Château Ventenac

Posts Tagged ‘Chateau holidays’

It’s springtime here on the Canal du Midi. The boats once again ply to and fro, fresh green leaves are appearing on the vines and blossom is everywhere. The bright Languedoc sunshine emphasises the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees.

View of the Pyrenees from Chateau Ventenac

The spring season of courses is underway at Chateau Ventenac. At the end of March we were delighted to welcome Tamar Yoseloff as the tutor for our first poetry workshop of the year.

Eight poets and two non-writing partners came together, here in Southern France, for a six-night workshop. The theme of the week was “The Poem Sequence – Its Narrative and Form”. It was a time for experienced poets who were working on a sequence to experiment with different ways of extending their drafts, or exploring in more detail a particular narrative or theme. Some of the Poets were in the early stages of their work, while others were busy preparing a book for publication.

Tamar Yoseloff reads to the group after dinner

Lunch on the Terrace at Chateau Ventenac

For most of the week we had glorious weather – the sun-beds came out and there were requests for sunscreen and hats!!

There are lots of shady places around the garden and during the warm afternoons it was common to see people scattered about on the terrace, under trees or down by the swimming pool, writing away, preparing for the evening gathering – where the group came together over a glass of wine to discuss the day.

One of the participants Ann Vaughan Williams sent me this review of the week that I thought it would be nice to share. Thanks so much Ann!

REVIEW of CHATEAU VENTENAC POETRY WORKSHOP MARCH 2012 

We reached Chateau Ventenac by Eurostar from St Pancras to Lille and then SNCF to Narbonne and balmy, breezy Languedoc with its distant backdrop of the Pyrenees.

We were immediately enchanted by the chateau, warmly restored and taking in a panoramic view. We would assemble on the veranda or terrace for well-timed drinks in the sunny dappled light under clumps of wisteria. There was no procrastination: we settled into readings and writing exercises, soon translating a Baudelaire sonnet as if we did it all our lives. We tackled the poem sequence in its angles, well-fuelled by organic food and freely running wine from the cellar of our attentive hostess Julia. Energetically meeting every need, she runs the course with her partner Philip and a team of talented chef and hands-on waitresses and gardener. One feels part of a structured as well as relaxed and dedicated community. We were welcomed with glasses of bubbly and cassis.

There were so many places to ensconce oneself in writing and sharing with eight course members, and each of us had an hour’s individual tuition over the week. We worked hard, one way and another, and were amply rewarded with results. Tamar Yoseloff has an avid following and we were glued together under her tutelage.  It felt like a real holiday as there were no chores to do; it was 100 per cent writing and reading and talking time and everyone shared their considerable talents as the week proceeded.

There were three non-writing partners, and mine was enthralled by the resident hoopoe bird and the two black swans who combed the canal each day. It was easy to have a promenade to refresh the body and mind. On the last night we read our work to the not unwilling household; and enjoyed the open fire that was lit as the weather suddenly changed to rain, much needed for the vineyards. 

The weather can be variable so a good mix of clothing is needed. You can also expect to keep fit as the Chateau is built on several levels and the stone steps present challenges, which helps to justify tucking into the healthy, delicious, artistically presented food, all of which was locally sourced. There were plenty of good books to read and comfortable chairs to sit in.

I had not imagined a retreat could be so rewarding. I was reminded of Arvon Writing Courses in Yorkshire and Devon, which started my writing career nearly twenty years ago. This experience threw me back to the memories of those germinations. To spend a week with one’s writing, with other minds at hand is a fecund experience. The only extra costs were the lifts to and from local arrival points.  All meals and services were otherwise included. It was a memorably generous week.

Ann Vaughan-Williams

Sorry to disappoint those of you who were still hoping to book for May 2012 Vegetarian Cookery Course with Rachel Demuth at Chateau Ventenac, but this course is now full.

The good news is that Rachel Demuth has agreed to come again to host a second, autumn themed cookery course at Chateau Ventenac in October 2012.

We have just announced the dates – 8th to 12th October 2012 - and are now taking bookings. It is starting to fill up so if you are interested do get in touch soon.

Join the Vegetarian Cookery School for a culinary break in the beautiful surroundings of Chateau Ventenac, a 19th century stone castle in the Languedoc region of Southern France. Our five day/four night residential course will give you the opportunity to learn seasonal Mediterranean cookery with Rachel Demuth, owner of the award winning Demuths Restaurant in Bath,UK

The vegetarian course includes four cookery sessions with a combination of hands on cookery and demonstration where we will create delicious Mediterranean meals together using the best seasonal vegetables, local oils and wines.  We will visit a local market, visit local producers and have a special wine tasting with Juliet Bruce Jones, Master of Wine.

Early October is usually the end of the grape harvest in the Languedoc. It may be possible to tour a winery and see the early wine making process in action.

For more details see the website