PAINTING RETREAT IN THE DORDOGNE (SOLD OUT - WAIT LIST)

Painting Retreat in the Dordogne

Château de Marouatte and its surrounding estate

Spend an unforgettable week immersed in the beauty and history of the Dordogne region of southwestern France. From medieval villages and ancient abbeys to quiet country roads, bustling markets, and sweeping rural landscapes, each day will offer new opportunities to paint and experience this remarkable corner of France.

Château de Marouatte with Pigeon House in foreground

The Experience

Our days will be a comfortable blend of painting, instruction, demonstrations, and time to simply enjoy our surroundings. Bernie will provide generous one-on-one guidance tailored to each artist’s individual goals, along with daily group critiques designed to encourage growth, conversation, and the exchange of ideas. He will also offer numerous demonstrations throughout the week, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. Some days will take us into nearby villages and historic sites; others will allow us to slow down, paint at the château, and enjoy the beauty of the estate. All mediums are welcome; participants should simply have a comfortable working knowledge of their chosen medium.

Château at Night

Throughout the week, we will paint both on the château grounds and during excursions into the surrounding Périgord countryside.

Painting Beyond the Château

Our excursions will be thoughtfully balanced with time spent painting and enjoying Château de Marouatte and its beautiful grounds. Rather than following a rigid itinerary, we will choose from a variety of nearby villages, historic sites, and landscapes, allowing us the flexibility to make the most of the weather, painting conditions, and opportunities that arise during the week. During excursions participants are also welcome to simply explore, shop, or enjoy the surroundings at their own leisure.

Brantôme

Brantôme
Often called the Venice of the Périgord, Brantôme is a picturesque village surrounded by the Dronne River. Its historic abbey, riverside views, and ancient architecture provide a wonderful variety of painting subjects.

Périgueux

Périgueux
The historic capital of the Dordogne offers an extraordinary mix of architecture, markets, and street life. Its cobblestone lanes, Renaissance-era passages, Saint-Front Cathedral, and lively squares provide endless possibilities for painting and sketching.

Saint Jean de Cole Château

Saint-Jean-de-Côle
Recognized as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Saint-Jean-de-Côle is a beautifully preserved medieval village of stone houses, Romanesque church, and the Château de la Marthonie—a wonderful setting for plein-air painting.

Abbaye de Boschaud
The evocative ruins of this 12th-century Cistercian abbey offer weathered stone walls, open arches, beautiful light, and a peaceful rural setting especially suited to painting.

Bourdeilles Mill

Bourdeilles
Overlooking the Dronne Valley, this beautiful medieval village is dominated by the Château de Bourdeilles, where a medieval fortress and Renaissance palace stand side by side. Its architecture, river views, and surrounding countryside offer an abundance of painting possibilities.

Ribérac

Market Day in Ribérac

Friday is market day in Ribérac, when the town comes alive with colorful stalls filled with local fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, and regional specialties. The lively market atmosphere offers wonderful opportunities for sketching, painting, and observing everyday life in the Périgord—and, of course, for sampling some of the region’s local flavors.

Excursions and locations will remain flexible and may change depending on weather, local conditions, painting opportunities, and the interests of the group.

Château de Marouatte: Our Home for the Week

Inner Courtyard

Château de Marouatte will be our home for the week. Owned by Miles Copeland III, best known as the former manager of The Police and Sting, the château has a fascinating creative history of its own. For many years, it hosted renowned songwriter retreats attended by artists including Cher, Bon Jovi, Carole King, Keith Urban, Peter Frampton, the Go-Go’s, the Bangles, and many others.

For our week together, the château and its entire 270-acre estate will be reserved exclusively for our group. With origins dating to the 13th century, this beautifully restored medieval château—with its ancient towers, battlements, and sweeping grounds—provides an extraordinary setting in which to live, paint, and experience the Dordogne.

Château from the Outer Bailey

Having the château and grounds entirely to ourselves will allow us to settle into the rhythm of the week and enjoy the estate at our own pace. Participants will be free to wander the grounds in search of painting subjects, set up an easel wherever inspiration strikes, return to a favorite location, or simply enjoy a quiet moment in this remarkable setting. Inside, period antiques, art and centuries of architectural detail add to the timeless appeal of the château.

Château Pool

Game Room

When it is time to put the brushes down, the château also offers a heated swimming pool, tennis court, game room, walking paths, and Wi-Fi throughout the property.

The nearby village of Lisle offers many everyday conveniences, including a pharmacy, grocery store, restaurants, and other services. Périgueux, the capital of the Dordogne, is approximately a 30-minute drive from the château and offers a wider range of shops and services.

