9 Day Château Retreat for Artists near Avignon, Provence

Provence in the Fall

September is a perfect time for an art retreat in southern France — it is as ideal as it gets.

It’s that time of year when the tourists have left to return to the cities, the children have gone back to school, the traffic has disappeared and the region becomes peaceful in its sun-drenched glory. Artists arrive and venture out to paint the surrounding natural beauty and bounty of Provence. This is an opportunity to paint with other artists while spending 9 idyllic days in Provence.

September boasts the wine harvest, La Vendange. After all, we are in the famous Côtes du Rhônes wine-producing region of France. During Glorious Provence, we explore private vineyards, paint there and go wine tasting. Of course, every day has a unique destination to sketch and paint – while also taking time to stop, explore, and meet the locals. Your itinerary includes visits to local outdoor markets, vineyards and breathtaking hilltop villages or villages perchés. We make sure that all locations have access to our vehicles, materials and cafes. Bring your camera, because you will want to snap references to paint later. Like the impressionists before us, you will be truly inspired by all things Provence and its seductive light.

The Location

We are returning to a historic château estate located East of Avignon for this wonderful art retreat. This château has been perched on top of the village in one form or another since the 600s. The estate is beyond charming with the arched entrance, ancient walls, and stunning terraces opening to incredible rooftop views across the Luberon valley. We have a great room for socializing and painting if needed, terraces for eating en plein air, and a splendid swimming pool. You can see images of it here.

We will visit the grounds in St. Rémy de Provence where Van Gogh lived for almost a year and paint where he painted. It is an unforgettable experience exploring parts of this remarkable region that has flourished since Roman times. Today Provence is a culturally thriving agricultural paradise. When you see the quality of light you understand why artists flocked to this region and why several of the Impressionists chose to live here. After dining at the château we take up various painting-related topics for discussion and demos. Although the workshop is not instructed – painting side-by-side with fellow artists provides growth, exposure to new skills and new friendships. Guests travel from around the world to join this workshop, including painters, photographers, writers and sculptors. We welcome non-painting partners, they are included on all our excursions and become part of the group.