interpreters of the work of René Girard (most recently as author of an introduction to the Christian faith for adults following Girard’s thought, and co-editor with Wolfgang Palaver of a handbook on mimetic theory and religion), and is a Fellow of Imitatio (www.imitatio.org). Over the years James has firmly but gently faced down Church authority on matters gay and lived to tell the tale. His writing can be accessed on www.jamesalison.co.uk When not on the road he lives in Madrid with his son, Luiz Felipe, and (canine) grandson, the French Bulldog, Nicholas.
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Schedule
Young Adults Retreat
Authenticity and Vulnerability: Meditation and the courage to be who we are called to be
| Arrival | Tuesday 28 July 2026, check-in: 13.30 – 15.30 |
| Departure | Sunday 2 August 2026, after lunch (15.00) |
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Testimonials
| Room Type | Event Contribution | Extra Night Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Single room with ensuite bathroom | €950 | €100 |
| Single room with shared bathroom | €800 | €90 |
| Shared twin room with ensuite bathroom | €600 | €70 |
Group Discounts
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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Scholarships
If you’d like to apply for a scholarship to attend this retreat, please fill out this form to request one.
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Gallery
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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
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.
This program is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness and contemplative prayer.
Featured image: canva.com
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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