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Creative courses > Art > France
We take pride in offering exclusive painting and sketching holidays which are fully flexible and tailored to your individual requirements. Our aim is to welcome you to an inspirational, creative yet relaxing holiday, at the same time giving you a taste of the rich cultural, historic and gastronomic heritage of this beautiful region. Our Full-board Painting courses run from March to end June and September to late November. We can accomodate a maximum of 6 people, not all of whom need to be participating artists - non artists are most welcome too. At the other end of the spectrum you may prefer to rent the gite with other artist or non artist friends or family, do your own catering, and decide on a few hours’ or days’ tuition either here or on an excursion to one of the many painting locations.
The choice is yours - this is your holiday and our aim is to make it a truly memorable one for you, whatever your aspirations. The options are many - please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements for an individual quote.
Our small group-size enables us to be fully flexible with regard to all aspects of your stay: Booking dates- you may choose your own, and do not have to book Saturday-Saturday, which enables you to take advantage of cheaper midweek flights and arrange stays of longer or shorter than a week if desired.
Material and techniques- Rodney is a talented teacher in most media, so you can choose what to bring. You may well have your own tried and tested favourites- or why not branch out into something new?
Subject matter- Ariege is a landscape painters paradise from its high peaks to its gentle valleys, with wonderful architectural gems. You can choose panoramic views, detailed water studies,the colourful local market - and much, much more.
For examples of his work (both 2-and 3D, please see our website,www.rodneymunday-sculptor.co.uk.)
Your meals will be provided by his wife, Eleri. A dedicated hostess, she is there to ensure that your stay is all that you could wish for. She delights in producing delicious meals from local produce, creating picnics, and for those who come as non-painting partners, she is never happier than when showing off this beautiful region!She also teaches French, so you could use this opportunity to improve your language skills.
The house faces directly west, and benefits from superb light, particularly in the dining room and upstairs lounge during the afternoons and evenings. The actual living space covers 120m2 and comprises, on the ground floor:
A large dining-room / living area with a cheerful wood burning stove, bibliotheque and sofa. A well equipped kitchen and bathroom.
From the dining room, a beautiful oak stairway leads you to the first floor, comprising:
A charming, light, chalet-styled bedroom, with double bed, cupboards and shelving. A second spacious bedroom in calm colours of beige white and pink which contains one double and one single bed, wardrobe and shelving.
A beautiful high-ceilinged lounge which can also be used as a bedroom if wished (the canapé cigogne converts to sleep 2 comfortably either as singles or a double). Here you have a television, a well stocked bookcase (both English and French), a large number of maps, walking-guides, and tourist information at your disposal.
The beautiful west-facing garden, planted with roses, clematis, honeysuckle and herbs is a truly magical setting for relaxing, or painting, or dining outside.
Nestling at 800m altitude beneath a castle built by Charlemagne, with the pretty hamlet of Arrous in the foreground, it offers stunning views towards the soaring 3000m peaks of the Spanish border. This is unspoilt France at its most authentic.
There is much to entice non-painting partners or accompanying family which can be built into your stay:
A wealth of outdoor activities-walking is quite simply superb. There is an excellent Centre Equestre nearby(lessons and balades), canoeing in the Salat, lake and river angling, and skiing at the family-oriented resort of Guzet-Neige. "Golf de l'Ariege" is about 1h away as is the Riviere Souterraine de Labouiche where you can take a boat trip through some phenomenal underground caverns.
Culture and history
Beautiful Gallo-Roman St Lizier adjoining St Girons is one of “les plus beaux villages de France”, and a UNESCO site, while medieval Foix and its chateau is 1hr away. Numerous Cathar castles, the world-famous Grottes de Lombrives/Niaux and Tarascon’s park of prehistoric art are all within a 2h radius, as are the Observatory of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Lourdes, Carcassonne and of course Toulouse, "La ville rose".
The nearest villages are Oust and Seix; between them they boast wonderful butchers and bakers, and an excellent selection of restaurants specialising in regional cuisine. Bustling St.Girons, with a large selection of shops, supermarkets and restaurants, not to mention a gloriously colourful Saturday market, is 20k away.
The region excels in local cheeses and meats- in summer you can visit cheese-making demonstrations in the beautiful Bethmale valley, and in the Salat Valley children can enjoy watching donkeys being milked to produce the soap "lait d'anesse". Donkey hire is also available above Seix, and several local centres offer days on horseback in the mountains.
Annual festivities and attractions
Most attractions for children open at Easter, and summer is obviously the season for festivities.
The transhumance (movement of animals to the high pastures) takes place on 3 consecutive weekends during late May/June in 3 separate valleys. You can follow on foot, by car, bike or on horseback, and will be warmly welcomed - but please note that this is part of the agricultural life of the area, not a spectacle put on specifically for tourists!!
The Tour de France passes close by every year during mid July .Perhaps best seen from the television, the atmosphere is nevertheless something to be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
July culminates with a truly spectacular display of fireworks and music -"St Girons en Fete" on the banks of the Salat.
