Antique & French Finds
3 – 6 July 2027
€2,800 per person · nothing to pay at the end
about €930 a night
Book these dates
L’invitation The invitation
Chiner: the French art of the find
Three days devoted to chiner, the French art of hunting, unhurried, for beautiful old things. Go out to the antique markets, the hidden dealers and the village vide-greniers of the valleys, in search of monogrammed linen, copper pans, café-au-lait bowls, silver and faïence, and the one piece you did not know you were looking for. You go with people who know where to look, and how to bargain in French. Stop for lunch in Foix beneath its castle. Back at the château there is a cooking class, a tasting of French wines beside the cellar, crêpes in the morning and French films under the stars. On the last night, dress for dinner, and stay for the dancing. There is never any pressure to buy. But most guests leave with a piece of France for their own table.
In Short
Antique & French Finds, at a Glance
- Length
- 3 nights / 4 days
- Price
- €2,800 per person, sharing a room (about €930 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
Antique & French Finds, in Pictures
A vide-grenier on the green 
Tables of old china 
The accordionist 
A red 2CV 
Inside an antique shop 
Under the plane trees 
Brooches and portraits 
Pocket watches 
Apothecary jars 
Old French linen 
An antique sewing kit 
Through the grounds together 
On the terrace 
Teacups from the brocante 
A painted plate 
Porcelain set out 
Silver on the table 
A salon of old things 
Plasterwork over a door 
From the market 
A tart and tomatoes 
At the table together 
Flowers on the hand-painted basin 
Candelabras on the marble 
Candelabra and green glasses at each place 
Shelves of old china 
The gilded salon 
A window, crystal on the table 
Shelves of china, pink and white 
The green dresser, vegetables on the table 
A table under an iron chandelier
Dates
Choose Your Stay
Le déroulé des journées The shape of the days
Day by Day
Three 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. A tour of the château, looking at the antiques found for its rooms and where each came from. L’apéritif, then dinner by candlelight.
- Après-midi Local sparkling wine, luncheon in the garden, and the tour
- Soir L’apéritif, then dinner by candlelight
-
Deuxième jour
Day 2: Chiner The brocantes
Out early, when the best pieces are still on the tables: the brocantes and dealers of the valley. Along the way, a lesson in the art of the find: what to look for in old linen, silver and faïence, how to read a monogram or a hallmark, and how to bargain in French. Supper at the château, and a show-and-tell of the day’s finds over the cheese.
- Matin Out early, to the brocantes and the dealers
- Après-midi The art of the find: linen, silver and faïence
- Soir Supper, and the day’s finds over the cheese
-
Troisième jour
Day 3: Foix Foix, and the last night
The crêpe cart on the terrace, then a village vide-grenier, or a dealer we know. Lunch in Foix, and the castle of the Counts. A cooking class, or the pool. The last-night banquet in the Salon de Musique, dressed for the occasion, then dancing late into the night.
- Matin The crêpe cart, then a village vide-grenier
- Après-midi Lunch in Foix, then a cooking class or the pool
- Soir The banquet in the Salon de Musique, then dancing
-
Quatrième jour
Day 4: 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
- 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 €1,400 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