# Portraits and Sculpture Art Retreat with Artist Jeanne Oliver in France

Immerse yourself in a transformative art retreat with beloved artist Jeanne Oliver, set in the serene countryside of southwestern France. Centered on sculpture and portraiture, this retreat invites you to explore how story and emotion take shape through your hands. Through clay, plaster, paper mache, wire, and pigment, you will discover how texture and gesture can capture presence and spirit. Whether you are sculpting a likeness or exploring the raw energy of a portrait, each piece will evolve from your own intuition and observation. Designed for both beginners and experienced artists, this experience offers time to grow, reflect, and reconnect with what moves you to create.Spend a full day in the medieval village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, wandering brocantes and narrow cobblestone lanes with an English-speaking guide. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, sketch on-site, and collect visual inspiration for your sculptural work. Another full-day art trip takes you to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors, where you’ll cruise the Lot River and capture the play of light across ancient stone buildings and winding shores.Work in a spacious, light-filled studio housed in a beautifully restored barn, or step outdoors to shaded terraces, garden paths, and tranquil ponds for open-air sessions. Vary your setting throughout the week using alternate creative spaces like the piano room or smaller garden studio. Unwind in elegant ensuite rooms with scenic views, relax by the heated pool, and enjoy shared meals and conversation in cozy common areas after each day’s discoveries.

## Details

- **Dates:** October 3 - 10, 2026
- **Location:** Sainte Alauzie, Lot-et-Garonne, France
- **Starting Price:** $4,750
- **Category:** [Painting](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreats/painting) · [Browse on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreats/painting)

## Overview

What’s IncludedArt classes, tuition, and demonstrations with artist Jeanne OliverArt boards for the workshop component7 nights of accommodation at a French estateExclusive use of the entire property, including living quarters, common areas, the dedicated art workshop spaces, access to the heated swimming pool, outdoor terraces, and gardens7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 7 dinners carefully prepared on-site using fresh, locally sourced ingredientsWater, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks available throughout the dayWine served with dinnerFull-day trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val with English-speaking guide, and opportunities for sketching includedLunch at a local restaurant during your trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-ValFull-day trip to the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the town of CahorsRiverboat tour along the Lot River during your trip to CahorsPrivate transportation and guide for all planned activitiesPrivate round-trip transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) and the retreat venue at prearranged timesExperienced UpTrek host available throughout the dayFully-staffed venueAll local tourist taxes and feesAccess to a private Facebook group with Jeanne Oliver and the other retreat participants four months before the retreatNot includedAirfareTravel insuranceArt materials — a list of art materials recommended by artist Jeanne Oliver will be provided five months before the retreatTips for staff

## Program

### Portraits and Sculpture Art Retreat
Join artist Jeanne Oliver for a deeply inspiring art retreat in the lush hills of southwestern France, where old stone paths wind through breathtaking fields and every sunrise feels like a beginning. This week is devoted to sculpture and portraiture, an invitation to explore how story and emotion take shape through your hands. Jeanne teaches through warmth and presence, encouraging you to feel your way through each pose or expression until it speaks. Whether you are returning to art after years away or seeking new depth in your practice, this retreat offers room to breathe, experiment, and create without pressure.A simple line leads to the beauty and capture of a portrait. Loose lines of charcoal skip across the paper, ink drips from a brush, the stroke of paint reflects your own image, or the form of clay brings a portrait to life. The study of portraiture here is less about representation and more about capturing the "capture" found in your own reflection, the glance of a stranger, a magazine page, a still from a movie, a newspaper clipping, a torn book page, or an old Polaroid. Nothing is off limits; be open to what moves you to create.Contour sketching, ink, paper, collage, and paint will guide you as you explore portraits in the raw. Through layers of ink, charcoal, plaster, and mixed media, you will build a volume of expressive work that embraces experimentation and play. You will begin by learning to create an armature, followed by sculpting a small clay figure. Then, using reference images, you will create quick contour sketches of faces that inspire you on paper, raw canvas, and vellum. Discover the freedom of altering magazine pages to open new creative paths, and from your studies, begin developing portraits on paper with charcoal, graphite, and ink. Some of these works will be torn and reassembled into collage and paint pieces that evolve naturally.One day will take you to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval village tucked into the gorges of the Aveyron. Wander brocantes and riverside streets, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and sketch the play of light over centuries-old stone. Later in the week, you will visit Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors, floating down the Lot River beneath cliffs and bridges that shift color as the day moves on.By the end, you will leave with clay work, a hand-stitched sketchbook, a stitched portrait, and portrait studies on paper, cardboard, wood, and raw canvas. But, more than that, you will have rediscovered the joy of making something that feels entirely your own!The topics covered during your lessons will include:Creating clay sculptures with simple armaturesFocusing on portraitureCreating handmade sketchbooksCollages with a focus on the facePortrait work in acrylic paintHow to work out creative ideas based upon the inspiration you gatherWorking with simple tools like charcoal, graphite, and inkHow to create an armatureHow to create with clay and paper macheHow to quickly capture the human formHow to become more experimental in your art...and many more!Stay on a private estate set across 75 acres of fields, forests, and manicured gardens in the heart of Lot-et-Garonne. Work in a light-filled converted barn studio, a smaller studio with garden access, or the piano room in the main house. The grounds include two ponds, a heated pool, walking trails, terraces, and a variety of outdoor seating areas perfect for sketching or quiet reflection. Between sessions, unwind in spacious ensuite rooms and comfortable shared spaces with views in every direction.

