Name: The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion
Start: 2024-11-20
End: 2024-11-24
Location: Domaine de Cazenac

Jean-Christophe Béchet is a French photographer born in 1964 in Marseille. His work focuses on street photography and urban landscapes, capturing everyday moments with sensitivity. He has authored several books and shares his approach to photography through various workshops. This immersion at Domaine de Cazenac is an opportunity to benefit from his experience in a setting conducive to creativity.

Within the historic Domaine de Cazenac, a photographic immersion will take place under the guidance of Jean-Christophe Béchet. From Wednesday, November 20 to Sunday, November 24, 2024, this workshop offers a stay in the heart of the Périgord Noir, where participants will explore photography in an inspiring setting. The 14th-century château provides modern facilities, including digital and analog labs, allowing participants to develop and print their work directly on-site.

Duration: Wednesday, November 20 to Sunday, November 24, 2024

Accommodation: Château de Cazenac, prestigious rooms

Activities: Photography at the château and its surroundings, digital and analog lab, editing, black & white prints

Services: Gourmet meals, access to sauna, pool, and tennis

Leica cameras will be available on site for those who wish to try them (2-3 models)

1 500 € per participant, including accommodation and meals

The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

Bordeaux St-Jean - Le buisson de Cadouin: 2 hours by train (TER) then 15 minutes by road to the Domaine.

Guests can arrange taxi bookings in advance for their journey to the Domaine.

Paris Montparnasse - Bordeaux St-Jean: 2 hours by TGV-LGV

Paris Orly to Brive la Gaillarde: 1 hour flight + 1h30 drive to the Domaine.

Paris CDG to Bordeaux Merignac: 1h15 flight + 2h15 drive to the Domaine.

From Bordeaux

From Paris

Born in 1972, Laurence Bost currently lives and works in Paris, though she never stays there for too long, as her paintbrushes are always on the move. 2022 began in the incomparable light of the banks of the Nile.

Laurence Bost is a self-taught artist (she only spent one season at the Etampes workshop) and began creating her first paintings just 15 years ago. Since 2012, she has exhibited her works annually at Galerie 26, Place des Vosges in Paris.

Laurence’s oil paintings stand out for their unique light. As if captured in the canvas, the light unfolds in rays of sunlight, reflections, and backlighting, giving her paintings an impression of a moment caught in time, a freshness of color, and an authenticity of the subjects. She enjoys outdoor painting, but she also sets up her easel in a library or a holiday garden. There, she captures the first ray of sunlight on the hallway rug, children playing in the grass, or the quiet moment of reading in the shade of a lime tree. Laurence transforms the everyday into something vibrant.

Live the experience of a unique artistic journey in the heart of the Dordogne Valley, from Monday, March 10 to Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Domaine de Cazenac and Laurence Bost invite you to participate at the second edition of this oil painting workshop, designed for artists of all levels.
The workshop takes place in the fairytale venue , where you will have access to bright and comfortable spaces, perfect to stimulate your creativity. More than that, an artist's studio entirely dedicated to the artistic practice, offering a true mind of inspiration.
Under the guidance of Laurence Bost, you will have the opportunity to deepen your oil painting techniques or simply let your imagination flow freely. It is a special moment to learn, experiment, and create in an exceptional environment.

The workshop is suitable for both beginners and advanced participants.

In summary, this workshop is a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts to perfect their painting skills in a stunning setting, surrounded by inspiring landscapes, while receiving personalized guidance from a talented artist.

5-night stay with accommodation in prestigious rooms

Access to the sauna, swimming pool, and tennis courts

Brushes of various sizes (special brushes for oil painting)

Tubes of Rembrandt brand paints: Mixed White - Yellow Ochre - Dark Cadmium Yellow - Alizarin Crimson - Vermilion Red - Olive Green - Biliary Green - Cinabre Green Medium - Raw Umber - Van Dyck Brown - Dark Ultramarine Blue - And other colors you like...

Arrival: Monday, March 10, 2025, from 2:00 PM
Departure: Saturday, March 15, 2025, after breakfast

The workshop will begin with a half-day or full-day dedicated to reviewing and/or learning the basic principles of classical painting. The subjects covered will vary each day, focusing on a central theme ranging from still life to portrait, as suggested by the artist, who will work with each participant individually and pedagogically to create a finished painting.

The price is €1500 per participant, including accommodation and meals from Monday evening to Saturday morning.

Jean-Marie Laclavetine was born in Bordeaux in 1954. A novelist and short story writer, he has been a member of the editorial committee of Gallimard Publishing since 1989. In this role, he has helped bring many French-language writers to prominence (Jean-Christophe Rufin, Carole Martinez, Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, Muriel Barbery, Boualem Sansal, Dai Sijie, David Foenkinos, Tristan Garcia, Leïla Slimani, Joffrine Donnadieu…). He has won numerous literary awards, including the 1999 Goncourt Prize for Lycéens for Première ligne and the Grand Prix for short stories from the French Academy for Le Rouge et le Blanc, a collection of short stories about the world of wine. He is also an Italian translator.

