France · 7 days
Days at Borie mix structured creative work with a lot of unstructured time. Guests sketch and paint, write, and take walks in the surrounding countryside — one reviewer called the walks "forest bathing". Abby leads creative writing and reflective exercises, and painting sessions run through the week. The rest of the da…
Home › Europe › France › Creative Writing and Painting Retreat in the French Countryside at Château de Borie
France · 7 days
Days at Borie mix structured creative work with a lot of unstructured time. Guests sketch and paint, write, and take walks in the surrounding countryside — one reviewer called the walks "forest bathing". Abby leads creative writing and reflective exercises, and painting sessions run through the week. The rest of the day is meals, the gardens, and the house itself, which guests describe as full of history and culture.
What separates this from a generic art course is the setting and the scale. The château is a home first, decorated with brocante finds, and the group is deliberately kept small. Guests eat together, and the food is a recurring highlight in reviews — chefs Frances and Arlette are named repeatedly, alongside the morning lattes and the wine.
Abby's own background shapes the retreat. She was widowed at 35 with two young children and describes creativity as what carried her through. She now writes and paints, and the château hosts retreats for people in transition — creative, financial, and relocation-themed weeks have all run here, including a "Move to France" retreat with Amy Witherbee and Ben Small of Ibanista.
Accommodation is in the château's own bedrooms, each decorated individually. Every room has a private bathroom, and two have en-suite bathrooms. There are spacious common areas and tranquil gardens, and the surrounding countryside is the kind of southwest France landscape people come here for.
Practical detail on the 2026 programme is thin on the page. Dates, prices and what each week includes are not listed here, so ask before booking. What is clear is the format: small groups, shared meals, daily creative work, and a week that past guests describe as worth the leap of faith.
- Accommodation at Château de Borie, with a private bathroom for every room - Meals cooked by chefs Frances and Arlette - Creative sessions in sketching, painting and creative writing led by Abby - Walks in the surrounding countryside - Use of the château's common areas and gardens
- Travel to and from Château de Borie - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Any activities or excursions not confirmed for your specific week