### Day 1: Arrival
Get transferred from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at 3:00 PM, arriving at the venue by 4:00 PM. Settle into your room, then join Jeanne and your fellow artists for an orientation tour, exploring the gardens, the lovely terraces, the creative studio, and communal spaces. Over a fabulous welcoming dinner, enjoy a relaxed conversation about the week ahead while savoring local flavors and a glass of regional wine.

### Day 2: Art at the venue
Wake up to a delicious breakfast before stepping into the studio with Jeanne.Begin the morning by shaping simple armatures that will support your first figure studies. Feel how the clay responds in your hands as you build small sculptures, both with and without internal structure. Focus on gesture and proportion, capturing the essence of a pose rather than perfection. Jeanne will move through the room, guiding your process and helping you see where weight, balance, and emotion emerge through form.After lunch, open your sketchbook and shift your attention to portrait studies.As the afternoon unfolds, Gather your reference images (faces that catch your attention, a reflection, a magazine page, a film still) and start making quick contour sketches. Draw on paper, raw canvas, or vellum, following each line as it moves across the surface. Work loosely, and experiment with charcoal, ink, and graphite to explore texture and rhythm in each mark. Build a small series of expressive sketches that echo the figures you sculpted in the morning. Observe how the same emotion translates from clay to line. Jeanne will offer guidance on layering and composition, encouraging you to respond to what appears on the page rather than control it.Toward evening, take time to relax. Go for a walk, unwind by the pool, or continue working in the gardens, woodlands, or shaded terraces. Over dinner, share insights with others and talk about what surprised you, what challenged you, and what you’ll explore next.

### Day 3: Trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and Jardins de Quercy
Watch the early sun break through the branches as you sit down to breakfast with Jeanne, then gather over coffee to talk through the day ahead.Pack your sketchbook and camera, and travel to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town nestled against the cliffs of the Aveyron Gorges. Wander its narrow cobblestone streets and brocante markets lined with wisteria and climbing roses. Take your time moving through the town, noticing textures and patterns in the worn stone and ironwork. Capture reference photos of what draws your attention. Sketch if you feel inspired, focusing on observing and collecting what you might return to later in the studio.Pause midday for lunch at a riverside restaurant, where the air carries the scent of herbs and fresh bread, and the sound of flowing water mixes with laughter from nearby tables. Enjoy the pause and the chance to let the morning’s impressions settle before returning to your creative work.In the afternoon, continue to Jardins de Quercy, a French botanical garden filled with winding paths and sculptural plantings that change with the light. Move slowly through the space and take reference photos of forms, textures, and natural compositions that speak to you. Find a quiet spot among the greenery to sketch, capturing shapes and lines as they appear in front of you. Record color notes or impressions that will later inform your portraits and studies back in the studio.Stop at a viewpoint overlooking the Aveyron Gorges on the drive back. The cliffs rise pale against the sky, and the river glints below in long curves of light.Return to the estate with time to rest, continue painting outdoors, or flip through your sketches before sitting down to a three-course dinner served with wine or non-alcoholic options.

