candlelit courtyard at night

breakfast is served

pool time

After months of researching, tweaking, and looking for the *perfect* chateau to accommodate our yoga and art experience in Provence, I am over the moon to announce this much anticipated trip to France May 24-June 2, 2012. Registration will go up this week on my retreats page. I wanted to post the draft of the adventure here first because I want YOU to be the first to know. There are 20 spots available so consider gathering your passport, creating your must-see and must-create lists, collecting images for art journaling in the splendid countryside of Provence, and requesting time off from the real world. Best news, I’ve chosen to host this over Memorial Day weekend so USers, you only have to take six days off work for a 10-day extravaganza. Oh, and to top off this amazing journey, beloved Sir Louis the pug is welcome at the chateau! France will never be the same. Here’s the skinny:

Join Kimberly for a 10-day extravaganza to Paris and Provence, France while spending your days indulging your creative spark. The journey begins with two decadent days spent exploring the City of Lights as your heart desires – tiptoeing through the Tuileries, browsing vintage shops and bookstores, walking along the Seine, indulging at a hamam (Turkish bath), window shopping along the Champs Élysées, visiting Mona Lisa at the Louvre or a favorite Monet at Musée d’Orsay, enjoying a macaron at Ladurée, or sipping a cup of café au lait at one of the countless sidewalk cafés. 

We’ll have breakfast together on Thursday and Friday before breaking into small groups to explore the city as we’re most inspired to do. On Saturday, May 26 we’ll head to Gréolières, Provence via train for a week of creating art at an exclusive villa near near Nice, Gourdon, Greolieres, Vence, St Paul, Grasse (world’s perfume capital), Bar sur Loup, Tourettes and within easy reach of the Cote d’Azur and the French Riviera. Ooh la la!

You will find the modern style of a French boutique hotel with the classic Provencal features of a charismatic chateau complete with a spacious lounge and cocktail bar, outdoor swimming pool, dining room with panoramic mountain views, light-filled conservatory, large river-fronted garden, and outside deck for yoga and art. Each double room has its own bath, mattresses dressed in Egyptian cotton, and the serenity of falling asleep to the gentle babble of the river harmonizing with the summer crickets.

Each day in Provence will begin with a leisurely breakfast, sun salutations and a creative yoga flow, followed by led art journaling. The afternoons are yours for exploring, swimming, hiking, biking, shopping, or making more art. Evenings will include an optional gathering for meditation plus show and tell from the day’s adventures.

$2295 includes 2 nights double lodging in Paris with private bath, 7 nights double lodging in Provence with private bath, train transport to and from Provence as a group, breakfasts, yummy yoga, an endless supply of bread, cheese, and fruit in Provence, art workshops, meditation, an art ephemera packet, tranquility-filled goody bag, and sensory surprises. Airfare is additional. Agenda, packing list, reading suggestions, and treats will be sent shortly after receipt of your registration. Click here to register ($500 nonrefundable deposit, balance due 4/1/2012).