French Countryside & Medieval Village
Reading & Relaxation Retreat in South West France 2026
Vistas & Villages Reading Retreat 2026
Escape to Idyllic Places for Restful Reading, Relaxation and Roaming
14 – 21 June 2026
& September 2026
Discover the Perfect Reading Retreat in South West France 2026
Escape with a good book and like-minded readers to our Vistas & Villages Reading Retreat in South West France 2026. This literary retreat offers ample daily time to lose yourself in captivating books, nestled in idyllic reading nooks at our tranquil rural accommodation, surrounded by breathtaking countryside vistas.
Each day, you’ll visit a stunning medieval hilltop village, recognised as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, where you can read, relax and roam scenic streets steeped in rich history and French charm. Alongside reading and exploration, enjoy a creative workshop designed to inspire and complement the literary experience in a relaxed and welcoming setting (no prior skills necessary).
Enhance your retreat journey with mindfulness and breathing workshops led by expert facilitators, providing simple, practical techniques to deepen focus, calm the mind, and enrich both reading immersion and everyday well-being.
Discover unique architecture, authentic culture and panoramic views that inspire both quiet reflection and gentle exploration. Enjoy abundant peaceful reading and relaxation time while choosing your own pace of cultural discovery. Your friendly English-speaking hosts provide a welcoming and well-organised retreat experience in the heart of France’s enchanting medieval countryside, perfect for book lovers seeking rest and inspiration.
Carefully Curated Reading Nooks and Picturesque Medieval Villages for a Truly Idyllic Literary Retreat
Our accommodation features carefully curated reading nooks designed for quiet tranquility, providing the perfect setting for peaceful reading retreats. Each medieval village we visit is handpicked for its picturesque architecture, stunning countryside vistas and serene atmosphere, offering a truly immersive literary and cultural experience. Enjoy visits to traditional French markets, cozy cafés and a charming bookshop nestled in the heart of an authentic village. Share delicious food and warm conversations with like-minded book lovers, creating memorable social moments. This reading retreat harmoniously blends relaxation, culture and nature to offer English-speaking readers the ideal escape for reading, exploration and connection. For details about our location and surrounding medieval villages, click here.
Join a Close-Knit Community of English-Speaking Book Lovers, in South West France
All readers—whether passionate bibliophiles or casual book lovers—are warmly invited to join our intimate South West France reading retreat, designed to foster a close-knit community of like-minded English-speaking book enthusiasts. With a small group size, enjoy personalised attention, easy camaraderie and meaningful connections around shared literary passions.
This retreat offers a welcoming, enriching and authentic experience in the beautiful historic French countryside, perfect for English-speaking readers seeking both relaxation and cultural discovery.
Escape to the Charm of Southwest France with Like-Minded Readers
Join our Vistas & Villages Reading Retreat 2026, for restful days lost in captivating books amidst picturesque medieval villages recognised as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Reserve your spot now and indulge in the perfect blend of literary escape, cultural discovery, and mindful relaxation!
What’s Included in the Reading Retreat
Pick-up and drop-off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
Welcome gift to set the tone for your immersive reading escape
Comfortable accommodation at La Grande Rossignol, a beautifully restored 19th-century French farmhouse
Three nourishing daily meals thoughtfully prepared to energise your body and mind
Transport provided to all scheduled activities and local literary excursions
Excursions to scenic medieval villages to read, explore and unwind at your leisure
Creative art workshop to inspire and complement the literary theme
Mindfulness workshop to cultivate focused attention and enhance reading immersion
Breathwork workshop exploring techniques to improve cognitive clarity and emotional calm
Ample free time to explore local villages, relax by the pool, or enjoy quiet moments with your book
Evening group gatherings, including alfresco dining and social time with fellow readers
Nighttime star gazing (weather permitting) to end your days with wonder
Personalised support from hosts Sophie and Lee to ensure a comfortable and enriching retreat experience
Freedom to opt out of any activities or excursions
Typical Daily Reading Retreat Schedule (Approximate Times)
8:00 am – Slow breakfast and relaxation time
10:30 am – Depart for a village destination
10:45 am – Enjoy your free time to read, relax and explore.
2 pm – Return to Belvèze accommodation
2:45 pm– Reading and relaxation time (optional pool use)
6:00pm – Evening workshop
6:30 pm – Apéro (pre-dinner drinks)
7:00 pm – Group dinner, socialising and next day briefing
10:00 pm – Optional star gazing for night owls
Other Reading Retreat Schedules
Arrival day: Settle in, meet the group and share a meal
A chill out day at the accommodation, time to relax, read and enjoy the pool and vistas
Art and craft workshop for book lovers
Departure day: Breakfast then drop off at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
If you’re seeking an inspiring literary escape combined with the charm of picturesque villages and serene countryside, this reading retreat promises a truly memorable journey of relaxation, discovery, and connection.
