L'atelier The atelier
The Invitation
A Retreat With a Purpose
Four nights at the château for the first Noël atelier at Gudanes: an invitation to step into Christmas at the château, as it fills with festive warmth. Each day celebrates the joy of making by hand: Christmas ornaments embroidered after the intricate detail of the eighteenth-century Salon de Musique, candles scented with the château’s original eighteenth-century fragrance recipe, and champagne jellies prepared with the château’s chefs in antique copper moulds. You return home with a stocking filled with château memories. Nothing on the itinerary is compulsory, and every meal and every drink, alcoholic or not, is included.
In Short
Noël at Gudanes, at a Glance
- Length
- 4 nights / 5 days
- Price
- €3,200 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
Noël at Gudanes, in Pictures
The chef in the candlelit salon 
Icing the gingerbread château 
Under the lights 
The Christmas table 
A wreath on the gates 
By a snowy window 
Trees and gifts 
The gates in snow 
The château in snow 
The staircase, dressed with a garland and candles 
The Christmas table 
The staircase at Christmas, candles lit 
A pastry wreath on a floral plate 
An iced cake by candlelight 
The dessert table under the chandelier 
A long table, lit with tall candles 
Two galettes on the board 
A glass of wine on the marble mantel
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 lounge, the grounds and a glass of something.
-
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: the bûche de Noël. In the evening, vin chaud and 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: the bûche de Noël
- Soir Vin chaud, 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 making by hand: Christmas ornaments to embroider, after the detail of the Salon de Musique, and candles scented with the château’s own eighteenth-century recipe. In the kitchen, champagne jellies with the château’s chefs, set in antique copper moulds. In the evening, a dinner of Christmas recipes by candlelight, then a French Christmas film, with popcorn and hot chocolate.
- Matin A crêpe breakfast, then embroidery and candles
- Après-midi Champagne jellies with the chefs
- Soir A dinner of Christmas recipes, by candlelight, then a Christmas film, with popcorn and hot chocolate
-
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
-
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-clubA Christmas filmWith popcorn and hot chocolate
- La dégustationVin chaud, and a 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 classThe bûche de Noël, in the 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
- Les jeuxBoard games and cardsIn the lounge, after dinner
En option Snow permitting
If the snow has come, skiing may be possible nearby, on the Plateau de Beille at the top of the château’s road or at Ax 3 Domaines. It depends on the weather. If you would like to ski, we suggest adding a few nights’ stay after your retreat; we can help with ski hire, passes and transport.
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 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, you can share a room with another guest travelling solo, or have a room to yourself for €1,600 more; tell us when you register.
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