Writing & Wellness Residency

Step away from the noise of daily life and spend your time writing in a private château in France. Here, the practical details are taken care of so you can focus on your stories, your creative process, and your own well-being. Stories shape worlds — this is your chance to shape yours.

This is a true time-to-write experience. You will enjoy three meals a day, prepared for you and up to five other writers. If you wish, coffee or tea, along with perhaps a pastry, can be brought to your desk in your private room. Between writing sessions, you can wander through the French countryside, exchange ideas with fellow writers, or unwind by the fire with aperos in the evening. Leave the distractions behind and let the days open up for your work.

If you have been longing for space to write, reflect, and reconnect with your creative voice, this is your invitation. Staying at a private château in quintessential France offers a rare opportunity to step away from everyday demands and rediscover inspiration. With work, family, housework, and the constant pull of the news cycle, it is easy to lose time for yourself. This experience is designed to give you that space back.

The Château de Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the hosts’ year-round private home. Its tower, complete with a stone spiral staircase, and parts of the château date back to the 16th century. A noble family crest is carved above the tower door. During your stay, you will have access to the château’s common rooms, a spacious private bedroom with a seating area and writing desk, and 15 hectares of private grounds. You can also explore the charming town of Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the quiet roads nearby. Meals are shared and prepared by the hosts and a professional chef, with French cuisine highlighted throughout, including specialties from the celebrated gastronomic Périgord region.

Wellness Focus & Optional Excursions

Optional activities are available for guests who would like to add a restorative dimension to their stay:

• Reconnect with nature on the 15-hectare grounds and private trails
• Shirin-yoku in the private woods for meditative time in nature
• Gentle guided walks through the town and countryside
• Champagne and star-gazing night
• Excursions to Brantome and Perigueux for a café visit or English-language bookshops
• Journaling
• Bicycles and helmets available for use
• Yoga session, available for a fee
• Visits to local historic châteaux, arranged as a group, for a fee

Private Room: €1500 for the week, all meals included. Please check the terms and conditions.

Included: en-suite or shared shower room; shared w.c.; breakfast and lunch prepared by your hosts; suppers prepared on-site by your hosts; two evening suppers prepared by a passionate local professional chef; non-alcoholic beverages; snacks; house wines featuring local terroir; other premium wines available for purchase from the cave; transportation from Angouleme station at 2pm on the day of arrival; transportation from Thiviers station on demand. Travel cancellation insurance is recommended.

Not Included: instruction in writing or publication; transportation from your hometown to the pickup point, including airfare, train connections, or car rental; baggage, accident, cancellation, or travel insurance, with cancel-for-any-reason coverage strongly recommended to protect your investment; personal expenses such as passport, visa, laundry, and telephone calls; off-site meals if you choose to go out; excursions by negotiation; and any other items not specifically listed as included.

Hosted by Sara and Stephen Cole, Canadians who dreamed of moving to Europe, especially France. Their project, Manor and Maker, reflects both sides of their journey: living as château owners, with all the joys and challenges that come with it, and pursuing their creative passions as makers of art in many forms. They welcome guests who want to gather around shared passions and take part in this unfolding adventure.