summer retreat

Situated in the department of Haute-Garonne, one hour from Toulouse and its international airport, Château Rieucazé is nestled at the top of a hill, offering captivating views of the valley and the Pyrenées mountains to the south. Located on the edge of a tiny village, the main house is backed by a courtyard of eighteenth century barns and enjoys 10 acres of park and gardens ensuring complete privacy. 

The historic château was constructed in 1786, just 3 years prior to the outbreak of the French Revolution, belonging to the family of the Comte Du Pac until 1960. The property encompasses a sprawling park with gardens designed under different themes: French, English, Asian and Mediterranean. The grounds also includes a large pond where koi fish and wild ducks swim, a salt-water pool, a handmade mosaic Hammam, a weight room and a large greenhouse.

The château can host up to 14 people in 8 rooms, with either private or shared bathrooms. The interiors of the house have been meticulously restored, preserving numerous period features, including intricate plasterwork, marble fireplaces, wainscotting and beautifully detailed hardwood floors throughout the main rooms. The house has been artfully revived to recapture its authentic charm and elegance, balanced with modern elements and imbuing it with the enduring ambiance of a genuine home.

The retreat runs from Saturday to Saturday and include two daily classes and two vegetarian meals. The program throughout the week has a strong foundation in meditation, pranayama and asana infused with eastern philosophy & spirituality. 

The morning asana practice will be dynamic Vinyasa style designed to refine the biomechanical actions of establishing a strong foundation, powerful core integration and individual expression in each pose. The evening session will be a gentle Yin & Restorative yoga class to calm the mind and relax the body after a day of sightseeing, hiking or mountain-biking. Both yoga classes are open to all levels of experience or fitness and will be offered in English.

Sample Daily Schedule:

8:00 to 10:30        Meditation, pranayama & dynamic asana practice

11:00 to 12:00       Brunch

12:00 to 18:30       Free time to enjoy the property or sightsee

18:30 to 19:30      Gentle yin & restorative practice

20:00 to 21:00     Dinner

Discover the beauty of the Pyrenées region and treat yourself to a week of transformative yoga practices, delicious healthy meals, relaxing facilities, historic surroundings and meaningful connections to like-minded people.

Included in the price

• 7 nights of accommodation in single, double or dorm rooms 

• 6 vegetarian brunches and 6 vegetarian dinners (Tuesday evenings are off for participants to explore dinning in the area)

• all classes and discussions

• yoga room fully equipped with mats, bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps

Not included in the price

• Flight or train to Toulouse

• Rental car or transfer to/from the retreat center

• Day trips

• Bike rentals

• Massages

Cost per person in Euro

Euro 1,400. - For shared accommodation in a dorm of 4 beds

Euro 1,800.- for shared accommodation in a double room

Euro 2,200.- for private accommodation in a single room

Check in / Check out

You should aim to check in at the retreat center on Saturday after 16:30. The center is unable to receive guests before that time, so please organize travel arrangements accordingly. There will be a meet & greet at 7:00 pm, followed by an opening dinner.

Your first class will be on Sunday morning.

Check-out is the following Saturday at 10:30.

Flight / Transfer

Occitania Retreats is located one hour south from Toulouse airport, with direct flights to 83 cities in 20 countries. Book your flights far in advance to take advantage of better prices. For those coming by public transportation, you can take a direct bus from the airport to Toulouse main train station (Toulouse Matabiau) and from there a one hour train takes you to Saint Gaudens, a town just 10 minutes away from Occitania Retreats. Finally from Saint Gaudens, you can book a 10-minute taxi in advance to Rieucazé.

Rental car

We definitely recommend that you share a car rental with other participants for this week, and we can help you coordinate that. Occitania Retreats is wonderfully secluded in nature, surrounded by rolling hills and forests that are great for hiking or biking through lovely villages, fields, and forests. The cities of Toulouse and Lourdes are also easily explored in an afternoon, as they are each just an hour away.  

Bookings / Deposit 

A non-refundable/non-transferable deposit 300 EUR/per person is required to save your spot. The remainder is due one month before the retreat starts.