French Country

Farm & Foodie Retreat

NOW BOOKING FOR 2025

Spring Retreat

April 25th - 29th, 2025

and

Summer Retreat

June 16th - 20th, 2025

Eure-et-Loir, France

RETREATS TAKE PLACE AT 2 LOCATIONS

Next April you'll join us at a beautiful vacation home in the countryside.

In June you'll join us at this gorgeous Medieval manor straight out of a storybook!

Retreat 2024
View April Brochure
View June Brochure
Manoir de Vacheresses

Immerse yourself in French culture & gastronomy while you get away & live in the

enchanting countryside for a few days & taste the authentic French slow life.

A little nature, a little luxury &

lots of wonderful food!

Spring Retreat! April 25th - 29th, 2025 (Limited to 8 participants!)

Summer Retreat! June 16th - June 20th, 2025 (Limited to 14 participants!)

4 nights, 5 days all-inclusive retreat in the French countryside

Starts at €1,600

Come see what life is like in this little corner of the French countryside.

You'll leave with a new sense of how to cook & eat with intention & enjoyment.

Learn how to take time to savor every experience, leisurely sit around the table &

converse with your new-found friends.

See what kind of a relationship with food is possible for you.

The French really have this down.

Retreaters in Kitchen
prepping mushrooms
Making pain au chocolat
Guesthouse

Stay in this beautiful guesthouse that was recently built to fit in perfectly with the

style of this incredible Medieval manor.

There's even a Medieval-style herb and vegetable garden right at our doorstep!

Escape to a quiet little country village about 30 minutes from of the city of Chartres.

You'll have plenty of time to wander the

trails through the woods, relax in the pool, and meet awesome,

like-minded people from around the world!

That could be you, all while learning

French cooking techniques and soaking up the slower French way of life. Sigh...

Kouign Amann
Vegetable Tian and potato souffle
Fontainebleau aux mures

Learn authentic French recipes and a variety recipes and cooking techniques

from around the world.

Katrina will take you on a gastronomic adventure in the kitchen!

We'll use local, sustainably sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible!

We do a lot of vegetable-heavy cooking with some fish and poultry, but it's not a meat-heavy retreat. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome and will have alternatives available. We do use wheat flour in some recipes.

Chartres cathedral illuminated
cathedral stained glass

You'll visit the stunning Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral,

an incredible gothic cathedral that dates from the 12th century.

See it during the day and again lit up at night during a fantastic musical light show.

basse ville stroll
electric boat ride
Storybook village
Night stroll basse ville

Experience what it's like to stroll the cobblestone streets and

see the sights by boat in these quaint medieval towns.

You'll even get spoiled at a fine-dining restaurant, one of the best in Chartres and we'll go visit the outdoor farmer's market of course!

making kouign amann
making gratin
at the market!
Farmer's Market
Farmer's Market

Everyone who attends will enjoy

a one hour massage.

You'll have access to the outdoor pool

during the retreat too!

Massage

There'll be time to explore the countryside as you like. You can wander the beautiful trails through the woods of this incredible estate. We'll even eat outside in the lovely Medieval garden if weather permits.

Manor

JUNE RETREAT

Two room options are available.


2 Duplex-style rooms for up to 4 people (on two levels) with one shared bathroom. An open staircase leads to the second level.

1,600 per person

3 private rooms available for 2 people.

Includes private bathroom.

1,900 per person

RESERVE your spots TODAY! Limited availability!

Shared dorm-style room
Private room for 2

Pay for my Retreat

Payment plans available. Inquire at katrina@empoweredkitchen.com

Pay 500 euro DEPOSIT

Duplex-style room for 4 with private bathroom.
€1,600 per person total
Pay 500 euro DEPOSIT

Private room for 2 with private bathroom.
€1,900 per person total
balance due 
kitchen in guesthouse

Join us in this beautiful kitchen for our cooking classes!

guesthouse kitchen

We'll cook together and have convivial, family-style meals afterwards.

dining area

When the weather is nice we can eat out here!

Manor

This is the manor a few steps away from the guesthouse where you'll stay.

cooking class

Join us for fun in the kitchen! We'll have a great time cooking up some deliciousness. Take time for yourself to get away from it all and do something real with wonderful, like-minded people!

This retreat has a maximum of 14 participants.

What's Included in your beautiful 5 days in the French countryside!

  • All room and board (all meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner) (Starts with lunch on the first day through a hearty brunch on the final morning) Guests must leave by 10 am on the last morning.
  • All transportation for activities during the retreat
  • 3 cooking classes with Katrina Billard. We'll focus on seasonal, from scratch cooking using local, sustainable ingredients as much as possible. You'll learn traditional French dishes and desserts, as well as a dishes inspired by a variety of world cuisines.
  • A wild-edible plant walk with a local French plant expert followed by a cooking workshop with what we find on our walk!
  • 1 hour massage
  • 1 boat ride on an electric boat for up to 5 people. Go back in time on a beautiful ride in a moat around a medieval walled village. (Weather-permitting. This is not available in October and we'll find a fun alternate activity.)
  • Visit to the Billard Family Honey Farm including honey tasting
  • 1 dinner out at a fine dining restaurant in or around Chartres. Includes starter, main and dessert as well as one alcoholic drink
  • Visit to the Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral and other beautiful sites around the city
  • Any other activities planned by the organizer, which are subject to change, but will consist of visits to local farms, outdoor markets and demos or tastings with food professionals.
  • Access to the walking trails in the woods and the outdoor pool at your leisure

What's Not Included:

  • Plane tickets to and from France
  • Transportation to and from the retreat site on the first and last days of the retreat. Katrina will offer guidance on the address, taxis, trains or other logistics to help you easily reach the retreat location.

The manor is about 90 minutes by car from the Paris suburbs,

OR

about 90 minutes by train from the Paris Montparnasse train station and

then you'll need to get a 30 minute taxi ride to the retreat location.

* €500 deposit for the retreat is non-refundable.

If you cancel your booking 60 days prior to the retreat, any further payments are refundable, but not the deposit.

Katrina will send retreat waiver after your payment for you to agree to by email.

Email katrina@empoweredkitchen.com to receive and agree to the waiver in advance if you prefer to read it before making your payment.

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