Expand Your Literary Journey with Creative Workshops and Mindful Moments
Don’t miss creative art sessions, mindfulness practices, and serene village exploration designed to inspire and rejuvenate. Whether a passionate bibliophile or casual reader, this intimate retreat offers warmth and inspiration in an enchanting setting. Secure your place today to connect, create and unwind!
Reading Retreat Accommodation: La Grande Rossignol
La Grande Rossignol, our charming 19th-century French farmhouse in South West France, is currently being lovingly renovated and will welcome guests from 2026. While images of the farmhouse will be available closer to completion, you can explore photos of our smaller gîte to get a hint of the welcoming atmosphere.
This spacious farmhouse offers flexible accommodation options, sleeping up to 15 guests.
Key features include:
Two fully equipped kitchens and living/dining areas
Five bedrooms and five bathrooms
Three large bedrooms, each with room for 3 guests
Two spacious family rooms perfect for multiple guests
Alfresco dinning areas, gardens and a swimming pool
The farmhouse beautifully blends authentic French countryside character—with its original stone walls and exposed wooden beams—with a carefully curated eclectic aesthetic. Influences from the Middle East and African contemporary style, alongside clean Bauhaus lines, create a harmonious mix of bold patterns, cultural textures and modern comfort.
Perfectly situated for your reading retreat in the stunning Occitanie region, La Grande Rossignol, with its tasteful fusion, creates an inviting and sophisticated ambiance that is both unique and serene. Experience the rare combination of heritage architecture and global influences, ensuring a memorable, comfortable stay that relaxes and inspires.
Your Reading Retreat Hosts
Sophie and Lee, your reading retreat hosts.
Your English hosts, Sophie and Lee, along with their beloved cat, settled in the beautiful South West of France in 2025 after nearly two decades living in Australia. Seeking a simpler, more peaceful life surrounded by fresh, wholesome food, rural tranquility and rich cultural adventures, they chose a picturesque village to call home.
Sophie and Lee are dedicated to making your reading retreat comfortable, memorable and enjoyable. Both environmentally conscious and lovers of nature, they delight in countryside walks, exploring new places and whole-food cooking.
Sophie is the creative force behind the eclectic, arty, and unique decor of the accommodation. Her eye for style creates a space that is both inspiring and full of character—making every guest’s stay as visually memorable as the landscapes outside. Sophie is also a Nonverbal Communication Specialist, teaching how to leverage the body’s hidden powers for optimal performance of body, mind and emotion.
As part of the reading retreat experience, Sophie leads mindfulness and breathing workshops designed to deepen focus, reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being. These practices complement the retreat by helping guests cultivate greater body awareness and calm—empowering them to relax deeply and engage fully with their reading and surroundings.
Lee, the cat’s ever-devoted butler, brings a practical and caring spirit to the retreat. A lifelong runner with a curious mind packed with fascinating trivia, he ensures that every guest feels safe, happy and well looked after. His skilful organisation guarantees a smooth, welcoming experience for all.
Together, Sophie and Lee are devoted to creating a warm, inspiring reading retreat where every guest feels at home, cared for and enriched.
Reading Retreat Workshops and Activities
Creative Art Workshop
Enjoy a hands-on creative workshop designed to inspire and complement your literary experience. Hosted either by local artists or led onsite, this relaxed session encourages self-expression through artistic activities connected to the themes explored during the retreat. No prior experience is necessary — just bring your curiosity and imagination!
Mindfulness Workshop (30-45 mins) and Practice
Early in the retreat, Sophie leads a mindfulness workshop focused on cultivating attention and presence, tailored specifically to support deep and immersive reading. Guests learn to enhance both focused, narrow attention for sustained reading and wider, open awareness to relax the mind between chapters. This dual practice helps reduce mental fatigue, increase enjoyment and deepen comprehension.
Throughout the retreat, Sophie facilitates gentle daily mindfulness moments, encouraging a calm and attentive mindset that enriches reading and reflection during your stay.
Breathing Techniques Workshop (30-45 mins)
Sophie guides participants through breathing exercises that support cognitive clarity and emotional calm, essential for sustained concentration and relaxation while reading. Drawing from embodied cognition principles, this workshop explores how varied breathing patterns can reduce stress, boost mental focus and create balance, enhancing both your reading experience and everyday well-being.