His last two books, Une amie de la famille (Marguerite Duras Prize) and La vie des morts, were published by Gallimard in 2019 and 2021. Since 2012, he has been leading writing workshops at Gallimard Publishing.

Jean-Marie Laclavetine, one of the leading contemporary French novelists, invites you to take part in his writing workshop from Monday 17th to Friday 21st of March 2025. This highly anticipated first workshop, already meeting with great success, offers a unique immersion in the art of storytelling.
Over five days, in a calm and inspiring environment, Jean-Marie Laclavetine will guide you through practical exercises and group workshops to explore the mechanics of narrative, the structure of storytelling, and the craft of writing. 

Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced writer, this workshop will help you develop your own voice and refine your style under the guidance of a recognized author.
This workshop is an opportunity to create, share, and grow alongside a passionate and experienced writer.

This immersion workshop offers participants personalized guidance in the practice of literary writing. The goal is not to provide an infallible recipe for writing a novel, but to help each individual to move forward in their personal reflection and develop their own tools for crafting a novel, a story, or a short story. The work will be based on texts produced on-site, or on excerpts from ongoing literary projects. Learning to write is, above all, a personal journey. It is about becoming aware of the unique powers of writing: a tool for exploration, understanding of the world, a source of anxiety, but also an instrument of pleasure, surprise, and laughter.

The proposed exercises will provide a foundation for reflection applicable to any literary writing practice: choosing the right word, seeking conciseness, precision, and effective metaphors, etc. We will also focus on more specific aspects of novel writing: the opening (incipit), the various phases of narrative development, the ending, choosing a title, using tenses, intermediate scenes, the issue of narrative point of view... 

The exercises will be tailored to the personalities of the participants and the evolving dynamics of the group. The objective is to enable each participant to progress on an ongoing literary project or to initiate a new project, inspired by the reflections generated during the workshop.

Duration: From Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 24, 2025

Accommodation: Château de Cazenac, prestigious rooms

Activities: Immersion and personalized support in the practice of literary writing.

Services: Gourmet meals, access to sauna, swimming pool, and tennis.

Price: €1500 per participant includes accommodation and meals from Monday evening to Friday morning.

Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher by AFYI (French Association of Iyengar Yoga)

Myriam Chaigneau has been teaching for 11 years, and her experience with Iyengar Yoga began more than 25 years ago, an encounter that immediately felt like a natural fit for her.

Her exploration of the Asanas is endless and is continuously enriched by attending workshops and weekly classes with other teachers. This path leads to the harmonization of the body, the mind, and self-knowledge.

"Only self-knowledge can free you from fear. Self-knowledge is the beginning of wisdom and the end of fear." 

Immerse yourself in a deep and luminous experience, from Monday, March 24 to Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the heart of Iyengar Yoga practice, guided by Myriam Chaigneau.

Come recharge and rejuvenate in the idyllic setting of the Domaine de Cazenac, a place where calm and bliss meet, offering the perfect atmosphere for the blossoming of your practice. This retreat is an invitation to explore the many benefits of Iyengar Yoga, regardless of your level of experience.

Under the guidance of Myriam Chaigneau, you will delve into the subtleties of postures, alignment, and breath, respecting your individual abilities and pace. Iyengar Yoga, with its precise and methodical approach, will help you develop strength, flexibility, and serenity, while cultivating a deep connection between body and mind.

Your days will be filled with practice and meditation sessions, held in bright and welcoming spaces, providing a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation. This is a rare opportunity to deepen your practice, explore new dimensions of Yoga, and find a harmonious balance amidst the beauty of nature.

A retreat to recharge, reconnect, and rediscover yourself in a timeless, tranquil setting.

Ce stage est ouvert à tout pratiquant ayant 2 ans de pratique de yoga , Iyengar ou autres.

Accommodation in the château, in prestigious rooms

4 full days + a half-day on Saturday morning (lunch included).

- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Deepening of the postures

- 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Relaxation, Pranayama, Meditation

- Morning from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM: Followed by lunch

The price is €1500 per person, including accommodation and meals from Monday evening to Saturday lunchtime.

Hélène DUPLANTIER has been teaching for 35 years at the Ateliers du Carousel in Paris, which is part of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD).

She has taught drawing, urban landscapes, travel journals, watercolor, and mixed techniques to children, teenagers, and adults.

She has organized workshops in art centers, at La Fémis, and the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. She has exhibited in various galleries in France and Spain.

In March 2024, she will exhibit at the Eric Licoys Gallery in Paris.

After the success of the first edition, Domaine de Cazenac and Hélène Duplantier invite you to the second edition of their watercolor workshop, from Monday 21st to Saturday 26th of April 2025, in the heart of the Dordogne Valley.
This workshop offers you the opportunity to work in a natural and inspiring environment The artist’s studio, dedicated to creativity, will be at your disposal, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your practice.
Passionate about landscape painting, Hélène Duplantier will guide you with care and attentive insight, encouraging you to capture the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, you will learn to work in harmony with nature, exploring the fluidity and lightness of watercolor in an exceptional setting.