### Day 4: Art at the venue
Ease into the morning with a delicious breakfast and a check-in over coffee to walk through the plan for the day.Begin by spreading out your sketches from the previous day. Look through your photos and drawings, then choose a few that stand out to you. You will bring these images to life using charcoal and ink, studying how value creates depth and contrast. Add paint or water to your marks to soften edges or draw focus to certain details. Work across multiple surfaces, such as paper, raw canvas, or vellum, and notice how each reacts differently to your materials. Jeanne will guide you as you explore how tone and movement can shift a portrait or composition from static to expressive.After lunch, continue your exploration by learning the freedom of altering magazine pages. Select printed portraits, faces, or figures that draw your attention, and begin transforming them through layers of paint, ink, and line. Use cutting, tearing, and reassembling to open new creative paths. Make photocopies of your work and experiment further with texture and rhythm by stitching into the pages with a sewing machine. Combine thread and collage to create dimensional pieces that blur the line between drawing and sculpture.As the afternoon unfolds, gather your altered works and studies into a small collection. Arrange them side by side to see how your style is emerging through repetition and experimentation. Before dinner, take time to review your favorite pieces and note what you want to carry forward into the next day’s studio session. Over a relaxed evening meal, speak with your fellow artists about what surprised you and how your work began to transform through each step.

### Day 5: Trip to Saint-Cinq-Lapopie and Cahors riverboat tour
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, then ease into the morning over coffee as you check in with the group and prepare for the day ahead.Leave the estate for a full-day trip into the Lot Valley, beginning with a one-hour drive to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Once there, take your time walking the steep lanes lined with ivy and wisteria, where the stone walls catch the morning light and the Lot River curves far below. Focus on observing and gathering inspiration. Take reference photos of what moves you, from architectural textures to fleeting gestures of light and form.After a short drive, arrive in Cahors and pause for lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy the flavors of the region and the chance to rest and talk with others about what caught your eye during the morning. In the early afternoon, wander through the old town at your own pace. Capture small details or compositions in your sketchbook, or photograph scenes that might later inspire your portraits or sculptural studies.Board a riverboat at the edge of town near the Pont Valentré. As you drift along the Lot River, watch the reflections ripple and break, and observe how the light shifts across the stone towers and bridges.Return to the estate in the early evening. Before dinner, take a moment to organize your reference photos and notes or sketch a few impressions from memory. End the day with a three-course dinner with wine.

### Day 6: Art at the venue
Light stretches across the hills as you enjoy a refreshing breakfast, followed by a gathering over coffee to discuss the plans for the day.Spend the morning creating new portrait works on paper, using collage to reimagine and expand on what you have already made. Spread out your previous drawings and studies, then begin selecting pieces that call to you. Tear, cut, and rearrange elements to form new compositions. Layer different papers, including vellum, and explore how transparency changes the balance between form and emotion. Use glue, thread, and paint to merge fragments into cohesive portraits that carry both texture and story. Jeanne will guide you as you work, showing how contrast and repetition can turn small studies into expressive, layered pieces.Break for lunch, then return to the studio to continue building your collage portraits.Paint into your assembled pieces, weaving color across surfaces to unify your shapes and lines. Afterwards, take your finished portraits and alter some of them using the sewing machine. Stitch directly into the paper to add movement and tactile detail. Use lines of thread to define edges, create subtle patterns, or emphasize gesture and emotion. Jeanne will encourage you to work freely and see how each mark adds depth and dimension.Before dinner, you will have time to relax, take a walk through the gardens, or keep experimenting with your materials. Gather for a three-course dinner paired with wine and close the day in good company, surrounded by the creative energy that has carried through every moment.

### Day 7: Art at the venue
Start your last full day with breakfast with Jeanne and the rest of the group. Take some time to talk about what you've made this week and think about how your work has changed over time.Spend the morning gathering your favorite sketches and studies from the week. Spread them across your workspace and begin selecting pieces to include in your handmade book. Jeanne will guide you through the process of arranging your pages. Use thread to bind drawings, collages, and altered works into a cohesive collection that reflects your creative journey. Add small fragments of vellum or torn paper between pages to create texture and depth. Paint or draw into the pages as you assemble them, allowing each spread to hold a different part of your story.Take a break for lunch, then return to the studio for the final session of the retreat. You will finish the day by hand-stitching a portrait on vintage French linen. Explore how embroidery can become another form of mark-making, adding quiet rhythm and tactile detail to your work. Jeanne will move through the room, offering feedback and encouragement as you complete your final piece.As the afternoon draws to a close, arrange your finished works, books, and stitched portraits across the tables. Take time to appreciate how your pieces connect and how your approach has shifted through the week. A three-course farewell dinner with wine brings the retreat to a close, a last evening filled with laughter and the satisfaction of a week fully spent in creativity.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast with Jeanne and your fellow artists, and get ready for your transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Toulouse (TLS). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:30 AM.

