L'atelier The atelier
The Invitation
A Retreat With a Purpose
Four nights at the château to rekindle your creative spirit and connect with the timeless beauty of traditional craftsmanship. Under the guidance of brodeur d’art Nicolas Jover, you can embroider a brooch, a bracelet or an ornament designed from the gilded detail of the eighteenth-century Salon de Musique, and join a demonstration and workshop on making a traditional plumier and a fine feather quill, in celebration of the handwritten letter. Nothing on the itinerary is compulsory: most afternoons are your own, and every meal and every drink, alcoholic or not, is included.
In Short
Immersive Artisan Workshops, at a Glance
- Length
- 4 nights / 5 days
- Price
- €2,600 per person, sharing a room; all meals, wine and the activities included
- Experience needed
- None. Most people who come have never done it before
- Where you sleep
- In the château itself — bedrooms, not a nearby hotel
- Meals
- A traditional French breakfast, luncheon and dinner each day, with desserts, prepared by the château’s chefs
- Drinks
- A private selection of wines, sparkling wines, apéritifs and spirits with every meal, and the château’s own botanical syrups
- Evenings
- Apéritifs, dinner by candle and lamplight, and a film night with the projector if you would like one
- Laundry
- Laundry and ironing facilities for guests
- Transfers
- Not included on these dates. The château is an hour and three quarters from Toulouse-Blagnac by road, and three minutes from Les Cabannes station
- The days
- Spent at the château itself, with no outings to plan around: the making, the meals and the rooms
- To hold a place
- A deposit. The balance is taken closer to the date
- Not included
- Flights, and the journey to the château
En images In pictures
Immersive Artisan Workshops, in Pictures
Up through the meadow 
Through the grounds together 
Embroidery on the hoop 
Linen, stitched in red 
A painted plate 
Botanical prints 
Old textiles by the window 
At the table together 
Dinner by candlelight 
From the kitchen 
Crème brûlée 
Garden flowers in a jar 
Herbs and flowers in an old tureen 
Herbs laid on the château’s own plate 
Flowers and ribbons, laid out for making 
Dried flowers on the red marble mantel 
Dressers of blue-and-white china 
Old china and pink roses 
Flowers on the stair 
Flowers on a silver tray by the window
Dates
Choose Your Stay
Le déroulé des journées The shape of the days
The Experience, Day by Day
Four Nights at Gudanes
Nothing on it is compulsory. Join what you like, and keep the afternoons for the pool, the grounds and a glass of something.
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Premier jour
Day 1: L’arrivée Arrival
Make your way to the château in the afternoon. Then the gates, the drive, and the château at the end of it: welcome drinks, your room and a first walk through the grounds. In the evening, château-style apéritifs, then a welcome dinner in the Salon de Printemps, prepared by the château’s chefs.
- Après-midi Arriving, and welcome drinks
- Soir Apéritifs, and the welcome dinner
-
Deuxième jour
Day 2: Le château The château
The morning begins with yoga, then a tour of the château and its restoration: the rooms brought back, the rooms still waiting, and the story of how the château is returning. Luncheon at the long table, then a patisserie class in the château’s pastry kitchen, or pétanque on the lawn, weather permitting. In the evening, a tasting of French wines and Ariège cheeses in the medieval kitchen, beside the cellar, then dinner by candle and lamplight.
- Matin Yoga, then the tour of the château
- Après-midi A patisserie class, or pétanque on the lawn
- Soir Wine and Ariège cheeses in the medieval kitchen, then dinner
-
Troisième jour
Day 3: Les ateliers The sessions
Crêpes for breakfast, then a day of the workshop’s own sessions at the château: embroidery with brodeur d’art Nicolas Jover, and the making of a traditional plumier and a fine feather quill, with a cooking class in the kitchen and time between for the grounds. In the evening, a dinner from the autumn harvest, then French film night, with popcorn.
