Foyer de Charité

What Foyer de Charité does

Foyer de Charité (legal entity: Fondation Le Foyer de Charité) is a French-recognized Catholic charitable foundation operating a pan-European network of spiritual retreat centers. Founded under the spiritual guidance of Marthe Robin and formally recognized as a foundation of public utility (fondation reconnue d'utilité publique) by decree of February 7, 1972, the organization offers multi-day silent retreats built around the 6-day foundational retreat, with variants for adults, couples, youth, children, families, priests, and consecrated religious, plus themed programs covering film, literature, sport, meditation, and personal development.

The organization runs 150 retreats across approximately 150 Foyer sites in France (136), Belgium (12), and Switzerland (2), delivered by an in-house community of priests, preachers, and laypeople with episcopal oversight. Its technology stack is deliberately minimal: a multilingual website (French, English, Spanish) hosted by OVH and built with Nexi Conseils, supported by content services from Scrib & Co, and social channels on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. There is no proprietary platform, no mobile app, and no AI/ML component disclosed.

Commercially, Foyer de Charité operates a donation-based model: retreats are open to all regardless of financial means, and participants are invited to contribute freely to the costs of their stay. Acquisition is community-led, relying on referrals through Catholic dioceses, parishes, bishops, and word-of-mouth, with no paid advertising. The organization is not venture-backed, has no parent company, is not listed, and reports no ownership changes.

Name

Foyer de Charité

Legal name

Fondation Le Foyer de Charité

Website

https://lesfoyersdecharite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Foyer de Charité is a French-recognized Catholic foundation operating a pan-European network of multi-day silent spiritual retreats served on a donation basis to individuals, families, couples, youth, and clergy across France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Retreat Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Spiritual retreats
• Catholic faith formation
• Contemplative prayer programs
• Religious retreat centers
• Family faith retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Châteauneuf-de-Galaure

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Voluntary Retreat Contributions: Participants are invited to freely contribute to the costs of their stay. The organization explicitly states that Foyers de Charité are open to all who wish to undertake a spiritual retreat, regardless of their financial means. Pricing is donation-based with no fixed fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Les Foyers de Charité operates a network of Catholic spiritual retreat centers that deliver in-person multi-day silent retreats grounded in the spiritual teachings of Marthe Robin. The core offering includes the foundational 6-day silent retreat, alongside age- and audience-specific retreats for adults, couples, families, children, youth, young adults, and priests/religious, as well as themed retreats covering areas such as personal development, meditation, sports/hiking, film, and literature. Retreats combine daily conferences on Christian faith foundations, personal and communal prayer, Mass celebrations, and individual spiritual accompaniment, and are made available to all regardless of financial means through a voluntary contribution model.

Product overview

Foyer de Charité is a network of Catholic spiritual retreat centers offering a comprehensive portfolio of multi-day silent retreats for all demographics—from individuals and couples to families and religious. The core offering consists of 6-day foundational retreats, supplemented by themed retreats, personal development programs, and specialized retreats for children, youth, young adults, and clergy. The organization operates multiple physical retreat locations across France and Belgium, with 147 retreat programs available primarily in French, German, and Polish. Retreats combine daily conferences on Christian faith, personal and communal prayer, Mass celebrations, and individual spiritual accompaniment. The organization is recognized as a public utility foundation under French law.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 6-Day Silent Retreat for All The foundational 6-day silent retreat experience based on the Gospel, combining formation, prayer, and faith celebration. Known as 'the experience that changes a life,' it features daily conferences on Christian faith foundations, personal and communal prayer, Mass, and spiritual accompaniment. Open to all, believer or not, regardless of financial means.
• Family Retreats Spiritual retreats designed for families with age-specific programming for both parents and children, fostering shared spiritual experiences and intergenerational faith formation.
• Couples and Fiancés Retreats Two-day retreats for married and engaged couples to discern, dialogue, and pray together under God's gaze, strengthening marital and spiritual bonds.
• Children's Retreats (6-12 years) Retreats for children aged 6-12 with a balanced program combining prayer, teachings, games, and activities adapted to their developmental stage.
• Youth Retreats (12-18 years) Age-grouped retreats for teenagers to deepen their faith through friendship with other young people, with various program options.
• Young Adults Retreats (18-30 years) Retreats for young adults and young professionals ranging from 1 day to 1 year, focusing on reconnecting with essential values and vocational discernment.
• Priests and Religious Retreats Spiritual retreats specifically designed for priests, religious sisters and brothers, and consecrated laity to renew their relationship with the Lord.
• Themed Retreats Specialized retreats addressing specific spiritual themes such as the Beatitudes, Marian spirituality, prayer, forgiveness, grief, and Christian living. 76 themed retreats offered annually.
• Personal Development Retreats Retreats focused on self-esteem, personal growth, and emotional healing, often facilitated by psychotherapists. 9 such retreats offered annually.
• Meditation and Wellness Retreats Retreats combining contemplative practices, silence, and relaxation for holistic well-being. 5 meditation/wellness retreats offered annually.
• Sports and Hiking Retreats Retreats combining physical activity (hiking, walking) with spiritual formation, integrating silent contemplative walks in natural settings. 2 sports/hiking retreats offered annually.
• Film and Cinema Retreats Themed retreats using cinema and film analysis to explore spiritual themes and deepen faith understanding through visual storytelling.
• Literature and Spirituality Retreats Retreats exploring dialogue between literature and Christian spiritual tradition for life guidance.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Scrib & CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerContent writing and editorial services for website content.
• Catholic Dioceses and ParishescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep integration with Catholic Church structure. Retreats are approved by and conducted within the framework of the Catholic Church. Many priests from various dioceses serve as preachers. Episcopal oversight and approval of the Foyers de Charité movement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Abbaye de Solesmes: A Benedictine monastery in France that welcomes guests for retreats and spiritual formation rooted in liturgy and prayer. Comparable in offering quiet, contemplative Catholic retreats on a donation basis at a substantial physical estate.
• Sanctuaires de Paray-le-Monial: Major Catholic pilgrimage site in France associated with the Sacred Heart devotion and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Comparable in operating religious hospitality and retreat programming in France, though focused on pilgrimage rather than silent retreats.
• Cenacolo Community: Catholic recovery community operating houses of welcome across Europe. Comparable in operating residential Catholic communities across multiple countries offering structured spiritual programs with voluntary contribution economics.
• Magnificat (Catholic movement): International Catholic movement offering retreats, formation, and pilgrimages. Comparable in organizing multi-day Catholic retreats across multiple demographics with a strong lay involvement model.

Direct peers

• Communauté du Chemin Neuf: A Catholic community with a vocation for prayer and evangelization, running retreat centers and formation programs. Offers comparable silent retreats, youth programs, and family retreats across multiple French locations.
• Taizé Community: An ecumenical monastic community in France that hosts tens of thousands of young adults annually for prayer, silence, and reflection. Comparable mission of running multi-day spiritual gatherings with donation-based economics and a Catholic-adjacent spiritual pedigree.
• Communauté de l'Emmanuel: A Catholic community founded in 1972 that runs retreats, schools, and evangelization programs across France and internationally. Operates a similar retreat network model with trained lay and ordained members delivering spiritual retreats to broad demographics.
• Community of the Beatitudes: A Catholic community of consecrated laypeople and priests running retreat houses and houses of prayer across Europe and beyond. Mirrors the Foyers de Charité model of community-led spiritual retreats with multi-day silent formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdgHMEhUIhGp2OVDr6Vwnbw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LesFoyersDeCharite
• Instagraminstagram.com/foyers_de_charite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foyer-de-charit%C3%A9

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foyer de Charité