This workshop is open to those who have already practiced painting or drawing.

Accommodation at the domain in prestigious rooms

Access to Tennis, Sauna, and Swimming Pools

5 Days – Arrival Monday afternoon, departure Saturday after lunch.

- 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Final morning session followed by lunch.

The price is €1500 per participant, for accommodation in the château, and €1300 for accommodation in the Domain, in a single room, including meals from Monday afternoon to Saturday lunch.

Marjan Seyedin, a Franco-Iranian artist born in 1979, has been practicing engraving and drawing for over twenty years. Her prints, primarily monochrome animal portraits, have earned her multiple awards in France.

After obtaining a Master’s degree in Graphic Arts at Azad University in Tehran, Marjan Seyedin moved to France in 2003. She graduated from the École des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg and earned a Doctorate in Fine Arts in 2017 at Marc Bloch University in Strasbourg.

She has participated in three artist residencies: at the Dufraine Foundation (Vexin, France) with a grant from the Academy of Fine Arts, in China at the Guanlan Printmaking Base, and in Spain at the Casa de Velázquez (French Academy in Madrid) from 2015 to 2016.

Marjan's work has been recognized with the Grav’x 2007 award in Paris, as well as the Pierre Cardin Prize from the Academy of Fine Arts in 2010. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in France, Iran, and the United States. After presenting a solo exhibition in 2017 at the Shirin Gallery in Tehran, Marjan Seyedin’s works were showcased in 2018 in her first solo exhibition in France at Galerie Documents 15, where she will hold her second solo exhibition in September 2025.

Marjan reinterprets traditional engraving techniques—primarily etching, aquatint, and drypoint—through a contemporary and poetic lens. In her works, animals play an essential role, serving as allegorical and symbolic representations, reflecting human nature through their depiction. Marjan draws her inspiration from the animal world—a realm of dark, silent creatures, moving in compact groups or wandering alone, with closed or wide-open eyes—allowing her to express a certain vision of humanity and human nature.

Following this path, she has begun a new series in which she intertwines various literary and visual references. By linking them to autobiographical elements, she creates a theatrical pictorial narrative. This is a theater where the actors—sometimes humanized animals with masked faces—draw the viewer into the depths of human existence, confronting them with the ambiguity of the human soul. It is a “human comedy” where realism merges with allegory and symbolism to explore the universal themes of humanity: inner conflicts and the dualities that define human beings—reason and madness, good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, light and darkness.

Experience a unique artistic journey in the heart of the Dordogne Valley, from Monday, April 28 to Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Domaine de Cazenac and Marjan Seyedin invite you to participate in an engraving workshop.

The workshop takes place in the enchanting setting of the estate, where you will enjoy bright and comfortable spaces to express your creativity. A dedicated artist studio will be at your disposal—a true haven of inspiration, perfect for artistic exploration and creation.

Under the guidance of Marjan Seyedin, you will have the opportunity to refine your engraving techniques or simply let your imagination run free. A privileged moment to learn, experiment, and create in an exceptional setting.

5-night workshop with accommodation in prestige rooms.

Access to the sauna, swimming pool, and tennis court.

Arrival: Monday, April 28, 2025, from 2:00 PM.

Departure: Saturday, May 3, 2025, after breakfast.

During the engraving workshop, participants will explore the technique of intaglio printing. The design is engraved onto a metal plate, the surface is prepared, the drawing is transferred, and ink is applied to the engraved plate. A historic press once owned by Aldo Crommelynck, renowned for his collaborations with Picasso, will be available in the studio for printing the works on paper.

Workshops will be held in the morning from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

The cost is €1,500 per participant, including accommodation and meals from Monday evening to Saturday morning.

Within the historic Domaine de Cazenac, a photographic immersion will take place under the guidance of Jean-Christophe Béchet. From Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025, this workshop offers a stay in the heart of the Périgord Noir, where participants will explore photography in an inspiring setting. The 14th-century château provides modern facilities, including digital and analog labs, allowing participants to develop and print their work directly on-site.

Duration: Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025

The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

By Jean-Christophe Béchet

The Workshop

Stay essentials

equipment

Rate

About
Jean-Christophe Béchet

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The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

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The Art of Storytelling

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The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

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The Workshop

Stay essentials

equipment

Rate

AboutJean-Christophe Béchet

More workshops

Between Shadows and Lights

By Laurence Bost

The Art of Storytelling

By Jean-Marie Laclavetine

Yoga Iyengar Workshop

By Myriam Chaigneau

Watercolor Workshop

By Hélène Duplantier

Engraving Workshop

By Marjan Seyedin

The Spirit of the Place: A Photographic Immersion

By Jean-Christophe Béchet

The Art of Storytelling

By Jean-Marie Laclavetine

About
Jean-Christophe Béchet