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.

 

Although this is a French Village and a ‘Bonjour’ is appreciated as you walk past people, English is spoken and understood by many, and it’s very friendly to foreigners. Sauveterre is also on the Camino de Compostella, and you will come across backpacking  pilgrims walking on their way to Santiago.

The village is medieval, with many remains of medieval walls and towers, and generally the church and village are about 1000 years old. It is quite spectacular with it’s view from the village terrace to the Pyrenees Mountains, with a river down below for hikes and swimming.

As you approach the Castle of BeArtz and its tower at the entrance you will find a stone spiral staircase leading up to the top of the tower with its 360 degree view over the landscape. The skies and the landscape are spectacular.  The skies are constantly chaning.

The village is set on a cliff overlooking the river, the Gave d’Oleron, and the Pyrenees mountains. There is a terrace from which to view and a descent to the river.

The mountains and the ocean are but a 40 min drive , the river is fabulous for walking/hikes and wild water swimming all year round and is a three minute walk down.

There is an island in the river which is accessed by a foot bridge and it’s a wild place and lovely walk around, about half a mile. There are other walks along the river and to chapels.

There are sun loungers and a bar by the river for those who want more of a holiday atmosphere, there are paddle boards and kayaks available.

There are three bakers in the village, an organic grocery, two pharmacies, a butcher and a gift shop.  5/6 restaurant cafés . A 5 mins walk to a supermarket.  Doctors and dentists are in the village and the closest hospital is a ten minute drive.

There are up to 8 rooms for artists or creatives on retreat, with a huge shared kitchen which can be used for meal preparation. This can be communal or done on an individual basis. There is studio space for 8 artists some individual some shared, and each bedroom room also has a desk or table and can be worked in. Most of the rooms have showers en suite, just one room has it’s bathroom across the corridor. We are working on the option of having meals catered but there are 5 soon 6 cafés /restaurants in the village where you can eat, and a delicatessen with prepared meals. 

For workshops there are 8 bedrooms available in The Castle and we rent additional accommodation from friends in the village.   We have housed 15 people in house on workshops retreats with some rooms shared. We can source extra accommodation if needed. We cater for workshops/retreats either in house with ayurvedic based food a priority, but also we work with local cafés and restaurants to provide 3 course meals and work and support local businesses.

Please see the page photo galleries  for pictures of the bedrooms

 

 

Magdalena Groszek began her journey in art and design later in life, after initially earning a BSc in Psychology and Medicine. She then pursued her childhood passion for singing and music, recording the album Without You Knowing between 2004 and 2008, which is available on Spotify and other platforms. Following her music career, she transitioned to art and design, earning a BA in 2012.

Magdalena discovered the healing power of creative practice, viewing it as an explorative journey toward the ‘self’ and a means of connecting with the unconscious mind. For her, the process of ‘play’ and a non-judgmental approach to creativity are essential, allowing room for incubation and growth. She believes in living a holistic and healthy lifestyle, embracing nature, recycling, and repurposing. These values align with her vision of an ideal life in a beautiful countryside setting, ideally located in a village with all the necessary amenities.