# Line, Lettering, and Landscape Retreat with Artist Laurie Doctor in France

**Enter the friendly, contemplative atmosphere of a classroom without distractions, a place that fosters creativity and your work.**

Draw, paint, letter, and collage your way across the sunlit countryside of Occitanie on an art retreat with painter, calligrapher, writer, and teacher Laurie Doctor. Every session will open with a poem, followed by a writing practice and mark-making. This is a structure and rhythm Laurie has built across years of teaching.

From there the days will unfold into drawing, writing, and watercolor exercises. You will gather found objects from the grounds for sketching and writing and explore lines of poetry answered in paint or words.

Venture out on a half-day trip to a French botanical garden, with your sketchbook in hand, drawing inspiration from the plants and creating a color palette directly from the vibrant flora. Spend a full day in the medieval town of Albi, sketching amid its red-brick streets before visiting the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum at the Palais de la Berbie. Stroll through the rows of a French château vineyard and savor the experience as you taste your way through the cellar with a knowledgeable guide.

Stay at an elegant rural estate where chef-prepared meals and a supportive atmosphere give you the space to focus on your art. Share meals with your fellow artists, talk through the day's challenges over a glass of local wine, and settle into the unhurried rhythm where creativity thrives.

Perfect for artists at any level who want unhurried hours and an experimental journal filled with your explorations of collage, color, sketching, and alphabets.

The art studio is equipped with tables, chairs, field easels, portable plein-air stools, paper towels, professional studio lights, glass jars, walnut ink, and Moon Palace Sumi Liquid Ink. BFK Rives paper will be available for purchase.

## Details

- **Dates:** September 22 - 29, 2027
- **Location:** Teyssode, Occitanie, France
- **Starting Price:** $4,550
- **Currency:** USD
- **Status:** open
- **Group Size:** Max. 16 students
- **Category:** [Painting](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreats/painting) · [Browse on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreats/painting)

## Overview

**What's included**

1. Art classes, individual tuition, and demonstrations with artist Laurie Doctor
2. Art studio equipped with: tables, chairs, field easels, portable plein-air stools, paper towels, professional studio lights, glass jars, BFK Rives Sheets, and Moon Palace Sumi Liquid Ink
3. 7 nights of accommodation at a gorgeous French countryside estate
4. Exclusive use of the entire 5-acre property with a saltwater pool, hot tub, spacious reconverted barn used as a workshop space, fruit orchard, private gardens, and terraces
5. All meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 7 dinners carefully prepared by a private chef
6. All diets catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, diabetic, gluten-free, and lactose-free
7. Coffee, tea, water, and homemade snacks available throughout the day
8. Plentiful, delicious wine and non-alcoholic beverages served during dinner service every day
9. Welcome and farewell dinners, with cocktails and canapés
10. Full-day art trip to Albi, with opportunities for painting and sketching on location and a visit to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
11. Entrance ticket to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum
12. Half-day art trip to a nearby French botanical garden, with opportunities for painting and skecthing on location
13. Entrance ticket to the French botanical garden
14. Half-day trip to a French vineyard estate, with a guided tour of the cellar and wine tasting
15. Private transportation and chaperone for all trips and planned activities
16. Round-trip airport transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at prearranged times
17. A dedicated UpTrek retreat coordinator available throughout the whole retreat
18. Fully staffed venue with drivers, cleaning and maintenance staff, and chef and kitchen staff
19. All local tourist taxes and fees
20. Access to a private Facebook group with Laurie Doctor and other retreat participants four months before the retreat takes place

**Not included**

- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Art supplies — a detailed list of art materials recommended by Laurie Doctor will be provided five months before the retreat takes place
- One lunch during the full-day trip to Albi
- Tips — tipping is customary in France
- Other expenses guests might incur on their own

## Program

### Line, Lettering, and Landscape Retreat
Give yourself over to line, lettering, landscape, and language in a mixed-media retreat with painter, calligrapher, writer, and teacher Laurie Doctor, set in the countryside of Occitanie in southern France. Across the retreat you'll work with mark-making, sketching, watercolor, and a variety of writing tools. Learn to write with one of Laurie's original alphabets, and practice the balance between planning a piece and staying open to serendipity.

