The French Retreat

Tai chi class

The French Retreat is both our home and a retreat centre for anyone looking to find stillness, reconnect with themself or learn something new. We welcome you as we would a guest in our home, rather than a visitor to a hotel.

Your bed will be made up with cotton sheets, duvet, pillows and a throw. Soap and bath towels are provided but please bring your own pool towel. Unless otherwise arranged you do not have your bed made and towels replaced every day.

Although it can be very hot in the day with clear skies, the evenings can be chilly so bring another layer if you feel the cold or if you want to stay up late watching the stars, which are magnificent. It is a very rural and relaxed location, comfortable shoes are recommended and if you head out you will find the local restaurants are very informal.

The French Retreat was developed after many combined years teaching, attending and writing about residential workshops and retreats.

Matthew and Emma Pruen wanted to create a space that would hold the deepest emotional work. They searched for property that was both sufficiently private and open. They found this Manor house that hadn’t been lived in since the 1970s and set about converting the huge barn into a large group room with high spec en-suite accommodation.

The French Retreat is a very special workshop and retreat centre. The vast double height group room with its vaulted ceiling is simply stunning. Each bedroom has a very different feel, from simple French country twin rooms to the Lord of the Manor’s four poster bedroom. The en-suite bathrooms are sleek and modern, with traditional features retained.

The owners run their own courses at The French Retreat and also invite teachers and facilitators to use the venue for their own courses. Matthew as been a self development facilitator for the last ten years and before that ran award winning restaurants in Bristol, although the original plan was to be an artist. You can read read more about Matthew and his work at www.matthewpruen.com.

Emma’s path has been equally eclectic working in the fashion industry, followed by becoming an image coach and self-esteem counsellor, founding and running a mind, body spirit magazine and latterly as a spin doctor for the Green Party. She has just completed her first novel. Read her blog here.

Read more about Matthew’s work here or by downloading his latest newsletter below.

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