COLOR at the CASTLE: FRENCH LANDSCAPE PAINTING WORKSHOP JULY 5th - 12th 2025

 

Join us next summer in our exciting NEW destination! Paint, explore, & relax at CASTLE MAROUATTE: a genuine fortified medieval castle set on 270 beautiful wooded acres in the South of France.

 

Celebrate Nina’s 25th year of

European Landscape Workshops!

This all-inclusive retreat (excluding travel and where noted) at Chateau Marouatte is spectacularly located in the Perigord Vert Region of the Dordogne in the south of France. Miles Copeland (former manager of The Police) owns the castle and will be our host. We have scheduled seven glorious days for you to paint on the castle grounds and in nearby villages and towns. Our week will include day trips to the surrounding towns, castles, monasteries and churches, caves, Roman ruins, gardens, markets, and countryside,instruction, and fabulous meals at the castle and in the towns we visit.

The Workshop will begin with black and white compositional exercises as we settle in, and progress into full color usage as we explore the landscapes around us. Students can choose to work in various mediums including colored pencil; pastel, watercolor, gouache, oils, or acrylics. Individual instruction on techniques for all mediums is available. Students will learn how to capture their own personal visions by studying the elements of composition particular to Landscape.  Emphasis on creative color, mark-making and color mixing will help guide students to successful landscape paintings and drawings. While we will be working as a group, individual instruction with each student is a crucial part of your experience. 

Relax, it’s not all about painting! Talk about painting and art with old and new friends; or just unwind and enjoy the quiet and beauty in one of the indoor/outdoor comfortable living spaces in the spacious castle. The art retreat is designed to allow you to fully relax, enjoy the camaraderie, and expand while you learn, experience, and explore.

About Chateau Marouatte: We will be staying in a fortified medieval castle in one of the most beautiful, unspoiled regions of France!  Marouatte was built in the 11th century, and added onto in the 1500’s. The living quarters and bedrooms are richly decorated with period antiques and art throughout, while providing comfort with updated modern amenities. Grounds include the Castle; moat, swimming pool; historical Dovecote building, gardens, forest, walking paths, and more.

Dietary needs are catered by the castle’s resident chefs. All meals are included except where noted. Most will be served at the castle in one of the dining rooms or outdoors on the beautiful lawns; and others served picnic style or in local restaurants.

Cost: Workshop all inclusive (except where noted) cost begins at $3,000; depending on room choice. See lodging options below. Included in the cost of the workshop retreat is:

  • Daily instruction from Nina

  • 7 nights lodging at the castle

  • Day trips to surrounding areas

  • All transportation while at the castle, including pickup and drop off at the train station in town

  •  All meals (at the castle, except for some lunches in the towns we will be visiting)

  • Beverages, including local wine from the Bergerac region and beer

Lodging options: private room with ensuite bathroom, shared room (two beds) with ensuite bathroom, and smaller private rooms with a shared bathroom. Workshop pricing is based on room choice. Non-participating companion pricing is available; shared room only. Please see separate listing for room options.

Travel: Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements for arrival on July 5th and departure on the 12th.  The recommended travel itinerary is to fly into Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and take the TGV bullet train to Angouleme train station (50 minutes from the castle by car) — where castle staff will pick you up. You can also fly into Bordeaux-Merignac and take the train to Angouleme (approx 30 minutes ride). We strongly encourage participants  to purchase travel insurance.

DAY TRIPS:

Castle Marouatte is located in a beautiful area within short driving distances of several spectacular little towns. We will spend time painting, exploring, (and shopping!)during our Workshop! On our list to visit is:

BRANTOME: Just 22 minutes from the Castle, this picturesque town on the Drone River is often called “The Venice of the Perigord”

BOURDEILLES: Only a few miles away; this lovely town on the river has TWO important castles to visit….we can check them out after we paint and lunch

ST JEAN de COLE: This little town has the OFFICIAL classification as being “One of the most beautiful villages in France”! We will paint and lunch here, while leaving time to also explore it’s squares and lanes filled with half-timbered houses.

RIBERAC: MARKET DAY!!!! Enjoy, shop and dine in this quiet little town that comes alive for the biggest market in the Perigord region.

PERIGUEUX: One of the larger towns near us; Perigueux has a Medieval shopping area; an impressive cathedral; and Roman ruins.