August is a wonderfully colourful month- "Autrefois le Couserans" - a display of traditional agricultural customs- is a particularly joyous weekend festival in St Girons; The town also hosts "Le Festival de la Musique et des Danses"; St Lizier its " Nuits Gallo-Romains" and Foix the week-long son-et- lumiere "Il y etait une fois...."
Everywhere villages are "en fete" and "Marchés Nocturnes abound; Oust and Seix put on wonderful displays of fireworks. There is a superb series of concerts in the beautiful Cathedral of St Lizier; and for those willing to travel further, the Cathedral of St Bertrand de Comminges. More energetically,you can take part in the Punjada- an annual shared French/Spanish picnic at the Port de Salau on on the Spanish border - the views are worth the 4hour walk!
Exclusive Painting Holidays in the Pyrenees with Rodney Munday
Provider:
Rodney and Eleri Munday
Location: Miramont, 09140 Oust, Ariege, France
Location: Miramont, 09140 Oust, Ariege, France
Participants:
5 or less
Phone: +44 (0)1279-843652
Holiday / Activity Overview:
If you have ever dreamed of painting soaring peaks,swirling skies, crystal-clear lakes and waterfalls and much, much more, all in the context of a welcome into a traditional French hamlet home, then this is the holiday for you.We take pride in offering exclusive painting and sketching holidays which are fully flexible and tailored to your individual requirements. Our aim is to welcome you to an inspirational, creative yet relaxing holiday, at the same time giving you a taste of the rich cultural, historic and gastronomic heritage of this beautiful region. Our Full-board Painting courses run from March to end June and September to late November. We can accomodate a maximum of 6 people, not all of whom need to be participating artists - non artists are most welcome too. At the other end of the spectrum you may prefer to rent the gite with other artist or non artist friends or family, do your own catering, and decide on a few hours’ or days’ tuition either here or on an excursion to one of the many painting locations.
The choice is yours - this is your holiday and our aim is to make it a truly memorable one for you, whatever your aspirations. The options are many - please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements for an individual quote.
Our small group-size enables us to be fully flexible with regard to all aspects of your stay: Booking dates- you may choose your own, and do not have to book Saturday-Saturday, which enables you to take advantage of cheaper midweek flights and arrange stays of longer or shorter than a week if desired.
Material and techniques- Rodney is a talented teacher in most media, so you can choose what to bring. You may well have your own tried and tested favourites- or why not branch out into something new?
Subject matter- Ariege is a landscape painters paradise from its high peaks to its gentle valleys, with wonderful architectural gems. You can choose panoramic views, detailed water studies,the colourful local market - and much, much more.
Guide / Holiday Course Tutor
Your Tutor is Rodney Munday, a professional artist with an international reputation. Although better known for his sculpture, he has in the Pyrenees returned to his love or 2D work, inspired by the extraordinary beauty of the scenery and exceptional quality of the light. His relaxed and friendly approach brings out the best in all his pupils, beginner and more accomplished alike.For examples of his work (both 2-and 3D, please see our website,www.rodneymunday-sculptor.co.uk.)
Your meals will be provided by his wife, Eleri. A dedicated hostess, she is there to ensure that your stay is all that you could wish for. She delights in producing delicious meals from local produce, creating picnics, and for those who come as non-painting partners, she is never happier than when showing off this beautiful region!She also teaches French, so you could use this opportunity to improve your language skills.
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Pricing information
An all inclusive, fully structured 7 night stay includes: 6 days tuition/transport (to include 1 free day exploring if you prefer); all meals (continental breakfast, light/picnic lunch, evening meal with wine/aperatif) and a meal in one of the many delightful local restaurants if wished. We also transport to and from Pau, Carcassonne or Toulouse airports at a rate of £120 for up to 6 people. Materials- we supply easels and stools, and can provide materials at cost if required(this may be of particular interest to beginners). Not included- flights and insurance.Full -board Painting holidays
- Per week, based on 2 people sharing
- Non painting partners
- Group bookings - 4 or more attract a discount per participating artist of
- Private tuition -1 person for 1 week
Gite rental- (see website link)for 2-4 or 2-6 pers
- V. high Season (July- August)
- High season (other school holidays)
- Mid-season May-June, Sept-Oct excluding holidays
- Low season November-April excluding holidays
- 2 persons only mid/low season
- Occasional full or half day tuition (6h or 3h)
- For periods less than 3h, and meals
- Prices
- £750 pp
- £450 pp
- £100
- £900
- Prices
- £550/800
- £500/700
- £450/625
- £400/550
- £350
- £150/75 for up to 6 persons
- please see website link
Your accommodation:
“Le Pichet” is a traditional mountain house built, as are many in the region, partly into the hillside. It adjoins “La Carrette”, the former farmhouse which we now also own, and which is our separate accommodation during your stay. Over the last 18 years we have lovingly restored Le Pichet to retain as much as the original stonework as possible (such as the “pas d’oiseaux” originally built for thatching purposes; in replacing the roof, we have kept and used wherever possible the beams of the old structure.) Tastefully furnished, and now hung with paintings by Rodney and embroideries by Eleri, we are proud to welcome you into this part of our home.The house faces directly west, and benefits from superb light, particularly in the dining room and upstairs lounge during the afternoons and evenings. The actual living space covers 120m2 and comprises, on the ground floor:
A large dining-room / living area with a cheerful wood burning stove, bibliotheque and sofa. A well equipped kitchen and bathroom.
