Foyer de Charité de la Flatière
Les Houches Haute-Savoie Founded in 1957
A pause suspended between forest and glaciers
The Foyer de Charité de La Flatière, in Les Houches in Haute-Savoie, is a Christian retreat center established facing Mont-Blanc, in the heart of the French Alps. Founded in the spiritual momentum inspired by Catholic mystic Marthe Robin (1902-1981), it came into being in 1957 through Father Jacques Ravanel, a priest from the Chamonix valley who wished to create a place of silence and prayer. The community, made up of consecrated lay people and a priest, leads a fraternal life of prayer and service marked by daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and the liturgical offices.
Nestled among alpine forests, meadows, and hiking trails, the Foyer offers, in the spirit of Marthe Robin, silent spiritual retreats open to all: six days of teachings, prayer, and recollection to deepen faith and inner peace. The chapel and the surrounding nature provide moments of solitude and meditation, all the way to sunrise over Mont-Blanc.
What awaits you
Upcoming retreats
Practical information
Retreats offered
The Foyer offers 6-day retreats (silence, biblical meditation, teachings, sacraments), weekend retreats, thematic retreats (forgiveness, prayer, Bible), and retreats for young people or families with tailored activities.
Spiritual guidance
Personal meetings with a member of the community or a priest are available during the retreat. The community is made up of consecrated lay people and a priest, entirely dedicated to welcoming retreatants.
Accommodation
Individual and double rooms are spread across several pavilions, designed to foster silence and inner peace. A chapel, an oratory, a library, and conference rooms are also available.
Natural setting
The Foyer is located in Les Houches, facing Mont-Blanc. Surrounding alpine forests, meadows, and hiking trails (Sentier du Christ-Roi, Lac Blanc, Chemin du Petit Balcon Sud) provide an ideal setting for meditation and prayer in nature.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is available in a dedicated room, helping to preserve silence and recollection throughout the rest of the Foyer.
Getting there
The Les Houches train station is the closest. By bus: from several cities in France, Blablabus and Flixbus serve the Chamonix bus station, where you can take bus line 1 (direction Les Houches) to the Le Tourchet stop. From Geneva Airport: Alpybus takes you to Les Houches, Mountain Drop-Offs to La Flatière, and Easybus, Blablabus, and Swisstour to Chamonix. Let the community know your arrival time so they can arrange a taxi to meet you.
Follow the signs toward La Flatière from the Les Houches train station
Be prepared for some steep climbs on the way to the retreat center