Laurie teaches improvisationally, reading the room and following what the artists bring with them. Every day carries surprise, even though the ground covered is wide and deliberate. Watercolor, graphite, ink, gouache, hand-lettering, and collage all come into play, and every level of experience is welcome.

Each session will open the same way, providing structure, continuity, and opportunities for improvisation. Laurie views each morning as the doorway to the whole day. Phones and watches stay outside the studio. There is a hidden gift in returning to uninterrupted hours, which is what most of us truly need.

**Please note:** This class is for those of you adventurers who are willing and able to leave phones and watches outside the classroom. This gentle pause from devices helps create a space for undisturbed focus and shared presence, allowing each student to fully participate in the atmosphere Laurie nurtures through poetry, stories, stillness, observation, and the cross-pollination and lively conversations that happen naturally.

**The topics covered during your classes with Laurie include:**

- Exploring rhythmic and textural marking
- Experimenting with various writing tools
- Incorporating lines of poetry
- Writing with one of Laurie's original alphabets
- Balancing planning and serendipity
- Working with a limited palette
- Drawing with found objects from nature
- Responding visually to a line of poetry
- Practicing blind contour drawing
- Adding collage elements
- Drawing from the environment to create color palettes
- Working with scale, going from small to large and large to small
- Working through exercises in pairs and small groups
- …and many more!

Your art trips will take you through some of the most paintable corners of the region. Embark on a half-day trip to a French garden, where the planting beds in the garden offer vibrant colors and intricate structures that far exceed what any reference photo can capture. Later on, you'll enjoy a full-day trip to the medieval town of Albi, where you can paint and sketch on location among its iconic red-brick streets. This visit will also include a trip to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, located in the Palais de la Berbie. Tour a French château vineyard and partake in a wine tasting with your fellow artists.

Your accommodation for the retreat is a charming, restored estate in the countryside, offering the perfect backdrop for the next steps in your watercolor journey. By the end of the retreat, you will return home more confident, with a renewed artistic process and cherished memories!

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and join the 3:00 PM transfer to your retreat venue. After settling into your room, take a moment to unwind and absorb the tranquil surroundings. Meet your fellow artists and get acquainted with your instructor, artist Laurie Doctor.

As part of an orientation tour, explore the estate’s charming garden, the historic watchtower, and inviting communal spaces. In the evening, toast to the start of your creative journey with cocktails and bite-sized canapés, followed by a delicious three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and complemented by local French wines.

### Day 2: Art classes at the venue
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, then gather with Laurie and your fellow artists for the first session of the retreat, leaving all distractions at the door.

Laurie will open the way she always does, with everyone standing, then sitting together in silence, then a poem read aloud, then tools to paper before a word of instruction. From that settled place, move into an introduction to one of Laurie's original alphabets and a long stretch of rhythmic and textural mark-making. Experiment with a wide range of writing tools and discover what each one does to a line.

After a leisurely lunch and a proper break to absorb the morning, return for an afternoon of drawing exercises and lettering exercises. Try blind contour drawing, where your eye stays on the subject and your hand goes wherever it will, then play with scale by carrying one mark from small to large and back down again. Some of these will happen in pairs or small groups, and Laurie will move among everyone with individual guidance as the afternoon unfolds.

Take some time to rest as the late afternoon softens over the gardens. Gather with Laurie and your fellow creatives for a delicious three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of local wine, sharing first impressions from a day spent entirely off your phone.

### Day 3: Art trip to a French botanical garden
Fuel up with a nourishing breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee, then head into a morning session out in the venue gardens, where classes can run outdoors whenever the day calls for it.

