Enchanted Nature
A Botanical Adventure in the French Countryside
June 8th -15th, 2027
Join us on a magical journey through the french countryside as we escape to our very own Chateau in the heart of the Loire valley! Known for its lush gardens, fairy-tale chateaus and glowing sunflower fields, we can’t think of a better place to unwind and get inspired!
Explore medieval towns and charming villages, shop for hidden treasures at bustling antique markets and experience chateau life on our private 25 acre estate where we’ll feast on farm to fork chef prepared meals while living like a queen!
Along the way, we’ll lead you through creative prompts as we take time to gather inspiration from the beautiful places we visit. Our talented guest artist & host Cassie Berube has designed custom workshops just for us from Botanical Printmaking to her signature Mixed Media Nature Mosaics!
This journey is for anyone looking to explore their creative side and all of our activities and workshops are for beginners and seasoned artists alike! No Art experience necessary!
Our adventure begins in the heart of the Loire Valley Set amongst Europe’s longest river and backdrop to castles , fragrant gardens and charming towns, it’s easy to see why this area has inspired so many artists over the years!
Step into history as we settle into our very own 19th century Chateau nestled among the forest. Our charming hosts will give us a private tour of this magnificent estate, from opulent rooms to greenhouses, gardens and pools there is something to explore around every corner!
Our journey continues to quaint riverside villages where we’ll explore local brocante and antique markets, to a picturesque medieval town featuring a 13th century paper-mill for an inside look into the craft of artisan papers.
With a relaxing itinerary that merges idyllic days of tea parties on the lawns of the chateau to bespoke day trips, creative workshops, studio tours and more, this retreat is the perfect balance between rest and play!
If you’ve been looking to take some time for yourself to reconnect and explore your creative side with an awesome group of women, consider this your invitation!
Why should you join us?
Umm..when are you going to get the chance to stay at your very own chateau in the heart of France?!
This is truly the adventure of a lifetime and with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life (not to mention these uber-stressful times we’re living in) you deserve to take some space for yourself. That’s right! Not the kids, family or your job, but something just for you!
So buckle up buttercup cause we’re offering an adventure to reset and explore your best self.. It’s more than a retreat, it’s an experience, so let’s loosen up, get inspired, and above all have fun!
Come Wander with us!
A peek into our adventure!
Where we’ll be staying
We went all out and booked our very own Chateau!
Nestled in the serene French countryside, this 19th-century chateau is an estate full of surprises and a good dose of whimsy, a place to take your time and enjoy the French way of life.
Take in the aromas of walled gardens brimming with lavender and herbs, soak in the sun poolside with an epic view of the countryside and explore many of the hidden paths that wind through the surrounding forest.
Pamper yourself with farm-to-fork fare sourced from the chateau’s own organic porter, baked goods, hors d’oeuvres, wine, cocktails, you name it! This is a luxury all-inclusive experience!
Make sure to check out the slideshow below for more pictures of this beautiful venue!
Let’s Talk Food
France is famous for its fine cuisine, fresh produce markets, delicious baguettes, and cheeses!
Our charming host and chef extraordinaire Suzie creates custom seasonal menus featuring only the best locally sourced ingredients , many from the estate’s own garden!
This retreat includes a variety of meals, all organic farm to fork fare and prepared just for us.
A nightly cocktail hour featuring classic French aperitifs and hor devours, wine pairing dinner & an artisan cheese trolley tasting menu are just a few of the culinary delights that await!
Meet our Guest Artist
Meet Cassie Berube award winning printmaker and artist! Cassie is known for her nature inspired creations from printmaking to mixed media and as the founder of Wandering Women Retreats!
Recipient of the Denis Diderot grant and residence at Chateau Orquevaux in France, her work has been featured in numerous shows and publications from House & Garden to the cover of Inside Sacramento .
Cassie is excited to share her love of nature with a new group of ladies and has designed custom workshops just for us from her signature Botanical Printmaking to Mixed Media Nature Collages!
