Chalet Béthanie - Samoëns
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An old Savoyard house, Chalet Béthanie is a warm and welcoming place, run by the Community of the Epiphany and the Cross and brought to life by a generous couple: Odile and Denis.
Come and spend a few days with family or friends, to rest or work in the fresh mountain air!
Retreats organized by the community
Chalet Béthanie, a peaceful Savoyard house
The building is an old farmhouse located in a hamlet of the village of Samoëns. This farm, built in the traditional style in 1880, was renovated and expanded in 1960 to become a hotel and then a vacation camp that could accommodate two classes with their teachers and activity leaders.
In 2000, Bishop Barbier of Annecy called the Community of the Epiphany and the Cross there, and after a period of discernment, purchased the building, which has since been entirely managed and run by the community.
It is a large three-story chalet, with three apartments on the second floor and another on the ground floor. The spacious terrace provides a shaded spot to relax. The entire property is surrounded by meadows where cows from neighboring farms graze.
The Community of the Epiphany and the Cross is a Catholic community that emerged from the Charismatic Renewal. It is a lay community bringing together all states of life. Today, Chalet Béthanie is run by a couple of lay missionaries, Odile and Denis.
What to expect during your stay
Different types of retreats at Chalet Béthanie
Different types of spiritual retreats are possible at Chalet Béthanie:
- For students preparing for exams or competitive entrance exams;
- For a family retreat;
- Youth ski camps with leaders or group camping accommodations;
- More simply: for women or men seeking a few days of rest and peace in a magnificent setting.
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For students or scouts, an adaptable format
Everyone can join the community's liturgical offices: Lauds, Vespers, adoration, praise and worship times.
Manual work is always needed for chalet maintenance throughout the year: snow removal in winter and fruit picking from the garden in summer.
- It is possible to come on a hospitality mission at the chalet by joining the community for 1 to 3 weeks during the year;
- there is also the possibility to participate in manual work in exchange for accommodation, occasionally: scouts, students.
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An ideal place for a family mountain stay
The chalet can accommodate up to 19 people. It has an oratory with a capacity of 15 to 20 people, as well as a dining room with about twenty seats, including a living room and wood stove.
There are four apartments (recently renovated in a Savoyard chalet style), with each apartment including:
- 1 bedroom with 1 double bed (140 cm)
- 1 bedroom with 2 single beds (90 cm)
- 1 living space with a fully equipped kitchenette and sofa bed
- 1 bathroom with shower and toilet
One of the apartments is accessible with wheelchair access on the ground floor. Odile and Denis, who run the chalet, advise people with disabilities to be accompanied due to the mountain location.
The chalet features a large terrace with magnificent views of the mountains and the village surroundings, a private parking lot, a meadow area for camping, swings for children ages 2-12, and access to a vast meadow for sledding.
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Geography and activities
Samoëns, 10 km from the Swiss border, in the heart of the Haute-Savoie Alps
The preserved natural setting of this glacial valley is appreciated for its wide U-shaped profile. This valley is closed by one of France's two remarkable cirques at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. It is accessible from the towns of Cluses and Annemasse near Geneva.
The typical village of Samoëns is the starting point for numerous hikes to mountain refuges, summits, or marked mid-mountain walking trails.
In winter, the ski lifts are accessible just a few hundred meters from the chalet, with 164 km of slopes in the Grand Massif area. Cross-country skiing is also possible. The chalet is located 2 km from the village center, slightly set back and at elevation (800 m altitude).
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An absolutely abundant array of activities in summer and winter
In summer, numerous activities are offered around Samoëns. Canoeing, kayaking, paragliding (a popular spot above the chalet!), downhill mountain biking, canyoning... There's something for everyone!! But also swimming pools, paintball, and a recreation area with two lakes, one with supervised swimming. We can also mention rafting, aquaspeed, canyoning, fishing, stand-up paddleboarding on the lake, tree-climbing adventure courses, paragliding, horseback riding, mini-golf...
There is also the possibility of adaptive sports: you'll find many adapted mountain activities such as all-terrain wheelchairs, outings in Cimgo (all-terrain tandems), or outings in joëlette.
On the extensive circuit you can map out around Chalet Béthanie, don't miss the Jaÿsinia Alpine Botanical Garden: classified as a "Remarkable Garden of France" with its 2,400 plant varieties, it offers a poetic walk through alpine flora and mountain plants from all 5 continents.
In winter, you can enjoy downhill skiing, biathlon, fat biking, and sledding!!
All within a 5-minute drive. In short, the location is ideally situated and takes full advantage of all the mountain has to offer!
Practical information
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