Guest participants will gain insights into how mindful breathing activates neural pathways that regulate stress and emotions and how these subtle shifts in breathing can foster improved cognition and emotional balance.
Reading Retreat Pricing and Accommodation Options
Our Reading Retreat Pricing- What’s Included
Our Reading Retreat invites you to lose yourself in captivating books, nestled within the serene beauty of the Occitanie countryside and charming medieval villages. To suit varying preferences and budgets, we offer tiered accommodation packages, all inclusive of meals, literary and creative workshops, village visits, transfers and personalised hosting by Sophie and Lee.
Options
Private Room & Bathroom for One Guest
Enjoy absolute privacy in your own cozy bedroom with ensuite bathroom—ideal for those desiring a peaceful and undistracted retreat experience.
€1,950 per person
Private Room & Bathroom Shared by Two Guests
Perfect for friends or partners wishing to share both the retreat and a room, with the comfort of private bathroom facilities.
€1,600 per person
Private Room & Bathroom Shared by Three or More Guests
A flexible and economical choice for small groups or families, offering shared suites with private baths and a shared journey through literary and cultural discovery.
€1,400 per person
Shared Room & Bathroom (Bed and Bathroom Shared with Other Guests)
Our most accessible option, encouraging connection and camaraderie, suited for solo travelers eager to build community and share this enriching experience.
€1,350 per person
Security Bond
To ensure the care and upkeep of our beautiful retreat property, a refundable security bond of €300 per person is required at the time of booking. This bond acts as a deposit against any potential damage during your stay, giving both you and us peace of mind.
The bond will be fully refunded within 7 days after your departure, provided the accommodation is left in the same condition as upon arrival. In the unlikely event of damage or excessive cleaning required, a portion or the entire bond may be retained accordingly, with full transparency and communication.
Our goal is to maintain a warm, welcoming and well-cared-for space for all guests, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us achieve this.
What’s Included in Every Package:
• Private or shared accommodation in a tranquil, boutique farmhouse setting
• Three wholesome daily meals made with fresh, plant-based ingredients to nourish your body and mind
• Access to serene reading nooks and creative literary workshops to engage and inspire
• Cultural visits to stunning medieval villages officially recognised as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
• Mindfulness and breathing sessions designed to deepen focus and relaxation
• A generous welcome gift featuring local wine, chocolates and curated delights to set the tone for your retreat
• Full transport service including airport transfers and all scheduled excursions
• Use of the outdoor heated pool and peaceful garden areas for reading and reflection
• Evening gatherings to share stories, insights and relaxation in a warm community atmosphere
Our pricing reflects the thoughtful care, exclusivity, and cultural authenticity interwoven throughout your stay. As we expand amenities to include spa facilities and guest facilitators of renown in the coming years, our offering will continue to evolve, enhancing your retreat experience.
Please reach out to discuss availability or any specific needs—your literary sanctuary awaits.
Getting to Belvèze
Arrival by Air: Toulouse Airport Transfer Included
We offer included transfers from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport twice daily—typically a morning and an afternoon pickup—to collect guests conveniently. These transfer times can accommodate most incoming flights from UK and European airports. Exact transfer times will be confirmed once attendees have their flights booked. Cafés and amenities are available at the airport, but if you prefer not to wait for collection, we can assist you in exploring other options such as carpooling or visiting Toulouse city on your own.
Self-Drive and Parking: Your Scenic Road Trip Starts Here
For those who love the freedom of the open road, driving to Belvèze offers a wonderful chance to explore the beautiful countryside at your own pace. Our property provides ample onsite parking, so you can arrive and relax without any hassle. Along the way, soak in rolling hills and picturesque landscapes that make your journey just as memorable as your destination. Wherever you’re coming from, this road trip is a great way to begin your authentic French countryside retreat.
Arrival via Other Airports
If you are arriving at nearby airports such as Bordeaux or Bergerac, direct transfers to Belvèze may be limited. While train connections to Montauban or Agen exist, please note that we may not be able to provide transfers from these stations due to scheduling challenges.
An alternative option to consider is BlaBlaCar, a popular carpooling platform where you can share rides to local towns nearby. This solution allows you to purchase a low cost ride with someone heading in the same direction, though availability is not guaranteed and depends on drivers’ schedules.
We recommend planning your arrival primarily via Toulouse Airport for the most seamless transfer experience. If you wish to explore other options, we are happy to offer planning assistance.