Most art retreats in France assume you already paint. This one is designed for people who stopped making things with their hands years ago and want to find out what happens when they start again. Here's what a beginner art retreat actually looks like, from the creative activities to the French château setting.

Most writing retreats in France are workshops: daily sessions, group critique, structured programmes. A writing residency is something different. Here's how to know which one will actually help your writing, and why the distinction matters more than the setting.

Considering a château B&B in France? Here's what to expect from a night (or a week) in a privately owned château, from the rooms to the hosts to the reality of 500-year-old walls.

Discover how to practise speaking French while travelling in France and why immersion experiences can transform your confidence with the language.

Considering a French immersion retreat? Here's what a week of living and learning French at a Dordogne château looks like in practice, from market conversations to chef-prepared meals.

The Dordogne is divided into four historic regions, each named for a colour. Most travel content focuses exclusively on the Périgord Noir (the area around Sarlat). That's a mistake, because each Périgord has its own character and its own reasons to visit.

A skillcation combines vacation with skill mastery. Learn why French immersion at a Dordogne château is the perfect way to finally speak with confidence.

What are bespoke château experiences? Fully customised creative retreats at Manor & Maker's Dordogne château with personalised excursions, cuisine, and accommodation for writers, artists, and makers.

Discover the transformative power of creativity in a 500-year-old French château. Manor & Maker's Creative Adventures retreats in the Dordogne are designed for adults seeking creative renewal—no artistic experience required. With just 8-10 participants and up to 6 dedicated facilitators, you'll explore visual arts, writing, photography, and culinary creativity in an intimate, supportive environment. Professional Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs create exceptional meals using loca

Discover why France offers the perfect setting for literary escapes, and how to choose the ideal reading retreat for your next transformative vacation.

Bonjour all - Wix is becoming less and less viable to maintain for the membership, and we're finding the community is more engaged over...

The Périgord is the non-administrative region in which we live (think of it like the Lake District, or Okanagan, or Algonquin), and it's...

Someone asked me at the Jubilee Party last week if I'd had trouble finding really good friends - as some say, your 'best mates' - as an immigrant to France. I explained that feeling - that 'being with your mates', the people that really get you - that's what we're building at Manor & Maker.