Meet our Featured Local Artist
This retreat features one of our favorite local artisans, a 13th century paper-mill! Discover the time honored craft of artisan paper making with a private tour and hands on workshop.
This retreat also features a special studio tour and cyanotype demo by chateau stylist extraordinaire Sophie The! Get an inside glimpse of her charming chateau studio brimming with beautiful creations from ecoprinted textiles to cyanotype and more!
A Word From Your Host
Hi Everyone! Cassie here, founder of Wandering Women Retreats, art, and travel lover!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to share France with an awesome group of gals! With over a decade of experience in the travel industry and as a professional artist, it’s been a long-time dream to merge the two and offer unforgettable journeys that both nurture your creative side and immerse you in local culture.
I’ve cooked up a seriously dreamy itinerary that has a taste of it all! We’ll not only be visiting different towns and villages throughout the Loire Valley but with creative workshops, amazing day trips and a magical chateau to explore this retreat is chock full of inspiration!
So join me as we “Escape to the Chateau” for the adventure of a lifetime!
Our Itinerary
Day 1: Tuesday June 8th – Arrival, Opening Soiree & Welcome Dinner
Arrival at the Chateau, settle in and get refreshed! Explore the grounds, lounge by the pool or take in the numerous gardens.
In the evening join us for a fun meet and greet & opening soiree! Enjoy aperitifs and delicious small bites followed by a scrumptious three course Welcome Dinner paired with fine wines.
Day 2: Wednesday June 9th – Tour of the Chateau & Gardens, Chateau Attic Shop Visit, French Florals Flower Arranging Class, Botanical Printmaking Workshop
Breakfast ( bring on the chocolate croissants!) followed by a tour of the Chateau & its fabulous gardens! Find out all about the chateau’s wonderful history and how the owner Suzie brought it back to life. With over 35 rooms, outbuildings, stables and more this magical estate has plenty of secrets to share!
The tour ends in the Chateau’s attic, home to a wonderful maze of curated rooms brimming with local antique and vintage finds! Enjoy free time to shop Suzie and Sophie’s private collection.
After our tour we’ll settle in for a fun flower arranging class! Forage for blooms from the garden and create your own floral arrangement for your room followed by a delicious al fresco lunch.
In the afternoon we’ll dive into our first creative session! Cassie will go over all the basics of botanical printmaking as we learn how to create lush designs on paper using printing plates,foraged plants and flora.You’ll learn what to look for when selecting plants, techniques to create texture, working in layers along with how to choose complementary colors so your designs pop!
In the evening we’ll meet for our nightly aperitifs and another tasty meal prepared by our charming hosts.
Day 3: Thursday, June 10th – Day Trip to Sainte Suzanne, 13th Century Papermill Visit & Tour, Wine Pairing Dinner
Homemade breakfast followed by a fun day trip to the nearby medieval village of Sainte Suzanne.Perched atop the hillside with sweeping views of the river, this quaint little town is home to one of oldest paper mills.
Working in techniques handed down since the 13th century we’ll enjoy a private tour and behind the scenes glimpse at how these beautiful papers are made. After our tour we’ll dive into paper making with a hands-on workshop where you’ll create your very own handcrafted paper!
Enjoy free time in Sainte Suzanne to explore its many quaint shops and iconic cobblestone streets. After exploring we’ll head back to the Chateau for a nice lunch among the trees. Enjoy free time after to relax poolside or go for an afternoon stroll and soak up the “ slow life” .
In the evening we’ll meet for a special wine pairing dinner. Sample local wines perfectly paired with dishes for a one of a kind meal.
Day 4: Friday, June 11th – Local Artist Studio Tour & Demo, Artisan Papers & Cyanotype Workshop, Sunset Soiree Party, Poolside Dinner
Homemade breakfast followed by a special tour of onsite stylist Sophie The’s studio.Hear more about Sophie’s journey and the inspiration behind her beautiful eco print textiles and cyanotype creations followed by a fun cyanotype demo. Make your very own botanical cyanotype to take home.