Gathering Around the Château Table

Chapel Dining Room

Troubadour Ballroom

Mealtimes will be another special part of our week at Château de Marouatte. In the evenings, we will gather at the château to share the day’s experiences and look ahead to what the next day will bring. The château’s resident chef will prepare fresh, delicious meals throughout our stay and can accommodate individual dietary needs. Most meals will be enjoyed together at the château, either in its beautiful dining rooms or outdoors on the grounds. On excursion days, we may enjoy a picnic along the way or dine at a carefully selected local restaurant, giving us another opportunity to experience the flavors and atmosphere of the Dordogne. Meals will be accompanied by wonderful local wine and beer and, unless otherwise noted, are included in the retreat.

This will be more than an artistic retreat—it is an opportunity to experience the Dordogne at an intimate pace while creating a meaningful body of work inspired by the region.

Your Painting Retreat Includes

• Seven nights’ lodging at Château de Marouatte
• Pickup and drop-off at the Angoulême train station
• Transportation throughout the retreat
• All meals, with most enjoyed at the château and selected lunches enjoyed in the towns we visit
• Beverages, including local wine and beer from the Bergerac region
• Painting instruction with Bernie throughout the week
• Solvent for oil painters
• Fresh bed linens and towels provided midway through the week

The Retreat Does Not Include

• Transportation to France
• Train transportation to and from Angoulême
• Personal expenses
• Art supplies, with the exception of oil-painting solvent
• Travel insurance

Staying at the Château

Retreat pricing varies according to room selection and occupancy, including single or double accommodations and rooms with either private or shared bathrooms. This is a small sampling of the 13 guest rooms available to our group, nine with en-suite bathrooms and four with shared bathrooms. Six rooms have king-size beds and are particularly well suited for couples.

Primary Bedroom

Pugin Bedroom

Queen Mother Bedroom 2

Chez Lorraine Bedroom

While the bedrooms have been thoughtfully modernized for comfort, Château de Marouatte is a centuries-old medieval château rather than a modern American-style hotel. Each room has its own character, architectural details, and amenities, and retreat pricing reflects these differences.

A Note About Accessibility

Room locations follow the French convention: the ground floor (rez-de-chaussée) is at ground level; the first floor is one flight of stairs above ground; and the second floor is two flights of stairs above ground. There are no elevators in the château. If you have difficulty with stairs, we recommend selecting a ground-floor room.

Clocher Entrance

Retreat Tuition & Payment

Starting at $3,450 per person.

Deposit: $500 per person to secure your accommodation, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please email [email protected] to secure your spot and for further information.

Retreat pricing varies according to room selection and occupancy.

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Non-painting companions are warmly welcome.

Traveling to Château de Marouatte

Paris Montparnasse — High-Speed TGV

Château de Marouatte is located in the Périgord Vert, in northwestern Dordogne, approximately 55 minutes south of Angoulême. Angoulême is easily reached by high-speed TGV train from Paris Montparnasse station in about two hours, or from Charles de Gaulle Airport in just under three hours. Bordeaux Airport is approximately a two-hour drive from the château, while Bergerac Airport is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away.

For participants traveling from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom, we recommend taking the TGV to Angoulême, where we will meet you at the station and provide transportation to the château. The train journey is a relaxing introduction to the French countryside and a lovely way to begin your week in the Dordogne.

Protecting Your Trip

For added peace of mind, we strongly recommend that each participant obtain comprehensive personal travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances, including trip cancellation by the participant, travel delays or interruptions, illness or injury, medical emergencies, and the loss of or damage to baggage. In the unlikely event that we must cancel the retreat, all payments made will be fully refunded.

In the event that a participant becomes ill, injured, or otherwise incapacitated during the retreat, we reserve the right to take any reasonable action necessary to protect that participant’s health and safety. This may include arranging medical care, hospitalization, emergency transportation, or, if necessary, repatriation to their home country. All costs and expenses associated with such care or transportation will be the sole responsibility of the participant.

Preparing for Your Week in the Dordogne

After registering, you’ll receive a detailed supply list along with helpful travel information to make preparing for the retreat as easy as possible. Solvent will be provided for oil painters, so there is no need to travel with it. We will also create a group email thread so participants can begin getting to know one another, share information, and ask questions in advance.

In addition, Bernie will host a Zoom gathering prior to departure, giving everyone a chance to meet, talk through travel and painting questions, and feel connected before arriving at the château. For those traveling on their own, this may also be a wonderful opportunity to connect with a fellow artist and perhaps even find a travel companion for the journey to France.

For additional information, room selection, or to reserve your place, please contact Bernie at [email protected]

For additional information about Château de Marouatte please visit: https://www.artatthecastle.com/