Laurie will open with shared silence and a poem, then send you across the grounds to collect found objects from nature. Draw with them rather than with a pen, discovering the marks that no manufactured tool will ever make for you. Alongside this, work with a limited palette, drawing from the environment around you to mix the colors you actually need instead of reaching for whatever is already sitting in the pan.

After lunch, gather your sketchbook and art supplies for an afternoon surrounded by the beauty of a French botanical garden. Meander through winding pathways and vibrant planting beds, pausing to sketch whatever draws your attention, such as delicate petals, textured leaves, shifting patterns of light and shadow. Let color and form inspire observation as you fill your pages. Laurie will be nearby, offering gentle guidance while you work in this peaceful, natural setting.

Return to the venue as the light lengthens across the fields. Gather for a three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of local wine, comparing pages and found-object drawings.

### Day 4: Art classes at the venue
Savor a delicious breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, then settle into the studio for a full day of work with Laurie.

The morning unfolds in a spirit of calm and possibility, beginning with a shared moment of stillness and a poem. The studio opens up as a space to explore your creative instincts, whether you are drawn to sketching, painting, or discovering new materials. Laurie offers gentle support and fresh perspectives, moving among the group as everyone settles into their own rhythm.

A leisurely lunch offers time to recharge, or stroll through the grounds and soak in the surroundings.

After lunch, take some time to unwind by one of the pools or relax on the terraces, soaking in the views and gentle air. Once refreshed, return to the studio for an afternoon devoted to deepening your creative work. Continue with a piece you started earlier or pursue a new idea as your artistic direction evolves. Laurie remains close by, offering thoughtful guidance and encouragement while the afternoon light softly fills the studio.

As evening arrives, gather with Laurie and your fellow artists for a three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of local wine, sharing conversations about the art and discoveries of the day.

### Day 5: Art trip to Albi
Sit down to a generous breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, then gather your sketchbook and supplies for a full-day trip to the medieval town of Albi. The one-hour drive becomes part of the experience as fields, vineyards, and villages slide past the windows, giving space for conversation and a gentle mental warm-up before the day's painting begins.

Laurie will open the day contemplatively, as she always does, with a poem before you set out. In Albi, immerse yourself among the red-brick streets and centuries-old architecture, sketching and lettering whatever captures your eye. The Basilica of Saint Cecilia rises dramatically above the town, its fortress-like brick exterior shifting in color and texture as the light moves across it. Pause on the Pont Vieux bridge or work from the riverbanks, taking in the composition of water, stone, and sky.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch, then head to the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum at the Palais de la Berbie. Move through the collection with your sketchbook open, taking color notes directly from the paintings and building a reference you can work from once you are back in the studio.

As you return to the venue, savor a flavorful three-course dinner prepared by the private chef, accompanied by a glass of French wine.

### Day 6: Trip to a French vineyard & wine tasting
Wake to a wholesome breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee, then head into the studio for a morning of collage and journal work.

Following the opening silence and poem, Laurie will introduce tipping in, cutting windows, making pockets, and stitching. Add collage elements drawn from your own painted papers, your found objects, the sketches you made in Albi, and whatever else you have gathered so far. Work these straight into the journal you brought with you, so everything from the retreat ends up in one place rather than in a loose stack of sheets.

After lunch, set off for a picturesque French château vineyard, where rows of vines stretch beneath the afternoon sun. Wander along sun-dappled paths on a guided tour, taking in the scents and sights of the landscape. As the golden hour settles over the vineyard, gather with fellow artists for a relaxed tasting of local wines, enjoying the flavors and the company while the sunlight lingers across the grapes and fields.

Return to the venue in good time before the evening. Gather for a three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of local wine, an easy and lively close to a day that ran from stitched pages to sunlit vineyards.

### Day 7: Art classes at the venue
Savor a hearty breakfast alongside a fresh cup of coffee, prepared to make every moment count on your final full day at the retreat.

