The Lady of the Château

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The Lady of the Château

A magical château nestled in the southwest of France. Creative Retreats and Workshops.

03/01/2025

“In and Out of the Garden” - June 4 - 11, 2025
Painting Retreat in France with Lizzie Black

Step into the vibrant early summer at Château de Puy Vidal, where wildflowers spill over garden paths, sunlight dances through windows, and the air stirs with creative energy. Join artist Lizzie Black as she guides you on an exploration of plain air still life and landscape painting, celebrating the beauty and hidden stories within everyday objects and natural surroundings.

This workshop invites you to slow down and notice the interplay of light and texture—whether you’re painting wildflowers arranged with antique treasures or capturing the timeless charm of the Château’s historic interiors. Lizzie’s approach blends structure with spontaneity, gently guiding you to sharpen your eye, refine your technique, and create works that are both deeply personal and evocative.

Surrounded by fellow artists and the Château’s tranquil gardens, this retreat is more than a workshop—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the art of observation, nurture your creative spirit, and step into a world of quiet beauty and inspiration. Thoughtful instruction, the camaraderie of artists, and the rhythms of life at Château de Puy Vidal will lead you to a joyful, deeper connection with your work.

Each day is enriched with dinners à la française, glasses of wine shared under the stars, and the gentle cadence of life in the French countryside.

Learn more about this very special retreat by visiting www.ladyofthechateau.com or visit our instagram profile and click on the link in our bio!

29/12/2024

We’re delighted to announce the launch of our next Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat! After two incredibly special photoshoot retreats this year, we are so happy to be collaborating with Autumn Luciano again to bring to you a completely idyllic summertime fantasy in France.

Join us for this ethereal six-night fantasy femme photoshoot experience at Château de Puy Vidal. Step into a faerie world where fantasy and female power are celebrated, personal discovery is nurtured, and catharsis is embraced.

This immersive experience centers around the stunning editorial-style photoshoots of Autumn Luciano.

This is an experience unlike any other—an exhilarating combination of relaxation, creative expression, connection, self discovery and beauty.

Find your people, find yourself.

Applications open now, link in bio.

24/11/2024

The glorious end of a French summer brings warmth, golden grass, slanting shadows, and the vibrant blooms of the season. Join internationally acclaimed artist, Haidee-Jo Summers, in a quest for the delightful and hidden corners of Puy Vidal.

This workshop looks past the grand vistas of the Château - instead inviting you to discover vignettes that charm and delight. Find what you love and paint it.

Whether its painting plein air in the Château gardens, or painting a historic interior, the focus will be on paying attention, training your eye and mind, and learning how to express the delight of a moment. Haidee Jo infuses her teaching with the quiet joy of her painting, and by the end of this week, she will have gently pushed you to find your joy as well.

Encircled by fellow artists and lovers of beauty, this experience is more than just a painting workshop- it is a unique opportunity to let go of life’s burdens and slip into another world. Fellowship in art, compassionate, soothing landscapes, the gentle hum of a country household, and the structure and support of a balanced painting itinerary all coax you into the ideal creative state.

Your home during this week, and the setting of all your painting is the 800-year-old Chateau de Puy Vidal. Dinners à la francaise, wine, music, candlelight and more complete these focused days. Friends are made, new approaches to your work are discovered, and you will come away from this week refreshed and inspired.

Due to high demand, as well as to ensure a cohesive group dynamic, we invite you to apply on the website here:

https://www.theladyofthechateau.com/haideejopaintingworkshopfrance

Or access it in the link in our bio!

23/11/2024

Our fall newsletter is out, with the exciting announcement of 3 Painting Retreats for next year- some returning artists and some new ones! If you aren't subscribed to our newsletter- sign up at the bottom of our website here: https://www.theladyofthechateau.com/

22/11/2024

MODERN MUSES with Rosso Emerald Crimson
July 16th -23rd 2025 at Chateau de Puy Vidal

Step into a world where art and history converge, and invite classical themes of myth and legend into your work. This workshop invites you to reimagine the timeless heroines of history—not as distant figures, but as vivid personas brought to life through your creative lens.

