Foyer de Charité de Tressaint
Lanvallay Côtes-d'Armor Founded in 1966
Located in Brittany, near Saint-Malo and 6 km from the medieval town of Dinan, the Foyer de Charité de Tressaint is a Catholic community that welcomes anyone seeking spiritual renewal. Established in 1966 in a 17th-century granite manor house with a dovecote and large fireplace, it overlooks the Rance river at the heart of the Vallée de la Rance regional nature park. The community, led by consecrated lay people in collaboration with a priest, offers spiritual retreats centered on silence, prayer, and Christian formation, in the spirit founded by Marthe Robin and Father Georges Finet in 1936.
Surrounded by forests and fields, the Foyer provides an ideal setting for meditation and prayer. Its grounds include a permaculture vegetable garden, flower gardens, and animals (donkeys, sheep, goats, and cats). The retreat program is intensive and focuses on the interior experience, leaving little time to explore the surrounding area, which nonetheless lends itself to beautiful walks, including toward the abbey church of Léhon. The community welcomes each person for a spiritual pause, in the joy of shared prayer and fellowship.
What awaits you
Practical information
Meals
Meals are served in a large glass-walled dining room overlooking the park. They are taken in silence, accompanied by background music. Meals are included in the stay.
Accommodation
The Foyer de charité has around a hundred rooms, sleeping 1 to 6 people. Guests must bring their own sheets and towels, though linens can be rented on site.
Chapels
Three chapels are open continuously for prayer and recollection.
Arrival & relaxation
In bad weather, guests can warm up by the fireplace or enjoy a hot drink in the "Jéricho" room. In fine weather, the 7-hectare park invites walking and meditation.
Manual work
Those wishing to participate in the community's mission may join in daily tasks: building and garden maintenance, and serving retreatants.
Getting there
From Rennes train station, take the Breizhgo bus, line 7, to Lanvallay - Place de la Samsonnais. Alternatively, go to Dinan train station.
For your GPS: 795 Rue de l'Église, 22100 Lanvallay
A little ride through Brittany? The area is fairly flat!