Laurie will open with one last shared silence and a poem, then give the morning over to pulling the retreat together. Return to the pieces that have been building all along, finish whatever is unfinished, follow any thread that is still pulling at you, and push the ones that surprised you further than you thought they would go. Laurie will be available throughout for individual guidance as you create.

Following a refreshing lunch, settle in with fellow artists for a relaxing break. Then, enjoy an informal mini-exhibition, taking time to share and appreciate each other's work, then unwind at your own pace before dinner, letting inspiration linger. Lay out any finished work you feel comfortable sharing and flip through each other's journals, taking in how differently the very same French landscape landed for everyone in the room.

Gather one last time for a delicious farewell dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with aromatic wine, raising a glass to your progress and all the friendships made!

### Day 8: Departure
After enjoying a satisfying breakfast with Laurie and the group, it's time to bid farewell and exchange any last contact details. Prepare for your transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, scheduled for 10:00 AM, with an estimated arrival time of 11:00 AM.

## Instructors

- [Laurie Doctor](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/instructors/laurie-doctor) — Painter, calligrapher, writer, and teacher

## Accommodation

### Historic French Estate
Tucked away in the heart of Tarn, Occitanie, your venue for the art retreat with Laurie Doctor is a sprawling countryside estate with a rich history. This lovingly restored farmhouse combines rustic elegance with modern comforts, featuring original wooden beams, stone fireplaces, an imposing watchtower, and terracotta tiles that capture the rural charm of southern France. With no other buildings in sight, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the rolling hills and a patchwork of lush fields.

The 5-acre estate features a main house, a cozy guesthouse, and a repurposed barn transformed into a well-lit indoor workshop space. Your classes with Laurie Doctor will take place in the indoor workshop space or out and about in the gardens of the venue (or during your day trips). Beyond your daily classes, enjoy the outdoor amenities present at the estate: two swimming pools (a saltwater pool and a hot tub), sprawling French gardens, and a fruit orchard.

Please note that getting around the accommodation spaces, the workshop space, and the main building where meals are served requires a short walk. This retreat may not be suitable for participants with low or limited mobility.

### Shared ensuite attic room
One ensuite attic room is available for shared occupancy. This spacious attic room and its ensuite bathroom will be shared between two same-gender participants.

The attic is a large space measuring 900 sq. ft. (85 sq. m.) located on the third floor of the main house, with two distinct sleeping areas separated by curtains. The room can be outfitted with either twin beds or one double bed, on request, and it features an ensuite shower bathroom. The attic has beautiful wooden beams crossing the ceiling, giving the space a cozy and romantic look.

### Shared standard ensuite room
Two standard ensuite rooms are available for shared occupancy. Each room and its ensuite bathroom will be shared between two same-gender participants.

The shared standard ensuite rooms can be outfitted with either twin beds or one comfortable double bed, on request, and they feature ensuite bathrooms. Located in the main house at the venue, on the second floor, the rooms are decorated in a beautiful French style and offer gorgeous views over the surrounding countryside.

### Shared superior ensuite room
Three superior ensuite rooms are available for shared occupancy. Each room and its ensuite bathroom will be shared between two same-gender participants.

The shared superior rooms can be outfitted with either twin beds or one comfortable double bed, on request, and they feature ensuite bathrooms. Located on the first and second floors of the main house at the venue, the rooms have large French windows with views of the beautiful garden.

### Shared bathroom - single room (female only)
Two rooms with shared bathrooms are available for single occupancy. You will share the bathroom with another same-gender participant, but you will have the room all to yourself.

These rooms feature comfortable double beds and are beautifully decorated in a charming French manner. The two rooms and their shared bathroom are located on the second floor in the main house at the retreat venue.

### Single room - private adjacent bathroom
One room with a private, adjacent bathroom is available for single occupancy.

The room is located on the second floor of the guesthouse. It is furnished with a double bed and offers Wi-Fi access. The private shower room, located adjacent to the bedroom, is equipped with a toilet, shower, and hand basin. The room also features beautiful views of the surrounding garden.