## Instructors

- [Jeanne Oliver](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/instructors/jeanne-oliver) — Artist, teacher, author, and art business consultant

## Accommodation

### Historic French Estate
Your retreat venue is a historic estate, set on 75 acres of private land in the rolling countryside of Lot-et-Garonne, France. Encircled by beautifully landscaped gardens, with every window offering panoramic views of the surrounding fields and woodlands, it provides an inspiring and peaceful setting for your art classes. The surrounding Lot-et-Garonne region is a picturesque blend of vineyards, medieval villages, and open countryside.Designed for both comfort and creativity, the estate offers a wide range of facilities, including a heated swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court, antique Steinway grand piano, and a home office. Savor chef-made meals on the two outdoor dining terraces, an outdoor bar, a large seating area, and a wood-fired pizza oven. The estate gardens cover five acres, featuring vegetable and herb gardens, woodlands, and two tranquil ponds, all providing picturesque spots to sit, reflect, sketch, or paint.Your workshops with Jeanne can take place in three dedicated creative spaces, including a studio within the grange/barn next to the main house, a large 1,615 sq. ft. (150 sq. m.) open-plan studio. This spacious, well-lit space is fully equipped with tables and chairs for up to 24 participants. During warmer weather, sessions can also be held in the piano room inside the main house or in a smaller studio opening into the gorgeous estate gardens.The main house and its adjacent buildings feature a selection of spacious ensuite bedrooms, each blending historic character with modern amenities. All rooms have Wi-Fi access, and communal areas include both Summer and Winter salons, a fully equipped guest kitchen, a separate professional kitchen, and a cinema room for evening relaxation.

### Shared standard ensuite room
You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with another same-gender participant. Two shared standard ensuite rooms available for shared occupancy are located on the first floor of the grange. Each room is furnished with twin beds, a private shower bathroom, and benefits from WiFi access. Both rooms have doors that lead directly outside and include a private seating area. In each room, two same-gender guests will be sharing an ensuite bathroom.

### Shared superior ensuite room
You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with one other same-gender participant. Three shared superior ensuite rooms available for shared occupancy are located in the main château, each offering twin beds, a seating area, WiFi access, and air conditioning. One room is on the second floor, while the other two are on the third floor in the loft. These comfortable rooms provide easy access to the château’s common areas. Each room has access to an ensuite bathroom (with a shower and tub), shared with the other guest staying in the room.

### Shared deluxe room - private ensuite bathrooms
You will share this room with another same-gender participant, but each guest will have a private bathroom to themselves. One shared deluxe ensuite room is located on the second floor of the main château. This spacious twin room includes two separate private bathrooms, one with a shower and the other with a bathtub. The room is also equipped with air conditioning, WiFi, a seating area, and two separate dressing areas.

### Single standard ensuite room
Two single standard ensuite rooms are available for single occupancy. Located in the grange on the second floor, the rooms feature a super king bed, a private seating area, air conditioning, and WiFi.

### Single superior ensuite room
Two single superior ensuite rooms are available on the second floor of the main château. The rooms feature a super king bed, a private seating area, and WiFi.

### Single deluxe ensuite room
One single deluxe ensuite room is available on the second floor of the main château. This 375 sq. ft. (35 sq. m.) suite features a super king bed, two separate dressing areas, and two private ensuite bathrooms, one with a shower and one with a bathtub.

## Food

During your retreat, you’ll enjoy thoughtfully prepared meals that highlight fresh, locally sourced ingredients, offering a balance of hearty and lighter options. The menu features a mix of regional specialties and familiar dishes, designed to be both satisfying and well-rounded.Mornings begin with a generous breakfast spread, including a variety of teas, coffee, and both dairy and non-dairy milk. Fresh fruit, croissants, bread with butter, granola, Greek yogurt, and berries are available, along with biscuits, cakes, chips, and nuts for a quick snack.Lunch is presented buffet-style, featuring a rotating selection of seasonal dishes. In the evenings, you can enjoy a selection of canapés before a main course and dessert. You'll enjoy unlimited local wine with your dinner service. Additionally, you'll take part in a delightful wine-tasting experience at the venue.Tea, coffee, water, soft drinks and snacks are available throughout the day, whether you choose to enjoy them in the dining area or outdoors, surrounded by the estate’s natural beauty.The retreat includes all meals, except lunch on the full-day trip to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors.Please note that dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, can be accommodated upon request, though availability may be limited.

