RETREAT TO FRANCE

slow down AND RESET YOUR SPIRIT in southwestern france

Trip Style: Explore

AN 8-DAY CULTURAL JOURNEY THROUGH TOULOUSE, THE FRENCH PYRENEES & THE ARIÈGE COUNTRYSIDE

Trip Highlights

There’s a different rhythm to life in southwestern France. Mornings unfold slowly, markets fill medieval village squares, lunch stretches a little longer, and centuries of history are woven into the landscape around you. Our 8-day Retreat to France is an invitation to settle into that rhythm while exploring a fascinating corner of the country—from the pink-brick streets of Toulouse to the medieval villages and mountains of Ariège.

Begin in Toulouse, the “Pink City,” with its Roman roots and layers of history shaped by trade, religion and the medieval Cathars. Here, you’ll discover the story of pastel, the unassuming plant once known as the “blue gold” of southwestern France, and see how its distinctive blue dye is being brought back to life today. From Toulouse, we head into the countryside to a beautifully restored château surrounded by gardens, forest and the foothills of the French Pyrenees. This becomes your home base for slowing down, sharing meals and exploring the surrounding region.

Over the course of the week, you’ll build a deeper understanding of the region through the places you visit and the stories behind them. At Mirepoix, the market and timber-framed buildings reveal a medieval past that still feels present. At Montségur, a hike through the Ariège landscape leads to the ruins of a fortress deeply connected to Cathar history, with a picnic along the way. In Carcassonne, the enormous fortified city offers another window into the region’s medieval past. You’ll also get out into the countryside by bike, learn about regional agricultural traditions, and spend time simply enjoying the château itself.

And it wouldn’t be France without the food. Take part in a French cooking class, a hands-on way to explore the identity of the region through seasonal ingredients, wild herbs and the small culinary details that distinguish one French region from another. Share meals at the château and, if you’d like to extend the experience, join an optional chocolate, pastry and wine tour in Toulouse.

This is travel with room to breathe: culturally rich, deeply local and intentionally unhurried.

Book our 8-day Retreat to France starting at $5,495 per person. See all inclusions, itinerary details and complete pricing below.

why this trip?

What makes this journey special isn’t simply what you see. It’s the people who invite you to look a little closer—to understand the history behind a craft, the vision behind a restoration, or the work happening quietly to preserve a landscape and its traditions.

In Toulouse, you’ll take part in a pastel workshop with a woman who has dedicated herself to reviving a tradition that once made southwestern France famous for its distinctive blue dye. Pastel was once an important part of the region’s economy before eventually being eclipsed by imported indigo. Today, she is helping bring this piece of Ariège history back into the present, sharing not only the technique itself but the story of how a nearly forgotten tradition can find new life.

Your château is another expression of that same spirit. Its owner envisioned a restoration that would preserve the heritage and character of the property while incorporating environmentally sustainable and regenerative principles. The result is more than a beautiful place to stay—it’s a thoughtful example of how a historic property can be cared for in a way that respects both its past and its future. And because it is your home for the week, you have time to enjoy it: wander through the gardens and forest, rent a bike, book a massage, linger over a long meal or simply find a quiet place to sit and watch the day unfold.

You’ll see that same commitment to place when we bike to Atout Fruit, our Community Partner in the Aude and Ariège regions. The local association works to preserve the area’s fruit-growing heritage, including more than 600 old-variety fruit trees that have been planted or grafted along the region’s greenway. Getting there by bike gives you a chance to experience the landscape along the way, meet the people behind this work and see firsthand how traditional agricultural knowledge and biodiversity are being protected.

Throughout the journey, there is time to go beyond simply checking places off a list. You’ll have opportunities to hear the stories behind the region’s history and traditions, share meals with the people who help make the experience possible, and spend time in the landscapes that have shaped life here for generations.

Travel with Purpose. Every Traverse Journeys departure includes a contribution to a carefully selected Community Partner, supporting local organizations creating meaningful impact in the destinations we visit. Here, you’ll meet Atout Fruit, a local association working to safeguard the fruit-growing heritage of the Aude and Ariège regions. Your visit gives you a closer look at how local people are protecting agricultural biodiversity and knowledge for the future—and your trip contribution helps support that work.

Testimonials

About your host

Tegan Aileen

Tegan has been living in the Southwest of France since 2016 and has dedicated her life to helping women feel empowered in their bodies and their travel. For the past decade Tegan has been traveling off the beaten path throughout France discovering the secret history of its remote countryside. She is committed to sharing the abundance of her new home with travellers from around the world and offering them the best the french countryside has to offer. 

Trip Inclusions

SEE THE DAILY ITINERARY ON STELLER!

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