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Take a day out to soak in the peaceful and refreshing energy at this magnificent seaside villa Ephrussi located at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a private oasis of abundance and beauty where you’ll enjoy a day of friendship and creativity. Learn or improve your technique and try your hand at capturing the essence of nature under your art instructor’s guidance.

The setting

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild also called villa Île de France. It was designed by the French architect Aaron Messiah and constructed between 1905 and 1912 by Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild. She filled the mansion with antique furniture, old master paintings, sculptures, artworks and assembled an extensive collection of rare porcelain. The villa is surrounded by nine gardens, each on a different theme: Florentine, Spanish, Garden à la française, exotic, a stone garden, a Japanese garden, a rose garden, Provençal and a garden de Sèvres. The garden was conceived in the form of a ship, to be viewed from the loggia of the house, which was like the bridge of a vessel, with the sea visible on all sides. It was inspired by a voyage she made on the liner Île de France, and the villa was given that name. The thirty gardeners who maintained the garden were dressed as sailors, with berets with red pom-poms.

Your day

Morning sketching and painting in the gardens

Step inside the magnificent gardens for a leisurely stroll and awake your inner artist! Inspiration abounds in every detail of the neat landscape designs and intriguing sculptures. Your art instructor will help you capture some of the magic through sketching and watercolour painting.

Lunch

Set in the room that Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild’s used as a dining room.  Chat art, gardening and anything else over a delicious lunch in this calm oasis with an unrestricted view of the Bay of Villefranche. You will be served a light meal called Menu "Cap Ferrat".

An afternoon visit of Villa Ephrussi

After lunch, you will be invited for a self-guided tour of the permanent collections using audio guide. It provides a commentary on the history of the place, about Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild and her collections, as well as thematic information about the Riviera during the Belle Époque, Béatrice’s leisure activities and the Rothschild family.

Practical information

When and where to meet

9.45am,  1 Avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

How to get there

By road: access by the lower cliff road (RD6098). A free car-park is available on the site. 
GPS coordinates: latitude 43°6945937 - longitude 7°3292327. 
By bus: line 81, "Plage de Passable" stop. 
By train: Beaulieu-sur-Mer station

What to bring

Comfortable shoes… and that’s it! All equipment for sketching and painting will be provided - sketching paper or canvas, pencils, watercolours, brushes, etc.

Language

The sketching workshop will be held in French, a great occasion to practice or improve your conversational skills! Art is a universal language anyway and Adela will be there to assist with any translation if required. 

Suitable for

Lovers of art, nature and all things creative.  No painting experience required, our friendly instructor Mona will guide you every step of the way! 

What´s included

3 hours sketching and watercolour session

Lunch at Tearoom – quiche provencal with salad

a glass of wine, coffee and apple tart

1.5 hours self audio guided tour 

Join us! We keep our groups small for a personalised experience, space is limited to 8.

Cost: 155€

RSVP by 20th March

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Break out from the ordinary with a day of creative discovery at the Château de la Napoule! Forget the stress, disconnect and be inspired to explore inward and outward against this incredible backdrop. You will learn the basics of acrylic techniques, enjoy delicious food and conversation with new friends, and take in the rich history of this ancient fortress.

The setting

Located just west of Cannes, the Château de La Napoule stands on a spectacular seafront site first settled by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. Its recent history is closely linked to Henry and Marie Clews; this artistic American couple were instrumental in bringing it back to life. From 1918, the eccentric pair lived a dream at La Napoule as they worked to restore the building together. Marie drew plans for over 4 acres of formal gardens filled with fountains and topiary embellishments, while Henry adorned each column, capital, and crevice with mythical creatures. Their hard work and fantasy-themed creations left an exceptional legacy. Today the Château is registered as a “monument historique” and the gardens have received the designation “jardin remarquable” by the French Ministry of Culture.

Your day

Morning musings in the gardens

Step inside the magnificent gardens for a leisurely stroll and awake your inner artist! Inspiration abounds in every detail of the neat landscape designs and intriguing sculptures. Your art instructor will help you capture some of the magic through sketching and acrylic painting. By lunchtime, your travelling notepad - “travelogue” - will be full of the mornings’ drawings, your creations and memories on paper forever…

Lunch

Chat art, history and anything else over a gourmet lunch on the castle’s seaside terrace. Enjoy the stunning views and refreshing Mediterranean breeze as you sample local food and wine.

An afternoon in the Château

After lunch, you will be taken on a guided tour inside the Château. You will learn more about its fascinating history and get up close and personal with Henry Clews’ sculptures and artworks in the castle’s museum.

Practical information

When and where to meet

9.45am in front of the Château de La Napoule, Boulevard Henry Clews, 06210 Mandelieu-La Napoule 

How to get there

Car: The Château is located 7 kilometres west of Cannes (dir. Aix-en-Provence)

Take the A8 to exit 40 “Mandelieu-centre”, after “Cannes” and “La Bocca” exits (from Nice) or after “Fréjus” and “Les Adrêts” (from Aix/Marseille), then follow “La Napoule, Les plages”.

