Creativity & Yoga Retreat - April 2025

Surrounded by the enchanting plains, forests and villages of Picardie, the chateau and its grounds have been inspiring artists for decades. This is your chance to free your imagination, work on your current work-in-progress or to begin something new in a supportive and stimulating environment, away from the clatter and noise of daily life. 

An untutored retreat is all about you. Apart from yoga classes and shared meal times, your days are yours to structure as you see fit. We will shop for what's needed, provide meals - from croissants delivered fresh to the gate for breakfast to fabulous lunches and dinners often made with ingredients from the local farm shop - and help however we can. Having fun is also an important part of the week.

We hope to welcome a range of creatives, working in different disciplines and at different stages of experience. There are various spaces to work in: an ancient barn, a recently converted studio with sound-proofed doors, the salon with its piano, your room (all of which have desks), or outside in the delightful chateau grounds. 

ACCOMMODATION

 We offer a range to suit different budgets - from your own tent set up in the orchard that can be shared with a friend, to an en suite with windows giving on to both sides of the garden. All the rooms are private. You can find out more about each option here or by clicking on the images below.

Apartment

Furnished Bell Tent in the Orchard

Blue Room

End Room

Mansarde

Attic Double

FOOD & DRINK

• Meals are Ottolenghi-inspired, largely vegetarian, nutricious, locally or garden sourced where possible and much enjoyed by our guests. We're happy to cater for various diets.

• Each participant will pair up with another to prepare one dinner, with ingredients and recipe supplied and help at hand.

• Coffee, tea, fruit and pastries will be available throughout the day in a separate communal kitchen. 

• Wine will be served with dinner.

OUTINGS

• Thursday optional outing to the historic river town of Compiegne, where we'll enjoy a slap-up lunch and visit Napoleon's magnificent palace, the many foodie shops and also the Armistice Train Carriage, where the course of both world wars was changed.

• Saturday optional visit to a wonderful local arts centre in Verderonne, as well as a medieval convent where the Poor Clares once lived and worked, and a different swimming lake.

FREE TIME

• Walk through the nearby woods to the Chapelle Saint Catherine, a spot visited by Joan of Arc

• Swim in a large, gorgeous lake surrounded by wildlife

• Explore the countryside on our boneshakers, ie bikes

• Learn to walk our tightrope

• Play table tennis or French billiards

• Dive into the theatrical dresses, suits and hats of the Dressing-up Room

• Or just relax and soak up the atmosphere at the château

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Six nights in your own room or furnished bell tent at the château (sheets, towels and toiletries provided)

• Four yoga classes, with equipment provided

• Lifts to and from the station

• Welcome cocktail

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at the château

• Wine (within reason) at dinner

• Coffee, tea, juice, snacks at all times

• Use of the communal kitchen

• Run of (most of) the house, gardens and outdoor buildings

• Use of our boneshakers, ie bicycles

• Wifi

• Parking space

• Outings to the local lake and places of interest

• Travel advice

  WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel costs

• Airport transfers

• Travel Insurance

• Visa fee if required

• Meals/drinks away from the house

• Entry tickets on excursions