Crafting a Fairytale
Designed for crafting enthusiasts seeking a serene escape, our retreats offer dedicated time for creativity and relaxation, all while embracing the luxury of the France country side and rejuvenating your creative spirit.
Chateau du Jonquay is a newly renovated 17th Century Chateau in the French Normandy countryside. In a unique collaboration, Chateau owner Jane, alongside Crafter Emma and Social Media Manager Brittany, invite you to join a once-in-a-lifetime crafting retreat where you can fully immerse yourself in everything this beautiful location has to offer while unlocking your own creative potential.
Chateau Du Jonquay
The Crafts
Embriodery
In our embroidery workshop, you’ll learn timeless stitching techniques to create intricate designs. Inspired by the beauty of the French countryside, each piece will reflect the charm and elegance of the surroundings. This craft offers a chance to slow down, relax, and focus on detail, making it a perfect retreat activity.
KNitting
Explore the comforting art of knitting with our expert-led workshop. Whether you’re refining your skills or just starting out, you’ll learn new techniques while crafting your own handmade pieces.
Sketching
Immerse yourself in our sketching workshop, where you’ll explore the art of capturing the finer details of everyday objects and moments around the château. With a focus on technique and creative expression.
Watercolour Painting
Experience the beauty of the French countryside through our watercolour workshop, where you'll paint stunning pre-sketched scenes inspired by the charm of the château.
Visual Art Journalling
Create a visual art journal that captures your personal retreat experience. Using mixed media, you’ll combine sketches, watercolours, and other artistic techniques to document your time in France.
COMMUNITY meet like minded women from around the world
TRAVEL travel like a local, as your hosts take you to secret places you’d never find in a guide
CRAFT relax, enjoy and take time to do something for you
Itinerary
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You will be collected from the Rouen Train Station around 3pm to settle into your chateau or farmhouse suite (we are an easy, 1 hour 20 mins or so from Paris). From 5.30pm, complimentary welcome drinks will be served while we discuss the week's itinerary.
Join us for a casual dinner poolside at 7pm.
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Following a French continental breakfast, we will gather to begin our first morning of Craft lessons for 2 hours in the Chateaus studio. After a break for a casual lunch, we will head back into the studio for a mini workshop on the art of curating reels. The afternoon will be spent exploring the grounds at your leisure. Return to the Chateau for dinner at the Chateau.
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Following breakfast, step back in time with a morning visit to a local Normandy town, Étretat is a town on the north coast of France. It’s known for the striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, including the Porte d'Aval arch and L'Aiguille (the Needle), a pillar rising up from the sea. Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at etretat gardens. At 5pm join a 2-hour cooking class conducted by a local Michelin chef from our town, in our Chateau kitchen. This is followed by a gourmet dinner in the Chateau dining room.
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Our day begins in the enchanting surroundings of the château, where we'll spend the morning crafting in the cozy private studio. With the peaceful ambiance of the French countryside, we’ll immerse ourselves in creativity, enjoying the gentle rhythm of painting, embroidery, or knitting. After a leisurely lunch, Jane, our lovely host, has arranged an afternoon adventure to a nearby vintage warehouse. This hidden gem is brimming with unique treasures, antiques, and curiosities—a true haven for collectors and lovers of all things nostalgic. It’s the perfect way to spark inspiration.
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Our last full day at the château will be a celebration of creativity and relaxation. We’ll spend the day fully immersed in our crafts, enjoying the serene atmosphere and the beautiful French countryside just outside our windows. In the morning we will be creating a visual art journal through the art of story telling through out this process. Whether it’s putting the finishing touches on a project or trying something new, this is a day to savor the joy of crafting together. In the evening, we’ll dress up and head out for a special dinner at an elegant French restaurant, where we’ll indulge in exquisite cuisine and toast to the unforgettable experiences we’ve shared.
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Continental French breakfast and goodbyes. Departing at 10 am, you’ll be transported back to Rouen Train Station.
INclusions
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• One restaurant dinner (three courses including wine)
• Cooking class with a local Michelin chef
• Chateau afternoon tea available each day
• All-day coffee and tea at the Chateau
• Transport to and from the Chateau to Rouen Train Station
• Accommodation at the Chateau or Petit Jonquay Farmhouse
• Entry in Les Jardins d’Etretat garden
• Travel to and from destinations
• All painting/sketching and crafting materials provided.
The Cuisine
Guest at Petit Jonquay
“As soon as you see the soaring rooftops and pastel shutters of Château du Jonquay appear over the trees, you know you’re in for an unforgettable, truly authentic, French experience.”
Rachel past attendee
“The retreat is truly something I will forever cherish in my memory.”
Meet our Team
Our team are here to make your stay an unforgettable experience.
Emma
Crafting is more than just a hobby for me; it’s a cherished part of my life and heritage. Inspired by my grandmother, a master crafter who spent her life creating beautiful, handmade gifts for others, I've developed a deep appreciation for the transformative power of crafting. This passion drives me to offer retreats and workshops that go beyond teaching new skills—they’re about connecting with yourself and others through the art of creation.
Jane and Steve
Jane is passionate about France and the French lifestyle—the food, the wine, the beautiful countryside, and their joie de vivre. After visiting France regularly for 20 years, she bought Chateau du Jonquay in Normandy in 2010, where she now spends 3 to 4 months each year. With a flair for creating memorable, personalised experiences, Jane is dedicated to offering guests unique, authentic stays that reflect her love for the rich history and culture of France. In recent years, she has partnered with exclusive retreats to curate an extraordinary experience, allowing guests to live and eat like locals, surrounded by fields, flowers, and century-old trees.
Brittany
Brittany Johnston, is a dynamic content creator, storyteller, and the proud founder of Marketing Agency, Social Edt. As a mother of two energetic boys, Brit balances the art of creativity with the joys of motherhood, embodying passion in every aspect of her life. With over seven years of experience in the digital marketing industry, she has honed her skills to bridge the gap between high-quality content and strategic storytelling, especially for female-led brands and entrepreneurs. At the heart of Brit’s approach is the art of storytelling through content creation. She believes that every person has a unique narrative waiting to be told, and through thoughtful, strategic content, you can connect deeply with your community.
Feedback from previous Retreats
“Where do I even begin. The word of the weekend was “wow, wow, wow.” From the moment we pulled into the driveway we were blown away by the venue. I could not think of a more perfect setting”
“She was so positive and encouraging that we all felt like we were true artists in the making.”
Rachel
Book your Spot
To secure your place at the 2025 Crafters Retreat, please email your desired room category to janehiscock@chateaudujonquay.com and make a $500 deposit via the provided links below. The remaining balance will be due 60 days before the Retreat begins.
Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by both your email and payment receipt, so if you have a specific room preference, we encourage you to secure your spot as soon as possible. Please note that rooms will only be allocated once the deposit or full payment has been received.
Rooms
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Rooms 〰️
Master Chateau or Farmhouse Suite $5,700 (single occupancy with own bathroom)
Chateau or Farmhouse Superior Deluxe $5,500 (single occupancy bedroom, sharing bathroom with one other)
Twin Share: $5,100 per person (shared bedroom and bathroom with one other)
