Seven Starry Nights
10 – 17 July 2027
€4,800 per person · nothing to pay at the end
about €690 a night
Book these dates
L’invitation The invitation
A French summer, from first light to the last dance
A week of long, golden days in the Pyrénées, with the château at its most alive. Spend market day at Mirepoix and an afternoon in the brocantes of the valley. Cook with the chefs, bake with the pastry chef, and pass an afternoon with a visiting artisan. Spend a morning beside the restorers in the oldest part of the house, as a fresco returns to the light. See the castle at Foix and the great cave at Lombrives, take lunch in Ax-les-Thermes, and a day on the river. In the evenings there is the apéritif on the terrace, a barbecue beneath the mountains, films under the stars and dinners in the village. On the last night, a banquet in the Salon de Musique for which everyone dresses, and dancing until late. In between, there is the pool, the tennis court, the library, a glass of rosé, and the rare luxury of having nowhere else to be.
In Short
Seven Starry Nights, at a Glance
- Length
- 7 nights / 8 days
- Price
- €4,800 per person, sharing a room (about €690 a night): every meal and every glass, the classes, the outings, and the journey from Toulouse
- Experience needed
- None. Most people who come have never done it before
- Where you sleep
- In the château itself, with fresh flowers in every room: 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
- L’apéritif, dinner by candlelight, and on the last night a banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing
- Laundry
- Laundry and ironing facilities for guests
- Transfers
- From Toulouse on the first day, and back on the last
- To hold a place
- A deposit. The balance is taken closer to the date
- Not included
- Flights, and anything you buy at the brocantes
En images In pictures
Seven Starry Nights, in Pictures
Up through the meadow 
Through the grounds together 
On the terrace 
Candlelight in the salon 
Dinner by candlelight 
At the table together 
Setting out into the valley 
Walking in the hills 
The valley from a balcony 
From the kitchen 
A dessert in gilded glass 
Lighting the candles 
A long table, lit with tall candles 
A garden sofa facing the mountains 
The château above the roses 
A long table on the terrace, the mountains beyond 
The park, running to the mountains in the mist 
From the air, the mountains behind 
The château over its garden, the mountains beyond 
Sofas on the lawn, facing the mountains 
A wheelbarrow of wine in the meadow
Dates
Choose Your Stay
Le déroulé des journées The shape of the days
Day by Day
Seven Nights at Gudanes
Nothing is required of you. Do everything, or nothing at all.
Le matin
Every morning
Bread and croissants from the village boulangerie, and coffee on the terrace.
L’après-midi
The afternoons
Homemade ice cream by the pool, a book from the library, or a quiet corner of your choosing.
L’apéritif
As the light goes
A Kir Royale, a Lillet tonic, or the château’s own botanical syrups.
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Premier jour
Day 1: L’arrivée Arrival
The transfer from Toulouse, a glass of local sparkling wine as you arrive, and luncheon in the garden. Then your room, and a first walk through the château and grounds. L’apéritif on the terrace, then dinner in the Salon de Printemps.
- Après-midi Local sparkling wine, luncheon in the garden, and the grounds
- Soir L’apéritif on the terrace, then dinner in the Salon de Printemps
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Deuxième jour
Day 2: Le château The château
The crêpe cart on the terrace, morning yoga, and the tour of the château and its restoration. A stroll to the village, and luncheon at the long table. An afternoon with the pastry chef, then a wine tasting in the medieval kitchen beside the cellar. Dinner by candlelight.
- Matin The crêpe cart, yoga, and the tour of the château
- Après-midi Luncheon, then an afternoon with the pastry chef
- Soir A wine tasting beside the cellar, then dinner by candlelight
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Troisième jour
Day 3: Chiner The brocantes
Market day at Mirepoix beneath its medieval arcades, and the brocantes of the valley. Ariège cheeses from the market. Dinner at Maison Beaucoup, in Les Cabannes.
- Matin Market day at Mirepoix
- Après-midi The brocantes, then Ariège cheeses from the market
- Soir Dinner at Maison Beaucoup
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Quatrième jour
Day 4: La restauration The restoration
A morning with the restorers, uncovering the frescoes in the oldest part of the house. The river by canoe or kayak in the afternoon, or the pool. A barbecue on the terrace, then a film under the stars.
- Matin With the restorers, uncovering the frescoes
- Après-midi The river by canoe or kayak, or the pool
- Soir A barbecue on the terrace, then a film under the stars
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Cinquième jour
Day 5: La vallée The valley
The great cave at Lombrives. Lunch in Ax-les-Thermes, with your feet in the hot spring at the Bassin des Ladres, and a free afternoon. L’apéritif, then dinner at La Maison Lacube, in Les Cabannes.
- Matin The great cave at Lombrives
- Après-midi Lunch in Ax-les-Thermes, and the hot spring
- Soir L’apéritif, then dinner at La Maison Lacube
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Sixième jour
Day 6: En cuisine The kitchen
To the market with the chef, then the cooking class. An afternoon with a visiting artisan, or chocolate-making. A talk on the French table, and supper in the kitchen of what you cooked. Games and the library afterwards.
- Matin The market with the chef, then the cooking class
- Après-midi A visiting artisan, or chocolate-making
- Soir A talk on the French table, and supper in the kitchen
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Septième jour
Day 7: Foix Foix, and the last night
The castle of Foix, and lunch in the old town. Tennis or the pool. The last-night banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing late into the night.
- Matin The castle of Foix
- Après-midi Lunch in the old town, then tennis or the pool
- Soir The banquet in the Salon de Musique, then dancing
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Huitième jour
Day 8: Le départ Departure
A last breakfast, and the transfer to Toulouse at eleven: to the airport, the station or the centre of the city.
- Matin A last breakfast, and back to Toulouse at eleven
Les divertissements Also on the programme
The Château’s Own Entertainments
All included, and every one of them optional. The classes, tastings and evenings are for retreat guests: they are not part of a nightly stay.
- Le ciné-clubFrench filmsUnder the stars, with popcorn
- Le barbecueA barbecue on the terraceWeather permitting
- La dégustationA wine tastingBeside the cellar
- Les fromagesAriège cheesesFrom the market
- L’apéritifKir Royale and Lillet tonicWith the château’s own botanical syrups
- La pâtisserieIn the pastry kitchenWith the pastry chef
- Le chocolatChocolate-makingWith the château’s chefs
- Les crêpesThe crêpe cartOn the terrace, one morning
- Le tournoiThe table tennis tournamentFor anyone with a competitive streak
- La pétanquePétanque on the lawnThe game of the south of France
- Le tennisTennis and pickleballRacquets provided
- Les jeuxBoard games and cardsIn the lounge, after dinner
A typical shape. The order of the days is set for each retreat 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
One price for all of it: a night's stay is a room and breakfast, a retreat 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 classes and the outings: the kitchen, the brocantes, morning yoga, the river or the mountains, and a barbecue on the terrace, all optional
- Everything on the itinerary, materials included
- On the last night, a banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing
- Dinners at Maison Beaucoup and at La Maison Lacube, in Les Cabannes
- A tour of the château and its restoration
- The transfers from central Toulouse, there and back
- 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 retreat's 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 €2,400 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.
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