Let’s Sketch in
in the south of france
2024
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Three 7Day Sketch Tours to choose from
“I spent 7 days with Erin in Trausse, France, sketching in the local villages. I learned a great deal and feel so much more confident about my sketching. I can even sketch in public! The area is beautiful - so much to see, do and sketch. Erin’s approach put me at ease and set me up for success. She gave me technical pointers and regularly asked how I was feeling about the process. Each day we sketched different subjects and locations, always with the same relaxed and fun approach. Knowing I was traveling alone, she & her husband Milton regularly checked in during ‘off hours’. I returned from my vacation with a sketchbook full of colorful memories, and I am already planning my next trip with Erin. Erin and Milton are lovely people who are passionate about showing others that sketching can be fun and uncomplicated. Thank you Erin, for showing me a new way of seeing and traveling! ”
LET’S SKETCH IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. 2024
7nights / 8days
JULY 2024
Saturday July 13th to Saturday July 20th 2024
Arrive in Beziers on Saturday July 13th. Depart Beziers Saturday July 20th
AUGUST 2024
Saturday August 17th to Saturday August 24th 2024
Arrive in Beziers on Saturday August 17th. Depart Beziers Saturday August 24th
SEPTEMBER 2024
Saturday September 1st - Saturday September 7th 2024
Arrive in Beziers on Saturday September 1st. Depart Beziers Saturday September 7th
COST: €2850pp
Deposit: €850pp
Non refundable but can be transferred to another of my tours within 12 months
ITINERARY- this may change but is what we’ll start with😀
Arrival Day One. Saturday. Free Day
We pick you up in Beziers at 4.00pm and bring you back to Hotel d’Alibert in Caunes Minervois, 5minutes from my village.
Frederic will help you settle into your room and later Milton and I will join you all for a relaxing evening dinner at Bar Fontaine nearby.
Sketch Day Two: Sunday
After breakfast - which Frederic will serve you from 7.30am, our driver will pick you up and bring you to my village of Trausse Minervois.
Milton will do tea and coffee for us in my upstairs studio and we’ll chat about our plans for the week ahead.
We’ll do our first sketch here.
For lunch we’ll go to a traditional French Bistro in the nearby village of Villeneuve. Actually the Truffle capital of the region.
Then a quick sketch after lunch near the old bridge over the river will complete our day.
Sketch Day Three: Monday
After breakfast our driver will take us to de Lastours where there are a group of Cathar Castles which were the last to hold out against the Crusaders in the 12th century.
We will sit below the steep peaks and sketch what we can see of the remains of 2 of the 5 castles above us.
Such a pretty little village in a rich and fertile valley nowadays a lovely village for holidaying.
We may even picnic under an old pear tree to complete our work.
Sketch Day Four: Tuesday
Let’s go to Market!
Olonzac Markets are some of the best around. There is an alleyway of food you will not believe. All is locally grown or made and they give you samples of everything from sausage to honey. Down the main road are cafes, baskets, hats, linen, beautiful clothing, tableware - all great quality.
Here we can do small sketches across our pages to get as many different things we see as possible.
Free Day Five: Wednesday
This day gives you a chance to relax and either shop and explore Caunes Minervois,
or have the driver take you to La Cite Carcassonne, one of the most visited castles in France.
Time to explore another Cathar fortress and learn the history of the town.
My students tell me that they really appreciate a day between sketch days,
but of course you can sketch to your heart’s content anyway.
Sketch Day Six: Thursday
A very exciting day today. One of the best wine tours in the region.
We meet our driver in the big carpark by the river and be whisked off to one of the two vineyards we’ll visit.
There will be tastings and you can try some quick sketches.
Lunch (included) will be a set menu at a beautiful village restaurant with wines to go with your food.
A great chance to sketch what’s on the table
Another vineyard will follow and you’ll have a chance to learn even more
about why the wines here are so special and different.
Sketch Day Seven: Friday
Today we’ll be sketching beside the Midi Canal and watching the barges and houseboats go by.
There’s a classic hump bridge over the canal which is fun to sketch.
Lunch here is delightful and I then want to show you the incredible second hand book barn over the bridge.
Sketch something here if you can stop looking at books - they are in all languages.
Departure Day Eight: Saturday
Enjoy a lovely breakfast in the courtyard and wish all your new friends a fond farewell.
The driver will pick you up at 8.30am and take you to Beziers Airport or train station by 10.00am.
That way you know to book your ongoing transport any time after 10.00am.
You will have the most marvellous memories from your stay in the Languedoc wine growing rural area of France.
I know you’ll return.😀
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WHAT’S INCLUDED
Pickup at Beziers Airport or Station at 4pm on the Saturday.
Drop off at Beziers Airport or Station on the following Saturday by 10.00am.
Daily sketching and tuition with Erin.
Fully Guided and organised visits to each location or village.
Private transport every day from Hotel d’Alibert in Caunes and return, to a different location each day.
History chats and info about the locations we visit with Milton.
Full day Wine tour with Vin en Vacances. Lunch included
NOT INCLUDED
Flights to and from Beziers
Accommodation - we suggest Hotel d’ Alibert in Caunes Minervois- 5mins from my village. Breakfast included.
Lunches or dinners
Sketch Kit
Travel Insurance
Personal spending
HOW TO GET THERE
Fly into Beziers or take a train to there, about 60mins from our village.
Be sure your flights or train arrivals get you there before 4.00pm
Beziers is a beautiful city in the Herault department in Occitanie Southern France.
We will advise the pickup points nearer the time of Arrival Day.
This is a very special experience just for yourself, a group of friends or your Art group.
Fully guided, Unique & Personalised Tours with private transport every sketching day to a different location.
Perfect for all levels of sketching and I work with you however experienced you may be.
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You’ll love the locations in and around Caunes Minervois- where you’ll be staying - plus the fascinating villages and Cathar castles we’ll be visiting.
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The minute you’re off your flight you are taken care of and can totally relax.
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Apart from daily sketching, we explore new places and learn the fascinating history of each.
We shop, discover, and enjoy different French restaurants for lunch.
Later in the week we take a truly wonderful day visiting two domaines for wine tasting with the best wine tour company in the region.
We then have a gorgeous lunch in a nearby restaurant and try the wines with our food.
Food and wine go together in France.
You’ll be staying at a beautiful old hotel (a former abbey) in the village of Caunes Minervois for the time you are here.
You can unpack and start feeling like a local
in this undiscovered historical and picturesque wine growing region in Southern France.
Erin Hill and Milton Hill are your organisers for these small more intimate tours.
It means we can more easily tailor our week to the things you’d most like to do.
Hotel d’ Alibert
Rue Saint Genes, 11160 Caunes- Minervois
Email Frederic to book your room: frederic.guiraud.dalibert@gmail.com
A 300yr old family owned former abbey.
All rooms are large with ensuites.
Daily breakfast.
Around €85 per night for one person. €95 per night for 2 people in a room.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
If you’re new to sketching you’ll need this sketch kit.
Sketch Kit - Available to order online if you’re in Australia, or get similar in UK, USA and France.
I’ve designed my custom sketch kit to be minimal and fit into your shoulder bag, ready at any moment.
It contains everything you need. Don't be tempted to bring more.
If you’re already a sketcher, bring your favourite sketch items.
Bring a folding stool if you like, a hat, sunglasses, sun lotion, money for incidentals, such as drinks and meals not included.
* Do get travel insurance - better safe than sorry.
* Come with a big happy smile and willingness to learn.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SKETCHING WITH YOU SOON
Hat on a hook and bee. Summer Kitchen Trausse.
Click the little icons below to see loads of my sketches on Pinterest and Instagram