### Single superior ensuite room
One superior ensuite room is available for single occupancy.

Furnished with a comfortable queen-sized bed, the room is located on the second floor of the guest house and includes WiFi access, A/C, and a private ensuite bathroom with a toilet, shower, and hand basin. The room has sweeping views of the estate grounds.

## Food

Indulge in the robust flavors of Occitanie with every meal during your art retreat. The private chef crafts traditional southern French cuisine, featuring regional specialties like the beloved cassoulet, brimming with savory meats and beans, and the ocean's bounty in a classic bouillabaisse.

Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the area's renowned crisp white wines, served during dinner. Your culinary journey begins with welcome cocktails and appetizing canapés and concludes with a memorable farewell dinner. Enjoy delicious meals and stay refreshed with available water, coffee, and tea throughout the day.

All meals are included, except for one lunch during the full-day trip to Albi. Dietary needs can be catered to if announced in advance. However, please keep in mind that we may be unable to accommodate severe, life-threatening allergies.

For further details on the culinary experience awaiting you at the art retreat, please see the information below.

## Getting There

The art retreat with Laurie Doctor takes place in the Occitanie region, in southern France. This area is famed for its stunning countryside landscapes, charming French towns, and fantastic food. Your venue, a sprawling countryside estate, is a gateway to the past, surrounded by villages with centuries-old buildings and cobbled streets. This historic estate is located an hour from Toulouse by car.

The tranquility of the countryside, the warm smiles of locals, the rolling vineyards, and the untouched natural beauty provide a serene backdrop for your classes. During the retreat, you'll explore the medieval town of Albi, a French jardin, and a château vineyard.

Check-in at the retreat venue starts at 4:00 PM on September 22, 2027. Check-out is after breakfast on September 29, 2027, by 10:00 AM.

**Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.**

**To be transferred to the retreat venue, please arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS).** We strongly recommend planning more time for long-distance international travel because of the current disruptions in flight schedules. It is best to arrive in France a day before the retreat starts to prevent any inconveniences caused by flight delays, rest after the long travel, and adjust to the new time zone. Please hold off booking your flights and train tickets until the retreat becomes guaranteed and you are charged for your participation.

**How to get to Toulouse:**

If you cannot find good connecting flights from your departure airport to Toulouse, we recommend you fly to Paris and fly domestically to Toulouse (local roundtrips starting from US$100, 1 hour and 20 minutes of journey time; fares may vary).

**How to get from Toulouse to the retreat venue:**

Private transfers at prearranged times to and from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) are included. The journey takes approximately one hour.

**Arrival Transfer:**

**September 22, 2027** — **3:00 PM** (leaving from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, arriving at the retreat venue at 4:00 PM)

**Departure Transfer:**

**September 29, 2027** — **10:00 AM** (leaving from the retreat venue, arriving at Toulouse Blagnac Airport at 11:00 AM)

**If your travel arrangements don't work with our pre-set transfer times, please consider the following options:**

- Spend extra days at a hotel in Toulouse pre/post-retreat and catch the transfer shuttles from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
- Grab a taxi to the retreat venue (address: Domaine d'En Naudet, 81220 Teyssode, France; estimated cost of US$200 per way). Please note that taxi fares may vary.

## Reviews

**Reviews of the venue from previous retreats at the venue:**

- "The venue was just what I was hoping for -- I love the rural area. It was very clean, hosts were professional and pleasant. Food by all three caterers was wholesome."

- "Beautiful location. Our hosts were wonderful, lovely, and accommodating. I highly recommend it!"

- "UpTrek: all transfers, tours & venues were great. It was perfectly charming and Sophie & Nicolas (the hosts) were absolutely wonderful & really adapted to all of our requests beyond what I expected! The week was made fabulous by our great group of women, the snacks, wine & the bond we all formed. We learned from each other & have formed lasting friendships!"