Train: La Napoule station (directly opposite the Château) for regional trains. Cannes station for national trains.

What to bring

Comfortable shoes… and that’s it! All equipment for sketching and painting will be provided - sketching paper or canvas, travelling notepad, pencils, acrylic, brushes, etc.

Language

The sketching workshop will be held in French, a great occasion to practice or improve your conversational skills! Art is a universal language anyway and Adela will be there to assist with any translation if required. 

Suitable for

Lovers of art, mystery and all things creative.  No painting experience required, our friendly instructor Mona will guide you every step of the way! 

What´s included

2.5 hours sketching and acrylic session

Lunch at the castle’s café – please advise of any dietary requirement

45 min guided tour of the Château and magnificent gardens

Join us! We keep our groups small for a personalised experience, space is limited to 8.

Cost:  105€ RSVP by 2nd April

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Between the Estérel and Sainte Baume...Between olive groves and lavender fields...

The setting

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Located in the heart of the Var, between Lorgues and Draguignan, the estate of rich clay on a limestone bed forms, a natural amphitheatre surrounded by pine and oak trees. The vineyard, spreading over a single entity of 90 hectares, benefits from privileged conditions to produce wines of excellence: a great variety of wine grapes. Roubine signifies a stream in provencal dialect.

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Your day

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Morning painting in the vineyard

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Take a lovely creative pause with art instructor Mona who will show you the basics of acrylic and oil technique. You will be painting this wine estate and their surroundings inspired by the autumn colours  with guidance of Mona. After morning session and well deserved picnic, you will be immersed into the cellar to do some tasting.

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Lunch After the morning’s creations, you will certainly not resist a freshly prepared picnic made using local Provencal products such as cheese, delicatessen, quiche, tapenade and of course Roubine wine.

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Afternoon

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After a short siesta, you will then dive into the world of production by passing the private doors of the cellar and discover the secrets of making our Crus Classés from the grapes reception through the vinification, until the setting bottle. Finally, you will end the visit with a commented tasting of our Crus Classés, AOC Côtes de Provence.

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Practical information

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Where and when to meet in front of Chateau Roubine, 4216 ROUTE DE DRAGUIGNAN 
83510 LORGUES, on the highway A8 exit Le Muy or Le Luc and then direction Lorgues RD562

at 09.30

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What to bring Comfortable shoes… and that’s it! All the equipment for painting will be provided - acrylic and oil paints, brushes, wooden tile 30x30 for painting, easel, wipes etc.

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Language

The sketching workshop will be held in French, a great occasion to practice or improve your conversational skills! Art is a universal language anyway and Adela will be there to assist with any translation if required. 

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Suitable for beginners up to intermediate.No painting experience is required. Our instructor will guide you step-by-step!

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What´s included

3 hours session of painting

Provençal-style picnic 

Wine tasting

Join us! We keep our groups small for a personalised experience, space is limited to 8.

Cost: 115€ for early birds RSVP by 15th November

125€ RSVP by 20th November

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

The setting

Imagine a day spent in a private cosy Provencal house and share the culinary knowledge about healthy french style cooking with Julia. You will be invited to dive your hand into this interactive cooking class in this lovely kitchen of Alejandra's home, our host for today. The afternoon you will be immersed in the Art of Mosaic creation. Discover this ancient piece of art and let yourself to be drawn into different colours and shapes which Mosaic will offer you.

Your day

Morning cooking class

Meet Julia and discover healthy french style cooking.

Menu for your class:

Starter: Raw beetroot ravioli with wasabi cream 

Main course: Vegetarian Daube provençal with black pepper and orange

Desert: Fondant au chocolat, crème anglaise with lavender

All the ingredients used are 100% bio and local

An afternoon Art of Mosaic creation

After a delicious lunch prepared by our team effort, you will be invited into the world of Mosaic. A piece of art made from the assembling of small pieces of coloured glass, stone or other materials. Mosaics have a long history starting in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC. Sophie will take you on this journey of colours, shapes and lots of patience to fit everything into this beautiful artwork. With her guidance, you will be able to create a picture around a typically handmade provencal ceramic with a range of colourful mosaics. Take the courage to realise simple or more detailed motives around it. All the materials are provided as well as the completion of your artwork. Sophie will finish it for you a couple of days later (application of cement/joints between the mosaic).

Practical information

When and where to meet

9.30am, Private venue, 912 CHEMIN DE LA GRANDE BASTIDE, 06250 MOUGINS 

What to bring

Apron for cooking… and that’s it! All equipment and ingredients for cooking and mosaic class will be provided 

Language

Both workshops will be held in French & English according to your preference

Suitable for

Lovers of cooking and healthy style eating and all things creative.  No experience required, our friendly instructors Julia and Sophie will guide you every step of the way! 

What´s included

2,5 hours cooking class

Lunch in a garden or Provencal kitchen according to the weather

3 hours Mosaic workshop

Join us! We keep our groups small for a personalised experience, space is limited to 8.

Cost: 195€

RSVP and the payment by 3rd February

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!