## Getting There

Surrounded by rolling hills and set within 75 acres of private land, the your venue for the retreat with Jeanne Oliver offers a peaceful haven with landscaped gardens, woodlands, and open countryside views. Located in the Lot region of southwestern France, it sits just outside Castelnau-Montratier-Sainte-Alauzie, a village known for its historic market square and 13th-century church. Toulouse is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes away and will serve as your pick-up/drop-off point for transfers.Your trips will include a full-day visit to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town with cobbled streets, riverside views, and antique shops, where you’ll have time to sketch, explore, and enjoy lunch at a family-run restaurant. Another full-day trip will take you first to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a clifftop village known for its wisteria-draped façades and panoramic views of the Lot River, before continuing to Cahors for a guided boat tour along the river, passing city landmarks, medieval towers, and the 14th-century Pont Valentré.Check-in at the retreat venue starts at 4:00 PM on October 3, 2026. Check-out is after breakfast on October 10, by 10:00 AM.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 and 10 minutes.Arrival Transfer:October 3, 2026 — 3:00 PM (leaving from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, arriving at the retreat venue at 4:00 PM)Departure Transfer:October 10, 2026 — 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: Le Rodier, 46170 Castelnau-Montratier, France, estimated cost of US$250 per way). Please note that taxi fares may vary.

## Reviews

Reviews from the past UpTrek retreat with Jeanne Oliver:"This was my first Uptrek and art retreat. Everyone on the Uptrek team was stellar. Very sociable, inviting, kind, caring, helpful and knowledgeable. Their attention to detail was impressive. Jeanne is a fantastic instructor. The week had a number of different projects (most I had never done before) and was done at a pace which made it very interesting and educational. Jeanne has a fun, relaxed approach to leading and was able to make this class challenging and fun for everyone from professional artists to beginners like me. The balance between outings and studio time was perfect.""My experience was great. I really enjoyed every aspect of the workshop. At times I struggled to make sense of some of the exercises, but Jeanne was great in going over the explanations with me and showing how it all fit into the overall purpose of the workshop. What a great teacher she is and so patient! I learned so much from her that will encourage and inform my art.""The classes with Jeanne were so wonderful. She is an amazing artist and human😊 I enjoyed every minute!""This retreat really exceeded my expectations. It was my first time combining travel to another country with an art workshop. I felt totally immersed in both aspects- art and the culture of France. I spent time at the start of my travel in Paris and by the time I got to the workshop I felt ready to explore creativity. Jeanne gave me so many ways to do that at the workshop and as a practice at home. Between museums and history and teaching from Jeanne and my fellow classmates, I felt immersed in art. Just what I wanted.""I learned so much and enjoyed Jeanne’s approach and teaching. The attention to detail from UpTrek, Jeanne Oliver, and Nico and Sophie all throughout was amazing, I am so grateful and would highly recommend.""Of course I could go on and on and on about Jeanne and Kelly. Zero complaints and only positive things to say about her teaching and authentic warm personality. I enjoyed that it was very art making focused as opposed to tours. The outings we did go on, seemed to be art focused and we could take them the more “shopping/recreation direction” if we wished. I loved that.""It was by far the best retreat I've been on. From Jeanne to the darling couple that own the property, who were the perfect hosts, it was really wonderful!"

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is this retreat available to all levels? This retreat welcomes all levels of experience, though you’ll benefit most if you already have some familiarity with Jeanne Oliver's work and style of teaching.When is the art retreat available?The retreat will take place between October 3 - 10, 2026.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 and 10 minutes away by car 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. Round-trip airport transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at prearranged times are included. For more information, see the Location tab. 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 October 3, 2026. Check-out is after breakfast on the last day at 10:00 AM, on October 10, 2026.What art supplies do I need for the art classes?A detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Jeanne Oliver will be provided five months before the retreat takes place. Art boards for the workshop component will be available at the venue.What’s the weather like in Lot-et-Garonne, France, in October?The weather in Lot-et-Garonne during that time is usually sunny and pleasant. You can expect average highs of 21°C / 70°F during the day that drop to around 10°C / 50°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 WiFi available?Yes.How many people are to be expected on the art retreat?Maximum of 17 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 art classes and other activities?The art 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. Please review our 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.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 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/portraits-and-sculpture-art-retreat-artist-jeanne-oliver-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:** 2026-03-10