Retreats at Château de la Ruche
Relax and be inspired
With 15 acres of wild parkland and woodland surrounding the Château, plus some of the most beautiful light in France (even if we do say so ourselves), it’s hard not to find inspiration and a little bit of peace during your stay with us. But if you truly want to go away with a spring-in-your-step and a new sense of purpose book a spot on one of our retreats.
We seek out some of the most inspirational and creative folk to work with us on our retreats, and a retreat or workshop here is like no other. We love our retreat guests to be as spoiled as our chambre d’hotes guests, so while you’re busy learning and being inspired we’ll be looking after every other detail to ensure that you go home relaxed and raring to go.
Places are limited to ensure plenty of time for one-to-one tuition and every retreat here is fully inclusive – the very best teaching, all your materials, accommodation in one of our beautiful château bedrooms or our luxurious French-farmhouse-gîte and plenty of delicious food each day with lovely Loire Valley wines and our house cocktails to drink alongside.
What’s on?
The BIG FOODIE WEEKEND
17th-21st April 2025
Spend a long weekend enjoying the food and wine of the Sarthe and relaxing at the Château. You’ll cycle through the vineyards (on an electric bike) tasting the best local wines with an experienced guide. Shop from the stalls, farmers and talented producers at Le Mans market, eat a long laid-back lunch with us at a traditional French country restaurant and take a relaxed cookery class with Rebecca, where we’ll cook together to create a beautiful seasonal meal.
This weekend is a chance to get familiar with the laid-back but luxurious style of hospitality that we’re known for, with some beautifully curated days out and experiences thrown in. It really is the perfect weekend away if you like to eat, drink and be merry.
What’s included:
- A four-night stay at Château de la Ruche in either the main house or the gîte
- Meals, house cocktails and wine
- A day cycling through the Sarthoise Vineyards with an experienced guide
- Lunch with us at a local French country restaurant
- A morning at Le Mans market
- An informal cookery class with Rebecca
What’s not included:
- Travel to and from the château
- Travel to and from Le Mans market
Price: €2500 per person in a private room or €2000 per person in a shared room
For a full itinerary, to book or to find out more please drop us an email.
Summer flowers
9th – 12th August 2025
If you’ve ever dreamt of wandering the Château cutting garden, talking and learning about growing, cutting and arranging your own flowers, and getting the chance to snip a few, this long summer weekend is for you.
You’ll spend time in amongst the dahlias with Rebecca, learning how she grows enough flowers to fill the Château from April to the first frosts each year. Rebecca will answer your questions, share her secrets and together you’ll cut and arrange flowers to create a beautiful tablescape for a long, lazy lunch.
We’ll also be joined by botanical artist Kate Churchwell who’ll take you foraging in the Château grounds and surrounding countryside for foliage that you’ll use to create your very own Bas Relief plaque using, flowers, clay and plaster of Paris, as a momento of your stay.
Between all of the flowers there’ll be plenty of food with our usual generous hospitality, plus a lovely lunch out with us at one of our favourite traditional local restaurants.
What’s included?
- A three-night stay at Château de la Ruche in either the main house or the gîte.
- All Meals, house cocktails and wine.
- Cutting garden and floral workshop with Rebecca.
- Foraging and Bas Relief plaque workshop with Kate.
- Lunch with us at a local French country restaurant.
What’s not included?
- Travel to and from the château.
Price: €2000 per person in a private room. €1500 per person in a shared room
(We also offer a €1000 accompanying drivers rate for guests who wish to accompany a retreat participant and share a room. This rate includes meals but does not include any workshops or materials.)
For a full itinerary, to book or to find out more please drop us an email.
what people say
Host a retreat
at château de la ruche
If you’d be interested in hosting a retreat here send us an email to find out more about our retreat packages.
