Foyer de Charité de la Flatière
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The Foyer de Charité de La Flatière, located in Les Houches in Haute-Savoie facing Mont Blanc, offers Christian spiritual retreats in silence, open to all.
In a nurturing natural setting, you can enjoy teachings, prayer, nature, and fraternal hospitality in the heart of the French Alps.
Retreats organized by the community
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A Christian spiritual retreat center facing Mont Blanc
The Foyer de Charité de La Flatière, founded in the spiritual movement inspired by Catholic mystic Marthe Robin, is a Christian retreat center located in Les Houches, Haute-Savoie, in an exceptional setting facing Mont Blanc. It offers spiritual retreats in silence, open to all, to deepen faith, prayer, and inner peace.
Nestled in the heart of the French Alps, the community welcomes hundreds of people each year who come to find renewal through solid teaching, participation in the sacraments, and a natural environment conducive to contemplation. The Foyer de Charité de La Flatière draws its inspiration from the life and spirit of Marthe Robin (1902-1981), recognized for her profound spiritual experiences and her life of offering.
In the 1950s, Father Jacques Ravanel, a priest from Chamonix and passionate mountaineer, dreamed of founding a place of silence and prayer in the Alps. This project became reality in 1971 with the selection of the La Flatière site in the village of Les Houches, which offers a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc. The buildings were constructed between 1973 and 1975, thanks to the commitment of many volunteers and benefactors, under the leadership of Father Ravanel.
In 1976, the first Christian spiritual retreats were organized there, following Marthe Robin's spirit: six days of silence, prayer, and teachings to foster an encounter with God.
A community committed to spiritual retreats
The Foyer community is composed of consecrated lay people, meaning individuals committed to a spiritual life without being religious, and a priest. All live together in fraternal life, prayer, and service, entirely dedicated to welcoming retreatants.
- Consecrated life: members live and consecrate themselves to God through commitments to evangelical life marked by prayer and service
- Family spirit: welcoming with joy, discretion, and fraternity
- Contemplative dimension: communal prayer structures the days, with daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration (silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament), and liturgical offices
Community members have various activities throughout the day:
- Communal prayer: Eucharist, rosary, adoration, and Liturgy of the Hours
- Retreat preparation: logistics, teachings, accompaniment
- Hospitality: meal service, individual accompaniment
- Ongoing formation of members: theology, spirituality, Word of God
What to expect during your stay
Daily life at the Foyer during the spiritual retreat
The retreats offered are addressed to everyone, believers or seekers of meaning, in a spirit of openness. They aim to provide a space of silence, renewal, and prayer, in different formats:
- 6-day retreats: silence, biblical meditation, daily teachings, participation in the sacraments
- Weekend retreats: for those seeking a short spiritual break
- Themed retreats: focused on forgiveness, prayer, interior life, or the Bible
- Retreats for youth or families: with activities adapted to each age
In addition to prayer times, guests benefit from numerous offerings:
- Liturgy and sacraments: daily Mass, adoration, rosary
- Teachings: spiritual conferences, guided exchanges
- Individual accompaniment: possibility of personal meetings with a community member or priest
- Times of silence and contemplation: mountain walks, personal prayer in the gardens
- Fraternal moments: meals in silence in a convivial dining room, shared life in simplicity
Accommodation at the Foyer de La Flatière: comfort and silence
The Foyer buildings are designed to foster silence and inner peace. You will find:
- Single or double rooms, distributed across several buildings
- Chapel and oratory for personal or communal prayer
- Library and conference rooms for teachings
- Outdoor gardens, perfect for meditation facing Mont Blanc
Meals, simple and complete, are taken in silence, respecting the retreat rhythm, allowing guests to fully recharge.
Geography and activities
Why do a spiritual retreat in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes?
The Foyer grounds themselves allow for times of solitude and meditation, with the chapel and surrounding forest. It is strategically placed so that retreatants can observe the sunrise over Mont Blanc.
Located in Les Houches, Haute-Savoie, the Foyer de Charité de La Flatière benefits from an exceptional natural environment.
The surrounding alpine forests, meadows, and hiking trails offer an ideal setting for meditation, contemplation, and encounter with God.
- Christ-Roi trail: accessible from Les Houches, offers a panoramic view of the valley and Mont Blanc
- Lac Noir or Lac Blanc (via cable car): mid-mountain routes perfect for prayer in nature
- Petit Balcon Sud path: peaceful walk in the forest above Chamonix, very accessible
A 40-minute drive from the Foyer de Charité is the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de la Gorge (Les Contamines-Montjoie). It is a very ancient pilgrimage site and the starting point for spiritual walks in the valley.
Practical information
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