After a break for lunch we’ll explore printmaking on artisan papers incorporating the handmade papers from the papermill,vintage book and music pages, transparent tissues and antique ephemera.These papers will be used in our next workshop to create beautiful collages.
Join us at the golden hour for a Sunset Soiree Party where we’ll enjoy h’orderves and cocktails poolside before a special sunset dinner in the gardens.
Day 5: Saturday, June 12th – Day trip to Laval, Market Visit, Antique & Brocante Shopping, Al fresco Dinner
Homemade breakfast and then off to the charming riverside town of Laval. Famous for its bustling produce, antique and vintage markets we’ll take it all in with a visit to their Saturday market!
Tour the stalls with their fresh produce and handmade wares & enjoy free time to meander the many cobblestone streets, shops and grab a bite and one of the many local cafes.
The Adventure continues with a visit to a couple of brocante and antique shops as we hunt for little treasures along with fun ephemera we can weave into our collages.
After resting from a day of exploring, join us in the evening for an Al Fresco dinner under the stars.
Day 6: Sunday, June 13th – Nature Mosaic Workshop, Afternoon Tea Party, Cheese Tasting Dinner
Homemade breakfast followed by our next workshop Nature Mosaics!
By now you’ll have a gorgeous stack of prints and Cassie will go over several techniques for turning your prints into beautiful compositions, nature collages and mosaics. Grids, hole punches & paper quilts oh my! The possibilities are endless as we weave & layer our prints with vintage papers, cyanotype and more! You’ll leave with several pieces ready to frame.
Afterwards we’ll enjoy a lavish afternoon tea party and lunch followed by more creative time to work on our mosaics.
In the evening join us for a savory cheese tasting dinner featuring an artisan cheese trolley and dishes that highlight different varieties this region is known for.
Day 7: Monday, June 14th – Handcrafted Art Book Workshop, ART PARTY, SECRET Garden Photoshoot and Farewell Dinner
Homemade Breakfast followed by our last creative workshop, Handcrafted Art Books! Customize your very own art book for the perfect keepsake of our journey.
Each book is handmade and features blank artisan and vintage pages for you to showcase your designs in.Cassie will go over ideas for creating your own custom cover along with micro collages to fit within your book.
Afterwards it’s art party time! Listen to some tunes , sip some cocktails and create a fun group art project as we share our favorite pieces!
Enjoy free time to pack up your one of a kind shopping finds from our market adventures , take one last dip in the pool and soak it all in!
In the evening it’s dress up time and we’ll have a special secret garden themed photo shoot! With a looming chateau and glorious gardens as a backdrop this is sure to produce some epic photos that will last a lifetime!
Our photoshoot will be followed by a fun closing celebration and special candlelit farewell dinner.
Day 8: Tuesday, June 15th – Breakfast & Departure
We’ll share one last breakfast together before departing back to Paris.Remember to stay in touch with your new creative besties and we hope you Wander with Us on our next adventure!
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS OUR PROSPECTIVE ITINERARY. SMALL CHANGES MAY BE MADE DUE TO WEATHER, DESIRES OF THE GROUP, AND UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITIES
(such as spontaneous adventures, can we say heck ya?!)
Spots are limited! Our retreats aren’t just about the wonderful things we’ll see and do but about building relationships, that’s why we like to keep our groups small and intimate. This enables us to travel like a local and have an inside look at all the region has to offer! This retreat is limited to 12 guests.
