Retreats for artists, creators, writers, yoginis and open for Workshops in Sauveterre de Béarn in the Pyrenees Atlantique region of South West France.

The Guard House  ( formally A BOSTE) is a 1000 year old ancient castle converted to a  a building to accommodate artists and creators in SW France set in a medieval village called Sauveterre de Béarn on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The building and project was bought by Magdalena Groszek, who continues with her own money and donations from the non profit of BeArtz to improve the buildings and add facilities. The castle is now the headquarters for BeArtz and is used exclusively for artists and events.

With it’s sub tropical weather, the climate is mild, despite the Pyrenees being close by , with a fair amount of rain from the Atlantic coast. Winters are generally mild and citrus trees, kiwis, avocados and pomegranates grow together with palm trees.  It is an area of a micro climate, generally not given to extremes.

The castle has become the base for a society of artists called Be-artz led by local artists in the Béarn.

The aim of this project is to develop the arts locally have a small gallery, and to introduce the area of the Béarn to people from abroad, to provide facilites both for visiting artists and locals and to work with the community as much as possible. Artists can come and stay for a longer time on a residency and or attend workshops which are hosted in the buildings. The name BeArtz implies that we include Be-ing as important as Do-ing.  All creative practice is in our opinion a holistic exercise, it includes the body/mind, and so movement, yoga, fascia therapy, dance, music, rhythm can all be included and practiced here. Magdalena continues to invest with the help of BeArtz which is a non profit , and is currently converting a hangar around the corner from the castle to have another large studio with encaustic painting facilites.

We also have a small music studio and an amazing imperial grand Bosendorfer Piano for musicians. And we have concerts when we can.