Esvière Spiritual Center
In the heart of Angers, the Esvière Center, with nearly 1,500 years of history, is now run by the Fondacio community. It welcomes you for an inspiring stay full of meaning and hope! Join this shared third space with numerous offerings for a refreshing and stimulating spiritual time!
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of the Esvière Center
Esvière has 1,500 years of Christian history. From the disciples of Saint Martin in the 5th century to the Fondacio community today, this site has always been a bearer of meaning and hope!
From the original priory to the entire current building complex (chapel, school, offices, housing, gardens...), the three-hectare site has experienced several rebirths:
- From 1871 to 2019, the Franciscan Sisters of Esvière congregation carried the torch
- In 2004, from the meeting between the sisters and Fondacio, a friendship was born that would open a new future for the site: that it could remain a place of transmission and action in harmony with the challenges of today's world (education, ecology, solidarity...).
This project includes a training center for ecology and personal development, shared housing, a spiritual center, a productive permaculture garden, solidarity initiatives, and an unconditional priority given to social connection!
The Fondacio movement, now in charge of the center
A Christian community founded in 1973, Fondacio has developed a personalized approach to respond to a calling: to help each person give the best of themselves to be actors in a more human and just world.
Rooted in the Gospel, this vocation is expressed through offerings for all life situations and in various forms: retreats, individual guidance, festive gatherings, work camps, training sessions...
At Esvière, Fondacio has formed an alliance with the Franciscan sisters congregation to develop an open space, with the ambition to inspire a new way of inhabiting our planet and living together, through a place of renewal, training, sharing, and action.
It is founded on an integral vision of ecology, Christian spirituality, and Fondacio's approach.
And to discover other places with a similar calling, you can also take a look at the offerings of Sainte Marie du Désert Abbey!
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What to expect during your stay
A spiritual retreat at Esvière's third space
Dedicated to renewal, the Esvière spiritual center now organizes multi-day retreats, programs, and themed days.
If you want to better understand what is generally offered during a spiritual retreat, you can check out this article: What is a spiritual retreat?
But at the Esvière Spiritual Center, we invite you to go a bit further. Beyond welcoming people for individual retreats, there is an annual program of about ten major events offered each year, including examples such as:
- Vocation retreat
- Back-to-school preparation day
- Laudato Si retreat with introduction to the Climate Fresco
- Spiritual retreat
- Preparation for Easter celebrations
- Learning to read the Bible
For each major event, a team of expert presenters and trained facilitators (priest, Franciscan sisters, theologians, psychologists, trained spiritual directors, artistic and body expression) will be present to meet the aspirations and needs of participants.
Individual guidance is offered for each retreatant. Masses, prayers (morning and afternoon) and other celebration times take place on-site daily. Other activities punctuate daily life at Esvière: garden workshops, yoga, climate frescos, biblical programs...
Your welcome at the Esvière Spiritual Center
The center offers you accommodation perfectly adapted to all its activities and groups with:
- 30 accommodation spaces in single or double rooms available (80 coming soon)
- 8 training rooms (from 8 to 220 seats) renovated
- a historic chapel paired with a new space for prayer and meditation
- a 70-seat restaurant and a café-snack area
The gardens also offer a rare haven of peace in the heart of the city: woods and classified trees, landscaped meadows, shaded alcoves, meditative garden... A diversity of natural spaces suited to contemplation, relaxation, and introspection!
Geography and activities
Between teaching and prayer, discover the wonders of Angers
Esvière is located in the heart of Angers, a city of 190,000 inhabitants built on both sides of the Maine River, which charms with its gentle way of life, its historical heritage, and its accessibility regardless of your mode of transportation. Named "France's greenest city," it has numerous green spaces and the countryside is just steps away!
Less than 10 minutes' walk from the Spiritual Center is Angers Castle, which houses the famous Apocalypse Tapestry, and its historic quarter with the Cathedral! Stroll through the city center, along the Maine River and its natural areas (Lac de Maine, Saint-Nicolas pond, Jardin des plantes) and finish your walk at the Halles d'Angers!
A bit further, but less than 30 minutes by car, Terra Botanica park, the Anjou vineyards and their estates, the Châteaux of Plessis-Macé, Brissac, and Plessis-Bourré are also must-sees!
Practical information
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