THIS ALL-INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- 8 days & 7 nights accommodations at a private luxury Chateau
- Our travel affiliate will be offering one Group Transfer from Paris to the Chateau on arrival day & one Group Return Transfer back to Paris on Departure Day. (we are one of the only groups that offer this as private transport is extremely costly in France, especially with current fuel prices)
- ALL INCLUSIVE MEAL PACKAGE: Daily Chef Prepared Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners & Snacks
- DRINKS & REFRESHMENTS including Nighty Aperitifs and Wine during meals
- ALL Gratuity for staff & activities
- Intimate group limited to 8-14 ladies
- Private Chateau & Garden Tour
- Attic Antique Shop Visit
- Flower Arranging Workshop
- Day trip to Sainte Suzanne
- Visit to Historic Paper Mill
- Handmade Papers Workshop
- Local Artist Studio Tour
- Cyanotype & Eco Printing Demo
- Day trip to Laval
- Market Visit
- Curated Brocante and Antique Shopping
- Afternoon Tea Party & Garden Picnic
- Sunset Soiree Party
- Wine Pairing Dinner
- Artisan Cheese Trolley Tasting Night
- Art Party
- Private Professional Photographer including daily candid shots & multiple group photos
- Secret Garden Themed Photoshoot & Online Photo Album
- All paint for the workshops, a collage kit and printmaking takeaway guide
- FIVE Creative Workshops!! Botanical Printmaking, Artisan Papers, Nature Mosaics and Handcrafted Art Books with guest artist Cassie Berube and a local hands on Flower Arranging & Cyanotype Workshop
Sweet Extras
A curated bag of goodies, aka the most amazing swag bag ever, including art and local French finds!
A Dedicated on site host to make sure you have the most amazing time ever!
This is a Wandering Women Luxe Retreat!
* This is a Wandering Women all-inclusive LUXE retreat!
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Luxury accommodations, chef-prepared meals, nightly aperitifs, fine wines with meals, along with a private photographer and professional photo album, are included in addition to our amazing itinerary and day trips!
This retreat has a mix of private and shared rooms. Each room has a private bathroom, its own theme and is lavishly styled!
Double Occupancy $7225 | Single Supplement $750
(*Airfare/transport not included.Participants are responsible for travel arrangements to our destination, we handle all the fun once you get there! )
A $1000 Non-Refundable deposit is required to hold your spot balance due by January 15th, 2027
What our retreaters are saying
Testimonials from our fellow Wandering Women
Something I will remember for the rest of my life!
“What a spectacular trip! I knew it sounded good on paper, but the real-life version was more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for all the hard work you put into making this retreat something I will remember for the rest of my life”
Jocelyn K
The trip of a lifetime!
“ Wandering Women put together a fabulous venue, a great mixture of workshops, tours & amazing food. The friendships I made only sweetened the whole experience. If you’re on the fence, don’t be! Treat yourself – we’re all so worth it! “
Jill V.
Unique & Unforgettable!
“This retreat was the perfect blend of adventure, rest, and creativity. The luxe experience with activities that were off the beaten path made it unique and unforgettable.”
Molly D.
WHAT ISN’T COVERED IN THE COST?
- Airfare/Transportation from your hometown to France
- Travelers Insurance (required for this retreat)
- Any extra tours, meals or excursions that you choose during your free time if you choose to go.
- Transportation & lodging outside of the retreat dates, should you choose to arrive early or stay later in France
- Anything you buy in the markets or on various outings.
Faq’s
Book with Confidence – A note about Covid 19
We have a great team in place that is monitoring the global pandemic and travel advisories on a daily basis. In the event we need to cancel the retreat due to Covid 19, retreat participants will be offered the option of moving funds to a rescheduled departure date . We are also requiring all participants to get a travel insurance policy.We want you to feel fully comfortable and confident when booking that you are covered!
* Please note that we will NOT be refunding cancellations for any reason, including if you yourself contract covid before the retreat and can not attend. Due to the planning, logistics & upfront costs of these events, we have a strict no-refund policy regardless of circumstance. We are requiring retreaters to get trip insurance for this very reason, trust us the peace of mind alone is worth it! Our full cancellation policy can be viewed on our FAQ Page here.
Still have questions? We got you! Visit our FAQ page.
Come Wander with Us!
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