Escape, Create, Learn & Be Inspired
Imagine spending a few wonderful days in a beautiful French country château, surrounded by inspiring gardens, delicious food, creative people and the freedom to do something you love. At Château de la Carrière in Mayenne, France, we welcome creative retreats and workshops throughout the year, bringing together talented artists, makers, gardeners and teachers from around the world. From painting and embroidery to botanical art, floral design, gardening and creative workshops, our château retreats offer more than just a holiday. They're an opportunity to learn something new, develop your skills, discover the French countryside and make lasting friendships. And between workshops? Long lunches, garden strolls, French brocante adventures, candlelit dinners and a little château magic.
DISCOVER OUR UPCOMING RETREATS
Creative Retreats & Workshops at Château de la Carrière, France
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There's always something inspiring happening at the château.
Explore our upcoming creative retreats in France, hosted by talented international artists, designers and specialist teachers.
Whether you're an experienced creative or simply curious to try something new, there's a place for you at our table.
Browse the retreats below to discover dates, programmes, accommodation options and booking information.
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Learn, Explore & Enjoy French Château Life
What makes a retreat at Château de la Carrière so special is everything that happens beyond the workshop.
Wake up in a beautiful château bedroom, enjoy a homemade breakfast, spend your mornings learning from inspiring teachers and your afternoons exploring the gardens or discovering local French villages and brocantes.
Gather around Sophie's beautifully styled tables for Suzie's seasonal home-cooked meals, often featuring ingredients freshly picked from the château's own potager.
It's a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere where creativity flows, conversations linger and strangers quickly become friends.
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Your Vision, Our Château
Are you an artist, designer, teacher, gardener or creative entrepreneur dreaming of hosting your own retreat in France?
Château de la Carrière offers an inspiring venue for international retreat organisers looking to create an unforgettable experience for their guests.
With elegant accommodation, beautiful indoor workshop spaces, gardens designed by renowned Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay, delicious home-cooked meals and personalised hospitality, we can help bring your retreat to life.
Suzie and Sophie work closely with organisers to plan a programme that reflects their vision, from accommodation and dining to local excursions and special château experiences.
You bring your talent and your guests. We'll help create the experience around them.
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Whether you're joining one of our upcoming workshops or planning a creative retreat of your own, Château de la Carrière is a place to slow down, be inspired and enjoy the pleasure of French country living.
We can't wait to welcome you.
EXPLORE UPCOMING RETREATS | CONTACT SUZIE
Curated Wedding Weekend Blueprint-
Our team coordinates valet, registration, and hospitality stations, optimizing flow and minimizing wait times for traveling attendees.
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Our culinary partners implement seasonal, locally sourced courses that reflect the couple’s preferences and dietary requirements.
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Certified instructors lead gentle yoga and breathing exercises designed to ease nervous energy and promote posture readiness.
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We coordinate procession cues, sound checks, and floral staging to ensure every visual and auditory element aligns with the design vision.
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We implement segmented timelines for speeches, first dances, and course service, maintaining dynamic momentum without guest fatigue.
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Chef-attended stations offer customized dishes that reflect regional flavors, reinforcing sense of place.
A Collective of artists, makers and Organizers
The Curated quilting retreat
Quilting Retreat with Margaret Mew & Judy Newman — 2027
They're back! After five wonderful years of quilting retreats at Château de la Carrière, we're thrilled to welcome the Taylor Swifts of the quilting world, Margaret Mew and Judy Newman, for another creative escape in 2027!
Expect beautiful fabrics, inspiring workshops, plenty of laughter, delicious château food and the joy of stitching together in the French countryside. We simply can't get enough of these two!
Paul Bangay in France
Garden Tour with Paul Bangay — 2027
Back by popular demand! Following the wonderful success of last year's garden tour, we're delighted to welcome renowned Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay back to Château de la Carrière in 2027.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through beautiful French gardens, exclusive visits, inspiring conversations and plenty of château hospitality. A dream escape for garden lovers, with the man who designed our very own château gardens!
Cassie Berube
Wandering Women Retreat — 2027
We're delighted to welcome Cassie Berube, founder of Wandering Women Retreats, back to Château de la Carrière in 2027!
Celebrating women, creativity and connection, Cassie's intimate retreats bring together like-minded travellers to discover talented local makers, explore traditional crafts and enjoy authentic cultural experiences.
Expect inspiring workshops, beautiful French countryside, wonderful food and meaningful friendships. More than just a creative holiday, it's a chance to connect, create and be part of a community of inspiring women.
We consolidate essential policies, timeline expectations, and customization options, enabling couples to evaluate our comprehensive solutions with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions-
Our transparent price model lists line-item costs and staggers payments across three milestones.
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We implement a collaborative design process that adapts cultural, aesthetic, and experiential priorities.
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We serve as the single point of contact, facilitating information exchange among all contracted vendors.
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We maintain an engineered backup plan that secures guest comfort and production continuity in adverse conditions.