French Painting Holiday in Gascony

Highlights

  • Plenty of excursions to nearby points of interest & chance to paint 'en plein air'.
  • 5 days of world class, individualized tuition in oils and acrylics.
  • Accommodation with a pool and meals and wine included.
From £1025 pp
  1. Choose the date on the calendar
  2. Select the number of people in each room type
  3. Check availability
Request Availabilty

What you'll do

Overview

This Summer discover rural France with a painter’s eye during an unforgettable 7 night painting holiday in Gascony; stay in a stunning farmhouse, while seeing and tasting all the region has to offer with first class tuition during ‘en plein air’ and studio sessions as you take your art skills to a new level.

Dates for 2024
28 August -4th September

Get away from it all on this 7 night Read All

Arrival & Accommodation

– Arrive and take the time to settle into your accommodation

Accommodation

Your accommodation that has been renovated with every detail in mind, you will find yourself surrounded by rolling acres of vineyards, a luxurious pool and plenty of outside space. In addition, feel free to play some games or sit by the pool with a good book.

Please note that if there are no rooms available in the main house, the hosts will use a local chambre d’hôte run by an English ...Read All

A Typical Day

9am: Greet the morning with a beautiful breakfast spread

10am   Studio session or en plein air session with expert tuition either at  the house or on location in a local village*.

11:30 am  Tea, coffee biscuits and fruit

1pm Enjoy alight lunch of salad, omelettes, pizza etc

2pm Finish painting what you started that morning; your tutor will be there to help you focus and offer one to one guidance or play table tennis, tennis or croquet or relax by the pool.

...Read All

Departure

After breakfast, check out by 10 and leave for home taking new skills and great memories with you.

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in the farmhouse, Gite or chambre d'hôte
  • 5 days of hands on art tuition
  • All transport to painting excursions and transport into local village if you wish
  • All meals and wine throughout your holiday (except on one evening when you have dinner out)
  • Some bicycles available for you to use during your stay
  • Anything you would care to use at the accommodation during your stay - please make yourself at home in the kitchen, pool or with the games, bicycles and table tennis
  • Transfers to and from Lourdes airport
  • Check in anytime after lunch on day 1 and check out by 10am on day 8
Your local host

Claire and Martin

Martin, a semi-retired documentary TV producer/director, and Claire, a teacher and counsellor, look forward to welcoming you to their tranquil and relaxing property.

Martin, a semi-retired documentary TV producer/director, and Claire, a teacher and counsellor, look forward to welcoming you to their tranquil and relaxing property.

Location

Within easy access to Bordeaux and Toulouse airports, this stunning, historic farmhouse lies in the heart of Gascony, tucked away from city life, yet surrounded by rolling vineyards and the village of Viella right on your doorstep. Try the local Armagnac, explore the walking trails and nearby rivers, or get lost in a medieval village while you learn to relax in this pastoral paradise of the French countryside.

Nearest airport:

Lourdes ( 1 hour)
Bordeaux (2 hours)
Toulouse (2 hours)

Nearest train station:
Mont de Marsan (40 minutes)

Pre-booked transfers:
Transfers are included in the price from Lourdes airport ( for the flight times below) as well as from Mont De Marsan train station.

Transfers are included for the following flights:

Ryanair flight number 522 on Monday 3rd July, leaving Stansted at 12:45, arriving at Lourdes-Tarbes at 15:40.

What our travellers are saying...

Claire and Martin are lovely hosts who are warm and welcoming to everyone. They instill a very relaxed atmosphere to the guests in their home. Claire is a gourmet cook who “wowed” us with fabulous cuisine everyday for lunch and dinner! I enjoyed the comeraderie with the fellow artists!

V Wheater, Canada

Wonderful holiday in beautiful surroundings and delicious food :)

S Keegan

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

- Suitable for all painting levels from beginners to advanced
- No minimum or upper age limit (as long as minors attend with family)
- Non-participating partners welcome

Restricted mobility access

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help
- The gite has four steps into the front, and one step at the rear door
- There is a room on the ground floor of the gite available with a toilet and shower next door (shared)
- If one does have a wheelchair, your host will take it into consideration for the day excursions and would be happy to accommodate

What can I do in my free time?

- Your hosts have made sure there is plenty to do in your free time, with a pool, table tennis, outdoor lounge areas, hiking trails, as well as games and books
- Take a walk, ride a bicycle, or get a lift into Viella and explore
- Your hosts can recommend some wineries and nearby medieval points of interest and also help you to get there

- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you

What art supplies are provided?

Your hosts supply everyone with an easel, boards and stools and our tutors will give advice on what brushes and paints will be needed. Please let us know if you need to borrow some.

What time do I need to arrive/ depart to fit in with the complimentary transfers ?

Transfers are included for the following flights:

Ryanair flight number 522 on Monday 3rd July, leaving Stansted at 12:45, arriving at Lourdes-Tarbes at 15:40.

​Ryanair flight number 523 on Monday 10th July, leaving Lourdes-Tarbes at 16:10 arriving at Stansted at 17:05.


Ryanair flight number 522 on Wednesday 6th September , leaving Stansted at 14:15 arriving at Lourdes-Tarbes at 17:10.

Ryanair flight number 523 on Wednesday 13th September, leaving Lourdes-Tarbes at 17:40 arriving at Stansted at 18:35.

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