Riverside Praxis Hub
A space for deep practice, collective inquiry, and transformative living in the heart of Bergerac.
Riverside Praxis Hub
Cultivating a Second Renaissance of presence, community, and meaningful action.
Welcome to the Bergerac Riverside Praxis Hub, a greenhouse for the Second Renaissance; growing embodied presence, relational depth, and meaningful action in the face of the metacrisis. Nestled in a lovingly restored French manor on the banks of the Dordogne, this Hub is one node in the Life Itself global network, surrounded by gentle communal gardens.
Here we experiment with new ways of living and being, cultivating a conscious community that bridges the intentional and the monastic in a secular frame. Through self-work, creative practice, and spiritual exploration, we nurture a paradigm that is more connected, embodied, and expansive.
What Makes Riverside Praxis Hub Unique
Riverside is where practice becomes life itself.
Riverside Praxis Hub is where practice becomes life itself, a living laboratory where daily rhythms and deep inquiry merge. More than a retreat, it is an immersive residency rooted in embodied practice, shared sensemaking, and genuine community. Through collective reflection, somatic and creative practices, and the simple rituals of shared living, learning is grounded in lived experience. Intimate cohorts cook, create, and care together, weaving responsibility with transformation. Here, spiritual and political meet in a space too alive to be confined by either.
Riverside Praxis Hub invites you to integrate community and practice, collective and private, in the flow of everyday life.
Residencies in Practice: Living, Learning, and Becoming Together
Residencies for living inquiry, shared practice, and transformative community.
Our residencies in Bergerac, France, invite you into a conscious community where personal inquiry and daily life weave seamlessly with collective practice. Held within a light developmental frame, this is a place to focus on your own adaptive process while engaging shared rituals, cooking, cleaning, sitting, connecting, not as obligations, but as activations of presence.
With monthly costs ranging from 350–850 euros plus a daily food contribution, Riverside welcomes system-thinkers, poets, eco-dharmists, peace makers, and all who are ready to dance with complexity.
Apply online to join this living experiment in practice, creativity, and community near Plum Village monastery.
Testimonials from our Residents
Our residents share their experience of the Life itself Riverside Praxis hub
Upcoming Events & Residencies
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April 1, 2024
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May 1, 2024
To We or not to We? That is the question
While engaging in conscious community practices The praxis context for April is an exploration into the social field, how it unfolds and shapes our shared experiences of what it means to be a part of a whole. Stays ranging from two weeks up to 2 months. Read More
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May 3, 2024
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May 30, 2024
Culture War, Culture Peace
Culture war has been brewing for sometime. Are you sick of it enough to make peace? What would that look like? That’s what we’ll explore, together. Read More
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June 16, 2024
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June 30, 2024
Relational Embodiment Residency June 2024
We will experiment and explore in-person how we come into relationship, how we can co-create together a safe-enough space to connect skilfully to our nervous system in the midst of relational interactions. Read More
Explore the Life Itself Riverside Praxis Hub
A monastery for living, learning, and belonging
Created in 2020 the concept of this space was developped by Valérie Duvauchelle and Liam Kavanagh as a metamodern secular monastery to explore the concept of post secularity within Praxis.
Located just a few steps from the river and a serene park, this space is a one-of-a-kind setting comprising three small buildings. An old French palazzo, where traces of the past engage us in a heteroclite manner, adds to the unique atmosphere. It is the perfect place for deep exploration amidst its atmospheric surroundings.
Meals
Vegetarian/organic, home-cooked, community table with daily rhythm all in the spirit of Food Paraix. For your convenience, we provide two additional refrigerators for personal use.
Shared / Common Spaces
Riverfront deck, movement studio, writing nook, deep collaboration zones and a lush garden courtyard.
Rooms
There are 12 rooms available for Praxis residencies:
- 6 singles or couple
- 6 potentially shared
Total capacity of 15 people during Praxis residencies, and 21 during intense Residencies.
Main building
Eight rooms with one common bathroom
Room 1 – Presence (premium)
Main house 2nd floor, balcony with garden view. Double bed (single or couple). Private bathroom and toilets.
Room 2 – Integrity (premium)
Main house 1st floor, with private bathroom. Double bed (single or couple).
Room 3 – Lightness (premium)
Main house 2nd floor. Double bed (single or couple). Common bathroom on 2nd floor.
Room 4 – Joy
Main house 1st floor, garden view. Double bed (single or couple). Shared bathroom on 2nd floor.
Room 5 – Contemplation (single or shared)
Main house 1st floor. Two single beds that can be shared by two people. Shared bathroom on 2nd floor.
