Follow our Journey in France on our social media channels.
A WEEK FOR RETREAT ALUMNI
ARTIST CIRCLE
A place that feels both familiar and extraordinary,
€ 3,250 - € 3,750
ARTIST CIRCLE WEEK
August 27 - September 2, 2025
This marks the official opening of our Artist Circle Weeks—a special offering just for our Retreat Alumni.
Over the past three years, we’ve been deeply moved by the creative energy, breakthroughs, and friendships that emerge during our retreats. Many of you have shared a longing to return to simply live, create, and immerse yourself in the rhythms of the Château. And so, we’ve crafted Artist Circle Week as your invitation back—a dedicated time to return as a creative resident, surrounded by fellow alumni who have also shared in the magic of this place before.
This is a week to explore at your own pace—whether you dive fully into your art or embrace the freedom to try something new. Paint, write, photograph, sew, sculpt, or let inspiration lead you somewhere unexpected. The Studio will be fully stocked with oils, acrylics, photography lights, and general art supplies, and if your craft requires something special—such as sculpture or sewing materials—you are welcome to bring (or ship) what you need.
By now, you know the rhythms of the Château—the long, thoughtful meals, the golden light stretching across the gardens, the joy of creating in a space that supports and inspires you. This is your time to step back into those rhythms.
For 2025, we’ve chosen a stunning week at the end of August—when the gardens are lush, the new pool and hot tub are open, and the air is scented with sun-warmed hay. As we reach the end of our 2025 painting season, the studio will hum with the energy of the year's artistic pursuits.
The Artist Circle Program will now be a recurring part of our calendar, with several dedicated weeks in 2026 and beyond. Once you've attended a retreat, you’re officially part of the Artist Circle family—always welcome to return to this creative home away from home.
À bientôt
Julia & Carolina
6- NIGHTS
OPEN STUDIO
FORMAT
BELOVED PUY VIDAL TRADITIONS
GUESTS
WELCOME
Your own
Creative Residency at the Château
Open Studio Format
The day is yours. Let the long summer days unfold before you.
Focus, Flow and moments of Inspiration abound. Start your day in our artists circle where we each share our goals for the day, and off you go! To explore, experiment and create!
Explore & Wander
Optional outing to La Rochefoucauld mid-week to sketch, paint, shop, or tour the grand Château de la Rochefoucauld.
Rest & Relaxation
A new addition to your Puy Vidal experience- several outdoor yoga classes will be available led by our wonderful yoga instructor Trinuu. 60 min massages available as add-ons throughout the week.
New Pool & Hot tub
After a full year of renovation, we are delighted to announce the unveiling of our new pool area at Puy Vidal - ready for sunbathing, swims and cocktails poolside.
The Heart of Château Life
Morning Bell announces breakfast. Open coffee and snack bar, you know the rhythms. Lunch in the courtyard. Cherished aperitif hour. Dinners à la française. Cozy evenings spent chatting.
Ground Transportation
Included, as usual, is pick up and drop off at the Angouleme train station.
Just for you
OPEN STUDIO & SUPPLIES
The entire Art Studio and its supplies will be yours for the week- canvases of various sizes, oil paints, solvents, easels- varying from french to studio to pochade boxes, palette knives, drop cloths, rags and more. If you're painting, just bring your brushes, sketch pad and pencils!
We will have our range of photography studio lights, if you wish to set up portraits or a film studio setup. If you're working in another medium that we don't have, bring or ship your supplies to the studio.
The Studio is open 24/7 for when moments of inspiration strike!
Dear Puy Vidal Artists,
We are delighted to announce this new offering- carefully designed to meet your desire to return to this place, in a deepened and freer way. This open studio week marks the first offering in our ever-growing mission to accompany and support you in your creative life, creating a space where you can return again and again.
As you know, by the end of the retreat week, a creative family is born- we are left with such a feeling of connection with each and every one of you. Our hope is this return experience offers us all the opportunity to reunite, and create ever- deepening connections, share inspirations and fill our cup for the year.
Gather in the studio after breakfast for our morning artist circle- this is where each artist is welcome to share one success and one challenge from the day before's activity, and then set their intention for the day. All are welcome to prepare a quote or a challenge for the day to share with your fellow artists.
Gather up your materials, page through our many art books and find inspiration, or reference our collection of creative exercises to get your juices flowing. Then head out to the gardens, or a shady spot by the studio, or claim a beautiful interior scene and get painting for the morning session.
Break for lunch to clear your head and step away from your work, and return for the afternoon session. Once evening falls, gather your things back to the studio and go relax and refresh yourself for the evening activites. Jump in the pool, take a walk, or go and shower and change for dinner. At aperitif time, we all gather together with all our friends and family joining to relax for the evening. Dinners a la francaise and evening surprises await to delight just as in our normal retreats.
This is a perfect opportunity to challenge yourself to complete focus, starting a series of work, jump start a daily habit, make new friends from across our Puy Vidal alumni, and for sharing the magic of this place with a friend or family member. We will offer one optional daytrip midweek for anyone who wishes to join, and outside of that we encourage renting a car for any non-painting guests who may wish to explore the region a bit more.
We hope we will see you here this August or in the years to come...
Julia & Caroline and the whole family
The Lady of the Chateau
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
– Pablo Picasso
Château Bedchambers
We offer a selection of eight distinctive historic bedrooms, each designed to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. We have some new bedrooms and bathrooms that are being renovated for this year's season!
Our rooms cater to various preferences, ranging from spacious and opulent decor to enchanting, fairy-tale chambers, and French country cozy retreats.
For these artist circle weeks, no offsite options are available.
For any questions about rooms or different occupancy requests, please email us at retreats@ladyofthechateau.com
ARTIST GUEST
€ 2,150
As always, we heartily welcome your partner, friend or family member.
As we only have 8 Chateau bedrooms, you must be an Artist Circle member to book of the rooms, but you are welcome to add on a family member or friend to join you in the room. Please reach out to us directly at retreats@ladyofthechateau.com if you would like to bring more than one non-painting family member or friend and we will work to accomodate you.
We have several rooms ideal for double occupancy including the King Room, Toile de Jouy 1 Room, Toile de Jouy 2 Room, and the Rose room(which has two beds).
Return to your Creative Home
In order to book, we ask that you take a moment to register below. This will help us best match you with the right bedroom configuration. You will hear from us within 48 hours of submitting, and then be able to book!
To make this retreat more accessible, we offer flexible payment options. The retreat fee is divided in three installments, and we’re happy to work with you to arrange a payment plan that suits your needs. If you have any questions please write to us at retreats@ladyofthechateau.com