- Matin A crêpe breakfast, then embroidery, the plumier and the quill
- Après-midi A cooking class
- Soir A dinner from the autumn harvest, then French film night, with popcorn
-
Quatrième jour
Day 4: Le dernier jour The last day
A last morning with the workshop, a late luncheon in the Salon de Porcelaine, then a chocolate-making class with the château’s chefs and, for anyone with a competitive streak, the table tennis tournament. In the evening, cocktail hour with the château’s own botanical syrups, then an eighteenth-century banquet in the Salon de Musique, by candlelight.
- Matin The last session
- Après-midi Luncheon in the Salon de Porcelaine, a chocolate-making class, and the table tennis tournament
- Soir Cocktail hour, with the château’s botanical syrups, then a banquet in the Salon de Musique
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Cinquième jour
Day 5: Le départ Departure
A last petit-déjeuner, a last look at the château, and the journey home.
- Matin A last French breakfast, and the journey home
Les divertissements Also on the programme
The Château’s Own Entertainments
All included in the retreat, and every one of them optional. The classes, tastings and evenings are for workshop guests: they are not part of a nightly stay.
- Le ciné-clubFrench film nightWith popcorn
- La dégustationA wine tastingIn the medieval kitchen, beside the cellar
- Les fromagesAriège cheesesWith the wines
- L’heure du cocktailCocktail hourWith the château’s own botanical syrups
- La pâtisserieA patisserie classIn the château’s pastry kitchen
- Le chocolatChocolate makingWith the château’s chefs
- Les crêpesA crêpe breakfastOne morning, before the day begins
- Le tournoiThe table tennis tournamentFor anyone with a competitive streak
- La pétanquePétanque on the lawnThe game of the south of France
- Les jeuxBoard games and cardsIn the lounge, after dinner
- Le yogaMorning yogaBefore the tour of the château
- Le tennisTennis and pickleballRacquets provided, weather permitting
A typical shape. The order of the days is set for each workshop and sent to you before you arrive; outdoor plans follow the season and the weather. Itineraries are subject to change.
Pour qui ? Who for?
Who Comes
Is It for You?
If you love old houses, good food and the French way of taking time over things, yes. Nobody needs to know how; the experience is made for curiosity, not expertise.
Couples, friends travelling together and those who come alone are all equally at home. The group is small, the days are unhurried, and no other guests share the château.
Included
What Is Included
The full experience, at one price: a night's stay is a room and breakfast, a workshop is everything below.
- Every meal, prepared by the château’s chefs: a traditional French breakfast, luncheon, dinner and desserts, from local and seasonal produce
- A private selection of wines, sparkling wines, apéritifs and spirits with every meal, soft drinks, and the château’s own botanical syrups
- Your room in the château, with three bathrooms on the ground floor shared between the group
- The activities: the workshop's sessions at the château, a cooking class and morning yoga, all optional
- Everything on the itinerary, materials included
- A formal dinner in the Salon de Musique, by candlelight
- A tour of the château and its restoration
- Free time with the pool, the tennis court, the gardens, table tennis, the lounge and the terraces
Prices are per person, sharing a room.
Guest Quarters
Les Chambres
The three bathrooms on the ground floor are shared between the workshop guests; each room has lamps and power points. Prices are per person, sharing a room. Coming alone, write to us.
Reserving
How It Works
A 10% deposit reserves your place; the balance is due thirty days before the stay, or in full if you are booking within thirty days of it.
Your place is confirmed as you register, and held from that moment. You will receive a reference code and a link to manage your registration and payment.
The walls of the room you work in are protected — conserved, never replaced. The bed you sleep in, the linen on it and the bathroom on the ground floor are not. The imperfection is deliberate. It is also what the restoration mornings are spent on.
Hold your place
Your place is confirmed as you register, and held from that moment.
Monument Historique · Classé A Class I Historic Monument, restored under French heritage law since 2013