Join renowned artist Rosso Emerald Crimson for a week-long workshop designed to deepen your understanding of portraiture, figure, color and technique. We will explore techniques and sensibilities from historic and classical movements, while staying anchored in a thoroughly contemporary approach. Together, we will aim to capture not just the likeness, but the essence of our model—a living embodiment of muses throughout the eras styled in golden fabrics, intricate textures, and an opulent setting.

The Château’s history, spanning from the medieval era to the 18th century, will provide a complete immersion into a rich historic sensibility. Capture the interplay of light and texture on satin, gilded accents, and dramatic backgrounds. Explore techniques to create unique pieces that blend figurative realism with expressive, abstract surroundings.

This workshop offers more than skill-building—it’s an opportunity to refine your artistic perspective and push the boundaries of your creative voice. Creating in community with other artists from around the world, and supported and balanced by an immersive itinerary of play, dining, entertainment, exploration and connection- this will be a week you will never forget.

Due to high demand, as well as to ensure a cohesive group dynamic, we invite you to apply here:

https://www.theladyofthechateau.com/rosso

Or see more link in bio.

21/09/2024

Welcome to all the Romantics and Dreamers joining this special corner of the internet.

My name is Julia and I love all things old, soulful and beautiful. Together with my partner Carolina, my sister Penelope and my incredible parents Maruca and Robert, we left our lives in California and moved to France in pursuit of all the things we think make life worth living- beauty, connection, time to create and self-express, love and sharing with others.

Join us here for inspiration from our enchanted Chateau as we discover what exactly makes France so magnetic, as we learn to achieve harmony in our multi generational household, as we develop our creative studio through stunning video and photography, and most importantly as we host people from around the world who want to take part in our very special experiences.

Here you will find all the ingredients to fall in love with who you are and create a life that you love.

Julia ❤️🏰

29/08/2024

Textures of Puy Vidal.

29/08/2024

Here, amidst the serene landscapes and echoes of history, our guests find sanctuary and belonging, welcomed by our family, esteemed instructors, and chateau friends.

Play and self-expression are the name of the game as we plunge into the week and by the end, there is a feeling of connection, beauty and newfound meaning.

This home and creative family in the French countryside awaits.

26/05/2024

We are delighted to share some stills from our May 2024 season-opening workshop led by the talented here at Chateau de Puy Vidal. It was a remarkable week brimming with exceptional art instruction and atmosphere. 🏰

21/05/2024

Join us at Chateau de Puy Vidal for a taste of what the artists are experiencing here at CHASING THE LIGHT- a week-long artistic immersion into the Impressionism Movement taught by artist Peter Keegan. He is leading our 11 attending artists into an in-depth exploration of Impressionist techniques, mindsets, and strategies. We have created an homage to Paul Cezanne in our Grand Salon at the Chateau, to create an atmosphere that immerses one into a different era.

If you are seeing this before the end of the workshop, please join us virtually by Painting Along with us and submit your finished work to by Friday May 24th at noon Paris time. Send us a photograph of your finished work, as well as your name and email address to admin@ladyofthechateau or post a photo in the comments to have your work considered in a competition judged by the workshop’s instructor and artist, Peter Keegan. He will award the winning selection a prize.

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas from all of us at Chateau de Puy Vidal!!!

We wish that you are filled with the Christmas spirit on this lovely day.

We had a lovely family Christmas- the first one with all five of us in France- and we have so much to be greatful for. A new culture to embrace, a historic home to care for and love, a new business to grow and believe in, and a wonderful community of fellow history lovers and old world seekers who make this whole journey feel even richer and more worthwhile.

Thank to you all of you for making it such a special year.

Address

Château De Puy Vidal

16110

Website

https://www.theladyofthechateau.com/

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We have always been inspired by the “country house stay” in Jane Austen novels. Groups of friends or relatives would gather together in large country estates for the summer, conversing, dining, playing games, visiting local villages. We invite all who come here into a similar universe- one where time just seems to slip on by like an unrushed river, the summer days stretching out forever. Dinners overlooking the valley, croquet games on the lawn and time spent in the hammocks in the parklands…. A week a Chateau de Puy Vidal is a step into another time. #chateau #france #frenchlife #castles #instatravel #painting #workshops #retreat #retreatyourself