Chartreuse de Pomier

The Chartreuse de Pomier hosts seminars, conferences, product launches, company evenings and weddings for groups from about ten people up to 380, in Renaissance rooms, two vaulted medieval cellars and a set of courtyards and gardens. The former charterhouse stands at Présilly, in Haute-Savoie, at the foot of the Salève between Geneva and Annecy.

Seminars and company events

Since 2001 the site has been run as a venue for corporate and private events. Companies use it for tailored seminars, from small meetings to large conferences, and for client events such as product launches, exhibitions and trade shows. The meeting rooms are close together, which suits a plenary in the Salle Saint Bruno or the Grande Cave with breakout sessions in the smaller rooms. Team building is a large part of the offer: an orientation challenge, olympiads, a treasure hunt, a 2CV rally, a casino evening, a murder party, team cooking, an escape game and photo or light-art workshops. Wellbeing sessions in yoga, stress management and relaxation can be added. Summer garden parties and year-end parties use the courtyards and gardens.

Weddings and receptions

Couples can hold a civil or religious ceremony outdoors, in the Renaissance courtyard, the north garden or on the terrace of the small cloister, or indoors in the Salle Saint Bruno. Cocktails take place in the Renaissance rooms and dinner in the medieval cellars, which seat up to 180. For the largest weddings, dinner moves to the Renaissance rooms and all the cellars open for dessert and dancing. Dancing in the small cellar can go on until 4 a.m., and a brunch is offered the next day. The team has more than 25 years of experience with weddings.

Rooms and capacities

The Salle Saint Bruno, 73 m², takes 100 in theatre style, 60 in classroom and up to 130 for a cocktail, with good daylight. The Salle Empereur Charles IV, 63 m², and the Salle Comtes de Genève, 62 m², each take 84 in theatre style, 56 in a U-shape, 48 in classroom and up to 110 for a cocktail. The Salle Renaissance covers 198 m². In the cellars, the Grande Cave Médiévale, 152 m², takes up to 202 in its largest layout and up to 250 standing, and the Petite Cave Médiévale covers 66 m². Outside, the shaded south terrace looks over the valley.

Catering

Three caterers have been selected as partners for events, and the venue also works with photographers, florists, decorators and DJs.

History and setting

The Chartreuse Notre-Dame de Pomier was founded in 1170 thanks to a gift from Guillaume I, Count of Geneva. It had a church, three chapels and twelve monks' cells around a large cloister, and in 1366 Emperor Charles IV placed it under the protection of the Holy Roman Empire. The monastery was looted during the Revolution and many buildings were later demolished. Jérémie Girod de Beaumont saved the main building and opened a hotel of about 40 rooms, which ran until the end of 1991. His descendants opened the medieval cellars and the Renaissance rooms, and Véronique Girod-Föllmi now manages the venue. There are no bedrooms on site today. The Way of St James passes through Pomier.

Getting there

The address is 27 Allée des Chartreux, Pomier, 74160 Présilly. Geneva and Annecy are each about 20 minutes away by car. From the motorway, take exit 13 and follow signs for Annecy and Cruseilles, then Le Châble. From Annecy by road, take the D1201 towards Geneva via Cruseilles. The site has 70 private parking spaces, including 16 inside the main cloister for organisers and guests with reduced mobility.