In her signature style, Betsy Beier invites you to a week long Impressionist's Tour in beautiful Provence, France. We will follow the footsteps of Van Gogh and enjoy immersive experiences exploring the regions artistic, cultural & historical sites. We will also take time to reflect, create & relax - soaking up true Provençal village life of the South of France.
Inspired by the impressionist artists who left an indelible mark on Provence, our creative tour will provide a unique mix of engaging walks and adventures in villages and local historical sites of the region, as well as provide immersive journaling activities (on location and at lodging) to enhance our experiences. Our mas (Provençal home) will provide a base for not only relaxation yet also convienent access to soak up daily, village life in the South of France. (See our Program for the full itineary.)
No art experience is necessary to enjoy our journaling and creative activities. The goal is to rekindle that creative feeling we experience when exploring a location. We will scribble, write notes, paste pictures and capture doodles in our own personal journals - leaving with a souvenir to last a lifetime.
This tour is for anyone looking to explore their world through a new creative lens - open up your curiosity about a location and use all your senses to discover the details around you.
Betsy's approachable teaching style will guide you through an exciting week of cultural tours & creative adventures, from on-the-go experiences wandering in the footsteps of Van Gogh to a cultural cooking class at our villa.
Our experience will emphasize touring a variety of locations to get a sense of the rich culture and history of the South of France, and also provide creative moments where we can journal, sketch, write, photograph, and collage our adventures.
You will dabble in it all and come home with not only travel tales and new friendships but also an inspirational creative travel journal of your adventures and a new way to explore your everyday!
Provence is located in the South of France. It is a diverse geographical region filled with ancient Roman history, charming villages, fabulous hilltowns, delicious cuisine, rich cultural traditions and a warm Mediterranean climate.
Saint Rémy de Provence, our base for the week, is a charming town in southern France, nestled in the foothills of the Alpilles mountain range. Known for its beautiful landscapes and charming village life, it inspired Vincent van Gogh during his stay at the local psychiatric hospital. The town is rich in Roman history, and provides a fantastic setting to experience day to day life in Provence.
(St Rémy photos courtesy of Travellur.com)
Les Ecuries, a traditional Provençal mas will be our home for the week. This villa is centrally located just minutes from both the small winding streets at the heart of St. Rémy and stunning nature trails with views of les Apilles. Along with individual bed & bathrooms, the mas offers a heated a pool, garden and plenty of shared creative spaces to relax and play.
Note: Space in the villa is limited, once full, accomodations are provided at a local hotel.
(photo courtesy of villa)
For our Impressionist's Tour, Betsy has chosen a few of the most unique yet iconic places in Provence to tour to give you a true sense of the region - its history, artistry and cultural traditions. Our tours include time in Avignon, home to the pope in the 1300s; Arles, a Roman city with impressive ruins; and Gordes, a historic hilltop town dating back to the Gallo-Roman era.
Van Gogh actively painted in these areas and his artistry will provide inspiration for us as we wander each village. (For full program details see: Program.)
This tour intentionally incorporates creative time and also plenty of free time in the itinerary to allow for you to relax and soak in the experiences. As is said in french, "profiter du moment," that is our goal!
Betsy Beier, Illustrator, Author, & Teacher
Betsy's mission is to help people of all creative abilities develop their own artistic practice and encourage them to see the world through a creative lens. Her unique and approachable teaching style encourages exploration of locations through a approachable journaling techniques such as sketching, photography, writing, and collage.
Coco Kliks, Travellur
Betsy is excited to partner with Coco Kliks of Travellur to offer this custom creative retreat. Coco's extensive career in hospitality and event planning, as well as her years of experience hosting groups in the South of France and a wide variety of other international locations, offer the perfect marriage with Betsy's creative curriculum. Their combined efforts will provide a safe, enriching and relaxing experience.
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Betsy has traveled to nearly 40 countries and all 50 US states. She is a native Californian who currently alternates between living in Paris, France and San Francisco, California. You can find her online at www.wanderlustdesigner.com and www.betsybeier.com.
For more details about Coco and Travellur, see her website at www.travellur.com
Seven nights accommodation
All meals, snacks and drinks except one lunch, one dinner
Six creative classes with Betsy Beier
On Site Cooking Class
Guided excursion in Avignon, Arles & Gordes.
Guided excursion to St. Rémy & surrounding area.
Tour of famed fabric printing company.
Cocktail party and good times
Cherished memories and friendships to last a lifetime
Detailed schedule on program page.
Airfare & transportation to/from Avignon, France.
One lunch, one dinner
Your special snacks and drinks
Extra excursions as desired or personal shopping/experiences.
Your creative materials (material list to come.)
Any extra transport you may need if walking medium distances is not desired.
Paris extension of trip (optional)