With 15 acres of wild parkland and woodland surrounding the Château, plus some of the most beautiful light in France (even if we do say so ourselves), it’s hard not to find inspiration and a little bit of peace during your stay with us. But if you truly want to go away with a spring-in-your-step and a new sense of purpose book a spot on one of our retreats.
We seek out some of the most inspirational and creative folk to work with us on our retreats, and a retreat or workshop here is like no other. We love our retreat guests to be as spoiled as our chambre d’hotes guests, so while you’re busy learning and being inspired we’ll be looking after every other detail to ensure that you go home relaxed and raring to go.
Places are limited to ensure plenty of time for one-to-one tuition and every retreat here is fully inclusive – the very best teaching, all your materials, accommodation in one of our beautiful château bedrooms or our luxurious French-farmhouse-gîte and plenty of delicious food each day with lovely Loire Valley wines and our house cocktails to drink alongside.
In late May the garden will be full of foxgloves and roses, making it the perfect time of year to learn to capture both flowers and the château itself in watercolour and ink. Artist and illustrator James Crawford will teach you how he creates his beautiful line drawings and watercolour paintings, taking inspiration from the château, gardens and grounds.
You’ll spend your days in small, relaxed workshops, learning and creating at your own pace with James on hand to help. There’ll be plenty of time for wandering the grounds and woods in search of subjects to paint or draw and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a complete beginner or already have some experience, there’ll be lots to learn and be inspired by.
We’ll keep your creativity fuelled with our usual laid-back hospitality, plenty of food and drink and lots of time to relax. You’ll leave full of inspiration, with the skills and confidence to keep painting and drawing at home.
What’s included?
What’s not included?
Price: €2250 per person in a private room. €1650 per person in a shared room.
(We also offer a €1000 accompanying drivers rate for guests who wish to accompany a retreat participant and share a room. This rate includes meals but does not include any workshops or materials.)
To find out more about joining us for Watercolour and Ink 2027 click below
Spend a long weekend enjoying the food and wine of the Sarthe and relaxing at the Château. You’ll cycle through the vineyards (on an electric bike) tasting the best local wines with an experienced guide. Shop from the stalls, farmers and talented producers at Le Mans market, eat a long laid-back lunch with us at a traditional French country restaurant and take a relaxed cookery class with Rebecca, where we’ll cook together to create a beautiful seasonal meal.
This weekend is a chance to get familiar with the laid-back but luxurious style of hospitality that we’re known for, with some beautifully curated days out and experiences thrown in. It really is the perfect weekend away if you like to eat, drink and be merry.
What’s included:
What’s not included:
Price: €2600 per person in a private room or €2150 per person in a shared room
To find out more about joining us for the Big Foodie Weekend 2027 click below
If you’ve ever dreamt of wandering the Château cutting garden, talking and learning about growing, cutting and arranging your own flowers, and getting the chance to snip a few, this long summer weekend is for you.
You’ll spend time in amongst the dahlias with Rebecca, learning how she grows enough flowers to fill the Château from April to the first frosts each year. Rebecca will answer your questions, share her secrets and together you’ll cut and arrange flowers to create a beautiful tablescape for a long, lazy lunch.
We’ll also be joined by botanical artist Kate Churchwell who’ll take you foraging in the Château grounds and surrounding countryside for foliage that you’ll use to create your very own Bas Relief plaque using, flowers, clay and plaster of Paris, as a momento of your stay.
Between all of the flowers there’ll be plenty of food with our usual generous hospitality, plus a lovely lunch out with us at one of our favourite traditional local restaurants.
What’s included?
What’s not included?
Price: €2250 per person in a private room or €1650 per person in a shared room.
(We also offer a €1000 accompanying drivers rate for guests who wish to accompany a retreat participant and share a room. This rate includes meals but does not include any workshops or materials.)
To find out more about joining us for the Summer Flowers Retreat 2027 click below