- "I had a perfect week in France. The venue was beautiful and Sophie and Nicolas (the hosts) did everything in their power to make our stay comfortable. The trips were perfectly timed and provided much inspiration for our paintings. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my fellow painters and would definitely use your company for travel again."

- "The venue was so beautiful and comfortable. I was happy with my room and the circumstances that allowed me a comfortable single room. EVERYTHING we asked for was provided by the following day or meal! I enjoyed the pool and the outdoor dining and painting. Such care was given to us by our lovely kind hosts."

- "Stunning venue; delicious food and wine; wonderful hosts. Lots of painting time. Interesting day trips. I definitely want to do another retreat!"

- "I had a wonderful time! I also loved getting to know the fun, encouraging women who were with me on this retreat. The setting was gorgeous - like a postcard!"

- "The food, the hosts, the accommodations, and the views were wonderful. The field trips were enjoyable and educational. I would take another trip with UpTrek."

- "The trip organization and warm, professional service from Uptrek, and the amazing service, delicious food, and high quality from the venue. And the other retreat participants were truly lovely! From the start, UpTrek provided prompt, careful service that was carried right through to our arrival at the retreat. Communication is key, especially when travel is just getting going again, and Andra (the retreat coordinator) was always ready with a response. I really appreciated the sensible, yet friendly approach, as well as the clear policies that were upfront from the start. Meeting Ted (CEO of UpTrek) and Andra put faces to the business - this human touch adds value and reassurance. Sophie and Nicolas (the venue hosts) were charming, attentive hosts who looked after many needs. They served us tasty treats throughout the day, they kept us shaded and they helped find solutions when required. I wish we had 48 hours in which to enjoy each day even more. The venue was excellent. The setting was magical. I was very comfortable and there was plenty of space for a group of this size. The rooms were very clean and the use of laundry facilities was much appreciated. It was lovely to feel at ease to use the pool, the hot tub, the fridge, the common areas, and the grounds - after being cooped up for over two years, this was a wonderful physical release. Having access to a well-lit space for us to enjoy Sketchbook Night Club each night was the icing on the cake: we were able to keep making art, have some laughs and get to know one another better. I would highly recommend each component and hope to have the opportunity to travel this way again. This retreat was truly like a dream come true. I loved it. I thank each of you from the heart."

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is this retreat available to all levels?**

The retreat is open to all levels of experience. Perfect for artists at any level who want unhurried hours and an experimental journal filled with your explorations of collage, color, sketching, and alphabets.

**When is the retreat available?**

The retreat will take place between September 22 - 29, 2027.

**How do I get to the retreat venue?**

Please plan to arrive at the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). The retreat venue is located approximately an hour's drive from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. We advise allowing extra time for long-distance international travel. Arriving in France a day before the retreat starts helps mitigate potential issues due to flight delays, allows for rest post-travel, and facilitates adjustment to the new time zone. Roundtrip airport transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at prearranged times are included.

For more information, see the [Location tab](https://uptrek.com/retreat/line-lettering-landscape-retreat-artist-laurie-doctor-france#location). Please hold off booking your flights until the retreat becomes guaranteed and you have been charged for your participation.

**Are there any check-in and check-out hours?**

Please make your travel arrangements to arrive at the venue after 4:00 PM on September 22, 2027. Check-out is after breakfast on the last day at 10:00 AM, on September 29, 2027. **Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.**

**What supplies do I need for the workshops?**

A detailed list of materials recommended by artist Laurie Doctor will be provided five months before the retreat takes place. Tables, chairs, field easels, portable plein-air stools, paper towels, professional studio lights, and glass jars (for the workshop component) are included and available at the venue. BFK Rives Sheets and Moon Palace Sumi Liquid Ink will be provided.

**What’s the weather like in Teyssode, Occitanie, France, in September?**

The weather in Teyssode in September is usually sunny and pleasant. You can expect average highs of 25°C / 77°F during the day that drop to around 13°C / 56°F at night. However, in recent years, temperatures have become harder to predict accurately, and averages may vary. Please check the weather a week before traveling and pack accordingly.

