Writing retreat

A writing retreat offers time and space to step away from your daily duties and focus on your creativity. It also gives you an opportunity to recharge your batteries, participate in writing activities and trips around a beautiful valley, meet other creatives, and just have fun. This retreat is guided by an experienced writer and facilitator, so you don't have to worry about staring at the blank page, as we'll take you through a series of fun activities.

No, everyone is welcome, regardless of their experience, as our retreat provides a supportive environment in which you can fully express your creativity. This might include working on your first manuscript or taking your writing skills to the next level. 

We don't focus on any literary genre or style. Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, journaling, or you’re just starting to explore your creativity, you’ll find something to fuel your inspiration. 

We will use different prompts, such as quotes, poems, images, and real-life objects, to spark your creativity. What you do with these prompts is completely up to you – you can incorporate them in your existing project, start writing something new, or ignore them altogether. 

We encourage everyone to join our guided activities, as they might spark fresh ideas. However, you can fully focus on your own project if you prefer. We are here to help you on the journey, but, ultimately, you’re in charge of your own writing.

Yes, absolutely. The retreat is open to people from different cultures from around the world. We will use English to communicate during the retreat, but you can write in your native language if you prefer. Also, the facilitator will manage all the communications with the local community, so you don't have to worry if you don't speak any French.

No, this is a writing retreat to help you fuel your creativity and open up your writing flow. You can share your writing with the facilitator and the group, but if you need in-depth feedback on your text, we suggest joining a critique group or hiring an editor.

The full price is 850 euro per person (or 750 euro per person if you want to share a room with another participant). We will require a 200 euro non-refundable down payment to confirm your registration.

The price includes accommodation for two nights in  Château de Colombières sur Orb, full board (2 breakfasts and 3 lunches in the chateau, 2 dinners in local restaurants, and snacks throughout the day), guided writing activities, tours around the Valley of Orb, and airport transfer from Montpellier. 

To provide the best experience for you and other participants, we are renting a beautiful castle and ordering delicious food for our retreat. To make sure we cover these costs, we are asking for 200 euro non-refundable down payment (deposit) to confirm your reservation.

The closest airports are: Béziers Cap d’Agde (BZR) – 50 min by car, Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport (MPL) – 1.5h by car, Carcassonne Airport – 1.5h by car, and Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) – 2.5 h by car. We can help you with the airport transfer from Montpellier only - please indicate this option in your registration form.

You usually have 1-2 direct flights per day from London to Montpellier and 1 flight from London to Beziers (depending on the day of the week). There are more flights available with a stopover in Paris. Please note that your flight tickets and car rentals are NOT included in the price.

The retreat is designed to offer a holistic experience. In addition to writing activities, you’ll have an opportunity to participate in various activities, such as art and culture exploration, a guided walk through a medieval town, discovering French food in local restaurants, and wine tasting.

You are going to stay in a real French chateau filled with rustic charm and shabby chic décor. It has central heating, fireplace, and all the modern amenities. The chateau is divided into four independent parts. Each part has 2-3 bedrooms, a kitchenette, bathroom, and toilet. During breaks, you can stroll around the chateau grounds and the nearby village of Colombières sur Orb. 

The chateau is adapted for wheelchair users. Please let us know in advance if you have any special requirements, so that we can make all the necessary adjustments. Find out more on Château de Colombières sur Orb. 

 Yes! We understand that a lot of writers are introverts and need their own space, so everyone can have their own room. However, if you share a twin room with another participant (max. 2 people per room), you can get a special discount (750 euro per person, instead of 850 euro per person). Also, please note that you will share the bathroom and toilet with other participants in your part of the chateau (max. 4-5 people).

We can cater to special food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, etc.), but we need to know about them upfront to make necessary adjustments. Please specify your dietary needs in the registration form, as the caterers might not be able to fulfill them on short notice. 

This is the full address: Château de Colombières sur Orb, 34390 Colombières sur Orb, France. We can pick you up from the airport or train station in Montpellier or Beziers -  please choose this option in the registration form. Otherwise, you will need to rent a car or use public transport. We will send you further details upon registration.

If you're already travelling to the South of France, why not spend more time in this beautiful part of the world? We can help you find accommodation in the chateau or in another charming place in the area - just let us know your plans via the contact form.

The retreat is reserved for people who are interested in our writing activities. Also, it is open only to adults, as we can’t take responsibility for participants under 18 years old. However, if you want to bring your family or friends, we can help you book accommodation in the chateau where the retreat is taking place. Please use the contact form to ask for further guidance.