Room 6 – Authenticity (single or shared)
Main house 2nd floor. Can be shared by two people. Shared bathroom on 2nd floor.
Room 7 – Vulnerability (single or shared)
Main house 3rd floor. Two single beds can be shared by two people. Shared bathroom on 2nd floor (This room is at the top of the building and it needs to say that corridor is still under repair).
Room 8 – Enthusiasm (shared room with dorm space)
Main house, 3rd floor attic space. Double bed (single or couple). Shared attic space with dorm. Shared bathroom on 2nd floor.
Common bathroom
Common bathroom for enthusiasm, bravery, authenticity, contemplation, joy and vulnerability rooms.
Saint Michel house
Four rooms with two shared bathrooms
Room 9 – Energy
Saint Michel house, 1st floor, shared bathroom. 1 double bed + 1 single bed. Can be shared. Shared bathroom with Essence room.
Room 10 – Essence
Saint-Michel house, 1st floor. Two single beds can be shared by two people. Sharing bathroom with Energy room.
Room 11 – Lightness (premium)
A combination of 2 small rooms with own bathroom. Nice view on garden. The space is one private floor. Saint Michel house. Single mattresses.
Room 12 – Inspiration (premium)
Garden house, 1st floor. Double bed (single or couple). Private bathroom on ground floor. Beautiful view on Dordogna.
Amenities
Internet: there is high speed wifi access throughout the house.
Washing facilities: there is a dedicated laundry room with washing machine available for common use.
Parking: ample parking both on the square directly outside the Hub, and in the surrounding streets when the square is used for a market on Fridays.
Kitchen: kitchen suitable to cook for 10-20 people. Includes dishwasher, microwave, oven, induction hobs and extensive other utensils.
Crockery: a full store of all the crockery you might need, with enough plates, cutlery, glasses and cups for up to 25 people.
Costs
The prices differ from residency to residency, please check with each organizer.
The price includes access to the large common areas and garden.
Stay: 1 week minimum (during monthly residency only the first week is open) to 3 months.
Room sharing: people can share a room. During Praxis residencies we only accept sharing demands from people who bring the second person with them at registration.
Sharing room for residents guests is 33% (⅓) more than base price divided by 2.
Couples who share a double bed add a contribution of 100 euros/month and 40% (1 week), 60% (2 weeks), 80 % (3 weeks) of month’s cost.
How to Reach us
Location information and directions
Location
The address of the Hub is 11 Place Barbacane, Bergerac, 24100, France. You can view the location on the map here.
By Train
Bergerac has a train station. We’re a 20 minute walk from it through the heart of the beautiful medieval part of the town.
There are regular services from Bergerac to and from Bordeaux Saint-Jean, taking just over 1 hour. From there it is easy to reach much of the rest of France, for example, it is a couple of hours to Paris.
By Air
We are only an 8 minute drive from Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport, or alternatively it is easy to fly into Bordeaux and then travel by rail or car from there.
By Car
The Hub is a little over 1 hour 30 minutes from Bordeaux by car, around 2 hours 40 minutes from Toulouse, and a little under 5 hours from Lyon.
There is free parking right in front of the hub at Place Barbacane and alongside the riverside next to the house.
If you park in Place Barbacane you need to move your car on Thursday nights (by ~11pm) until Friday afternoon because of the market that takes place on Place Barbacane.
Alternative free parking can be found in the riverside and the public parking lot named “Jean Barthé” (Google Maps), 3 min. walk from the hub.
About Bergerac
Bergerac is a charming, small river town, markets, vineyards, and seasonal festivals enrich local life. A sustainable, walkable locale with warm community ties and proximity to other Life Itself sites in Aquitaine.
Rooted in place our riverside community is shaped by:
The Land & Town: Medieval streets, open markets, friendly locals, and walkable countryside.
Sustainability: Local growers, eco-conscious partners, fresh seasonal fare.
Connections: 90 minutes from Bordeaux and Cahors, near other Life Itself sites, bridge between rural root and broader network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior community-living experience?
No but openness to experimentation and relational depth is encouraged.
What’s the cost and is financial support available?
Sliding-scale fees help cover food, lodging, and programs. Support and payment options are offered.
Can I attend partially?
Yes, orientation weeks are possible; some residencies require full-term commitment.
What’s included?
Meals (vegetarian/organic), lodging, access to shared amenities, and support throughout.
What’s the code of conduct?
Respect, care, consent, and shared responsibility are foundational.
Is the facility accessible?
The building is partially accessible, accommodations can be discussed during application.