**What should I pack?**

Please pack appropriate clothing, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable shoes, a cardigan for chilly evenings, a waterproof raincoat, a water bottle, personal care items, and any personal medication you might need.

**Can I do laundry while on the retreat?**

Laundry facilities are available at the retreat venue and you are welcome to use them for free during your stay.

**I am vegetarian/vegan. Can I book this retreat?**

Yes. All diets are catered for if announced in advance. Please note, however, that we cannot accommodate severe, life-threatening allergies.

**Is Wi-Fi available?**

Yes.

**How many people are to be expected on the retreat?**

Maximum of 16 participants.

**Do I need a visa?**

Guests from the US, Canada, EU, UK, and/or Schengen member states can enter France for tourism without a visa. If this policy changes, we will inform you promptly. For additional assistance, please reach out to us.

**Are there any age restrictions?**

There are no restrictions whatsoever. Please keep in mind that you must be 18 years of age to travel independently.

**What language is used during the workshops and other activities?**

The retreat is available in English.

**Is the retreat available to guests with limited mobility?**

Unfortunately, the retreat venue and day trips are not well-suited for people with limited mobility. The trips involve plenty of walking on uneven, cobbled streets. Getting around the studio, the accommodation spaces, and the main building where meals are served at the venue also requires a short walk.

**What happens if I need to cancel?**

Once the retreat is guaranteed, all payments are final and nonrefundable. Bookings are nonrefundable under any circumstances. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. After your payment is processed, you may purchase insurance through the following link: [Purchase insurance](https://uptrek.com/protect-your-trip). Please review our [cancellation policy.](https://uptrek.com/cancellation-policy)

**Do I need travel insurance?**

Yes. Since all bookings are nonrefundable, travel insurance is mandatory for all UpTrek travelers. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. We strongly advise that your chosen policy provides cover against lost or delayed baggage, loss of personal belongings, trip cancellation, trip interruption, accidents, illness, injury, medical expenses, death, and emergency repatriation.

For your convenience, UpTrek is affiliated with Allianz Travel and is a Registered Travel Retailer under AGA license. [Click here to purchase your insurance plan.](https://uptrek.com/protect-your-trip)

Please note that UpTrek is not qualified or authorized to answer questions about coverage, benefits, exclusions, or conditions of any Allianz Travel Insurance plan. If you have questions about your plan, please contact Allianz Global Assistance directly at [CustomerService@AllianzAssistance.com](mailto:CustomerService@AllianzAssistance.com) or by phone at 1-800-284-8300. Be sure to provide the **reference code F215276** so Allianz knows you are purchasing protection for an UpTrek trip.

We strongly recommend reviewing the terms and conditions of any insurance policy you purchase to fully understand the coverage, benefits, and claims process. We will gladly provide the essential documentation to support refund claims with the insurance provider.

**Do I have to pay a deposit?**

No. Once the number of guest reservations reaches the minimum number required for the retreat to become guaranteed, UpTrek charges the guests the cost of the retreat. Guests who reserved will be notified 48 hours in advance that their payment method on file is about to be charged.

**Will I receive a full refund if the retreat is not guaranteed?**

UpTrek does not charge the payment method we collect until the retreat becomes guaranteed. Once the retreat is guaranteed, there will be no reimbursement. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements.

**Will I receive a full refund if the guaranteed retreat is canceled by the artist or by UpTrek?**

If the retreat is canceled due to force majeure events or circumstances out of UpTrek's and/or the instructor's control, UpTrek will let you know as soon as possible, refund the total cost of the retreat, and help you find another option for your vacation.

## Book This Retreat

👉 **[Reserve your spot on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreat/line-lettering-landscape-retreat-artist-laurie-doctor-france#book)** — no deposit required.

See [cancellation policy](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/cancellation-policy) and [travel insurance requirements](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/insurance).

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**Last updated:** 2026-09-11