Jewellery Making and Wellness Holiday

Highlights

  • Includes all meals, accommodation and train station transfers
  • Outings to spas, local markets, visit a gourmet restaurant and more
  • Stay in a picturesque farmhouse with large swimming pool
From £1829 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

Unleash your creative side and learn to make your own beautiful pieces of jewellery using silver, copper and bronze metal clays. When you’re not in the studio, you will be living the life with great food, wines, cultural activities, spa days, and plenty of time to take in the fresh countryside air.

Metal clays are new jewellery making products which are easy to mould and shape – just like clay – so you’re not limited to what you can design. Watch as the metal clay is fired and turns to pure silver before your very eyes, ready to be made into unique pieces of jewellery.

With expert tuition from your talented tutor Caroline, you’ll learn the art of jewellery making in the well-equipped studio and will design and make exquisite jewellery to take home with you at the end of your trip.

When you’re not in the studio, you will be living the life with great food, wines, cultural activities, spa days, and plenty of time to take in the fresh countryside air. With massage and reflexology treatments, spa time, a gorgeous inground pool, and bicycles for you to use whenever the feeling takes you.

Your meals are prepared by Adam, your host and in-house chef who makes sure you truly get to taste Gascony, using only the freshest and local products; all while pairing it up with the perfect regional wines.

You’ll stay in a stunning renovated farmhouse with its own swimming pool and 50 acres of land at your disposal. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind and your hosts Adam and Caroline will be on hand at all times to ensure your stay is as enjoyable as possible. There are also no single supplements for solo travellers, making this a fantastic holiday for singles.

Arrival

– Arrive at Agen train station in the afternoon to be greeted by your friendly hosts before being driven to the farmhouse where your holiday will begin
– Settle into your delightful room before getting to know your fellow students over delicious aperitifs
– Enjoy a social evening with a 3 course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse with three beautifully appointed guest en-suite twin/double bedrooms, and one of the main attractions of this farmhouse is its large open plan traditional kitchen. Guests can sit around the homely table, that seats 14 guests, and share delicious meals prepared by Caroline’s husband.

Attached to the farmhouse is a recently renovated gite. The gite has been sympathetically restored to a very high standard and also contains two twin/double bedrooms.

Features
– Set in 50 acres of parkland, an area of incredible natural beauty famous for its gastronomy and wines
– Outdoor swimming pool (12m x 6m)
– All twin/double bedrooms have private ensuite bathrooms
– Open plan farmhouse kitchen and large living area with TV
– WiFi available

Walking and relaxation treatments

– This morning you will walk 11km to a delightful local village market for coffee and croissants while discussing your activities with the rest of the group and your host, Caroline
– Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen, with views of the countryside all around to help inspire your creative side
– The afternoon will be spent relaxing and enjoying treatments of massage and reflexotherapy
– There will be free time to use all the on-site facilities before aperitifs are served by the pool
– A 3-course gourmet meal will then be served on the grounds or in the farmhouse kitchen, accompanied with local delicious wines

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Jewellery making workshop and afternoon spa visit

– Today will be all about learning about the wonders of fine silver metal clay/glass fusing and making some fabulous jewellery to take home with you
– Afternoon spa visit*
– A 3-course gourmet meal will then be served at the farmhouse

* Spa afternoons include a trip to private spa (pool, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi with bubbles poolside) or a traditional spa with indoor/outdoor pools, jets, several sauna rooms, etc.*

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Free Day

– Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen depending on the season
– Late afternoon you will visit a beautiful chateau famous for its aperitifs and wines for an afternoon of wine tasting
– Dinner will be served back at the farmhouse giving you time to relax in the lounge or by the swimming pool, or to take advantage of one of the onsite activities such as table tennis or cycling

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Electric bikes, gourmet restaurant and spa visit

– Morning walk to the pretty market town of Condom and eat in a gourmet restaurant
– Enjoy an afternoon at the spa*
– A 3-course gourmet meal will then be served on the grounds or in the farmhouse kitchen

* Spa afternoons include a trip to private spa (pool, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi with bubbles poolside) or a traditional spa with indoor/outdoor pools, jets, several sauna rooms, etc.*

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Jewellery making workshop

– Today will be spent finishing your chosen jewellery projects
– Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen
– You will be taught many basics of jewellery making in order to give you the maximum freedom to create your own designs
– A 3-course gourmet meal will then be served at the farmhouse

 

 

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Day Excursion

– This is a fun day out with the choice of a city visit (Toulouse or Bordeaux depending on the group’s wishes), along with a visit to the mountains, golf or spa; the destination will be decided upon your arrival

 

 

 

 

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Departure Day

– After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10am
– You are welcome to relax and enjoy some free time if your flight is not until later in the day

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in a private twin/double room
  • 2 jewellery making workshops
  • Access to the jewellery studio daily to work on your pieces
  • All materials and equipment for jewellery making
  • 1 day excursion to either Dune de Pila, Bordeaux city, the Pyrenees mountains or Biarritz, depending on the groups preferences
  • Vineyard visit and wine tasting session
  • Transport to and from all excursions
  • All breakfasts, lunches, and 3-course gourmet dinners daily
  • All refreshments (including wine etc)
  • A massage/reflexology treatment
  • An afternoon at the Spa
  • Pick up and drop off from Agen train station
  • Check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check out by 10am on day 8
Your local host

Caroline & Adam

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Location

Set in the heart of Gascony surrounded by 50 acres of private unspoilt meadows, the your farmhouse accommodation is tucked away in the Gascon countryside. Although the farmhouse is a rural retreat, the bustling picturesque towns of Nérac and Condom are within easy reach.

Nearest airports:
Toulouse (1hr 40min), Bordeaux (1hr 40min), Pau (2 hours) or Bergerac (2 hours)

Complimentary pre-booked train transfers:
Return transfers to and from Agen train station (30 minutes) are included in the course price.

Trains run to Agen from across the SNCF network from where you can take advantage of the free transfer. Optional private airport transfers can be booked for an additional cost.

What our travellers are saying...

I had a fantastic time and learnt new skills. The setting, hosts, and food were all first class. Caroline and Adam are great hosts and make you feel most welcome. I would highly recommend this course to everyone.

Elda

Everything about this holiday was wonderful the beautiful Gascony region of France, the hospitality of Caroline and her family, the local village markets, delicious foods and some great red wine... and I was surprised, I can make silver Jewelry - the course was perfect for a beginner like me!

L Johnson

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

Suitable for all abilities, dietary requirements will be catered for if these are communicated in advance of booking.

I'm travelling solo - can I join?

These holidays make great singles holidays as there are no single supplements and you will have your own private room for no additional cost. There is a discount for 2 people travelling together and sharing a room.

When can I start?

This holiday starts on Sundays and runs on set dates from March to November. Holidays run for 7 nights / 8 days.

Is there restricted mobility access?

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
- We generally do not recommend this location for those with restricted mobility.
- This holiday is based in the countryside, and does include some walking.
- The accommodation has no bedrooms or bathrooms on the ground floor, therefore one must be comfortable with stairs.

What can I do in my free time?

During your free time, there is plenty to do at your farmhouse accommodation including relaxing by the swimming pool (May-September). The accommodation offers a range of extracurricular activities onsite which are free of charge including table tennis, basketball, shooting, archery, cycling and board games to name a few!

There are numerous fêtes, music festivals and exhibitions in the surrounding areas through the year and your host Caroline will be happy to advise you during your stay. The closest towns are Nérac and Condom, and your host will be happy to suggest activities and transport should you wish to explore these during your stay.

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