The French Retreat

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France
Yviers
The French Retreat

A place to get away from it all and find yourself: Yoga, Relationship Coaching, Family Constellations

Among the fields and vineyards of South Charente, The French Retreat is made up of an old manor house (maison de maitre), and a number of converted barns. It was designed to host workshops, events and courses which make the world a better place. We have capacity for 22 people in twin rooms and our food is highly acclaimed. There's a seasonal outdoor pool, table tennis and free Wi-Fi access. When w

e don't have courses on you can rent individual rooms as B&B/Chambre d'hote. The rooms are uniquely decorated in antiques and local brocante finds. South Charente varies between vineyards, wooded heath land and hills bordering Perigord. The gastronomic traditions of Pineau, foie gras, snails, and cognac are very much in evidence. With forest ponds, Romanesque churches castles, craft customs, gastronomic curiosities this region delights the senses. For the active there is riding, kayaking, river swimming, mountain bike trails and beautiful walks within easy reach.

24/08/2026

It fills my heart to have the Hoffman Process taught at The French Retreat this week. Even though Matthew Pruen has gone - it was the reason I founded The French Retreat - so he could work and not have to be away from home so much. So having his colleagues here doing the work he loved brings him a little closer

10/08/2026

I love the variety of retreats and people that come here. Farewell to the fab group from LONDON COO ROUNDTABLE - a community for startup and scale up Chief Operating Officers to share experiences and learn - and this week: enjoy wine tasting, yoga, river swimming, and laughter too. This lot were a blast. But now it’s time for me to enjoy the wonderful facilities we offer and lie by the pool drinking the pineau des Charentes they left behind. Thank you!

08/08/2026

Connect to yourself, your body and the earth at The French this autumn. Join me and for our ‘Discover your Medicine’ Retreat.

27/07/2026

Fire in Gironde Update. The UK press is not reporting entirely accurately (quel suprise.) This from the biggest regional paper: a “generally stable” situation, with no major developments to report” after a fifth night of firefighting… Follow the latest updates. So NO plans to evacuate Bordeaux whatever the Telegraph says…

19/07/2026

If you need some me time we have just thing at The French Retreat this autumn. We are always happy to chat about which retreat might suit you best.

18/07/2026

Come back to yourself in a place that holds you.

Our Autumn Equinox French Retreat, 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, has been created for the person who needs more than a change of scenery.

This is time away with purpose. Time to pause, reflect, release what no longer needs to be carried, and reconnect with the part of you that may have been buried beneath responsibility, noise or constant doing.

Held at 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗰 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲, you’ll have space to rest deeply, enjoy nourishing food, connect with nature and take part in practices that support healing, clarity and personal growth.

There will be ceremony, coaching, movement, reflection, nature-based practice and meaningful conversation, but also space to simply be. You do not have to arrive with everything figured out. You only need to feel the pull to step away from everyday life and listen more deeply.

And if the travel feels like the bit that might stop you, please know that support is available. We can help with travel plans and transfers so the journey feels simpler and more manageable.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘅 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁: 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲
𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝗬𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗻

To find out more and book your space 👇 Booking link in first comment

03/07/2026

What we do on our holidays….After a gruelling week in 40 degree heat providing a seamless retreat for Anna 🌿 yoga teacher + retreats we popped down to the coast for a few nights of sleeping in a pine forest, jumping in the wild waves of the Atlantic, eating oysters and sipping the odd glass of rosé. Heaven.

22/06/2026

One of the many delights of having a retreat centre is returning guests who become like friends. Our regular teacher is arriving on Wednesday. Only drawback? It’s 42 degrees today and too flipping hot to do anything except wash yoga mats and keep the shutters closed against the heat

21/06/2026

Today a fellow guitarist asked for a description of my French Guitar Adventurers retreat that takes place each year (next July is the 10th anniversary gathering at The French Retreat). Here is what I wrote:
"It is tricky to answer in a direct way - so my stock response is to suggest that a guitar playing level of around Grade 5 to 6 ABRSM helps. I also write arrangements for each gathering of players and this always uses standard musical notation so TAB is banned for the week (a deliberately provocative action!). Having said that the folks that attend each year always present an interesting variety of skills and many begin with worries about sight reading. All worries then evaporate as we get down to our slow, mindful technical practice each morning (aka guitar yoga) and then put in the hours preparing the ensemble music for the end of week concert. By this point all realise that notation quickly becomes an efficient aide memoire covered in personal hieroglyphs…
In recent years all the players have successfully managed to come ready and prepared to play standing up with a strap. FGA is now a standing guitar retreat which I am immensely proud of (I play all my concerts, recitals, concerti standing up). Many FGA folks also use guitars with a cut away and all play finger style on nylon strings. This is my preferred “work surface” of an instrument and I can advise as needed. Please ask further questions if this sounds puzzling in any way…
I hope you decide to come along, We have just one player space (plus guest/partner) remaining for 2026 and three observer spaces (plus partner)."

21/06/2026

THE MUSIC CONTINUES TODAY AT BRIGHTON OPEN AIR THEATRE.
ENTRY FROM 1PM MUSIC FROM 2PM.
BRING A PICNIC, COLD DRINKS, SUN HATS, GOOD VIBES AND MIDSUMMER LOVE TO THIS ANNUAL HAPPENING.
Thanks to everybody who came along to the beautiful Sussex church of St Mary & St Peter in Wilmington last night. A great gathering of old friends, new friends and music lovers. My Gary Southwell guitar made from a 5,000 year old English Black Oak sang out in this spiritual setting as did Julian Bream's debut recording guitar (Quine 2) in its fascinating cameo appearance when I play Giuliani and Turina.
So far a perfect Solstice weekend. Let's continue that in the sunshine this afternoon.
Here Comes the Sun indeed.

See link in bio
For tickets & further details www.richarddurrant.com/events
(photos Louise Durrant)

Adresse

La Loge
Yviers
16210

Téléphone

33545780479

Site Web

http://www.retreat.fr/

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