From the dining room, a beautiful oak stairway leads you to the first floor, comprising:
A charming, light, chalet-styled bedroom, with double bed, cupboards and shelving. A second spacious bedroom in calm colours of beige white and pink which contains one double and one single bed, wardrobe and shelving.
A beautiful high-ceilinged lounge which can also be used as a bedroom if wished (the canapé cigogne converts to sleep 2 comfortably either as singles or a double). Here you have a television, a well stocked bookcase (both English and French), a large number of maps, walking-guides, and tourist information at your disposal.
The beautiful west-facing garden, planted with roses, clematis, honeysuckle and herbs is a truly magical setting for relaxing, or painting, or dining outside.
About the local area:
Your base will be the beautiful and tranquil hamlet of Miramont, a perfect centre for exploring and painting this idyllic region, or simply relaxing among the magnificent surroundings.Nestling at 800m altitude beneath a castle built by Charlemagne, with the pretty hamlet of Arrous in the foreground, it offers stunning views towards the soaring 3000m peaks of the Spanish border. This is unspoilt France at its most authentic.
There is much to entice non-painting partners or accompanying family which can be built into your stay:
A wealth of outdoor activities-walking is quite simply superb. There is an excellent Centre Equestre nearby(lessons and balades), canoeing in the Salat, lake and river angling, and skiing at the family-oriented resort of Guzet-Neige. "Golf de l'Ariege" is about 1h away as is the Riviere Souterraine de Labouiche where you can take a boat trip through some phenomenal underground caverns.
Culture and history
Beautiful Gallo-Roman St Lizier adjoining St Girons is one of “les plus beaux villages de France”, and a UNESCO site, while medieval Foix and its chateau is 1hr away. Numerous Cathar castles, the world-famous Grottes de Lombrives/Niaux and Tarascon’s park of prehistoric art are all within a 2h radius, as are the Observatory of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Lourdes, Carcassonne and of course Toulouse, "La ville rose".
The nearest villages are Oust and Seix; between them they boast wonderful butchers and bakers, and an excellent selection of restaurants specialising in regional cuisine. Bustling St.Girons, with a large selection of shops, supermarkets and restaurants, not to mention a gloriously colourful Saturday market, is 20k away.
The region excels in local cheeses and meats- in summer you can visit cheese-making demonstrations in the beautiful Bethmale valley, and in the Salat Valley children can enjoy watching donkeys being milked to produce the soap "lait d'anesse". Donkey hire is also available above Seix, and several local centres offer days on horseback in the mountains.
Annual festivities and attractions
Most attractions for children open at Easter, and summer is obviously the season for festivities.
The transhumance (movement of animals to the high pastures) takes place on 3 consecutive weekends during late May/June in 3 separate valleys. You can follow on foot, by car, bike or on horseback, and will be warmly welcomed - but please note that this is part of the agricultural life of the area, not a spectacle put on specifically for tourists!!
The Tour de France passes close by every year during mid July .Perhaps best seen from the television, the atmosphere is nevertheless something to be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
July culminates with a truly spectacular display of fireworks and music -"St Girons en Fete" on the banks of the Salat.
August is a wonderfully colourful month- "Autrefois le Couserans" - a display of traditional agricultural customs- is a particularly joyous weekend festival in St Girons; The town also hosts "Le Festival de la Musique et des Danses"; St Lizier its " Nuits Gallo-Romains" and Foix the week-long son-et- lumiere "Il y etait une fois...."
Everywhere villages are "en fete" and "Marchés Nocturnes abound; Oust and Seix put on wonderful displays of fireworks. There is a superb series of concerts in the beautiful Cathedral of St Lizier; and for those willing to travel further, the Cathedral of St Bertrand de Comminges. More energetically,you can take part in the Punjada- an annual shared French/Spanish picnic at the Port de Salau on on the Spanish border - the views are worth the 4hour walk!
How to Get Here:
By Air - Toulouse Blagnac is about 1h.30 away, Carcassonne, Lourdes and Pau within 2h. All are easily reached by flights from the UK, please ask if you need further information. By Rail - Toulouse has excellent connections, and we can arrange to collect you from there or any airport. By road- we are about an hour away from "la Pyreneene"the A64 Toulouse/ Bayonne autoroute(Jns 20 and 21).For those driving through France, we are about 800k from Calais, and 400k from Bilbao if you take the ferry from Portsmouth - detailed directions are sent on reserevation.Contact Exclusive Painting Holidays in the Pyrenees with Rodney Munday
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Comments
Geraldine Stirrat, Richmond. July 2010.
Geraldine’s comments are quite consistent with my feelings also. The two weeks here seem like a chapter rather than the few hurried notes that many holidays seem like. Time spent with Rodney in the mountains, ravines and by the water will be valued for a long time - not just for the encouragement and advice about the drawing and pastelwork we did but also for the companionship and generosity. Special. Many thanks to both.
Terry Crimmings, Twickenham. July 2010