When the days grow shorter, the urge to slow down appears. Winter is the ideal season for a retreat: gather around a fireplace, take time to practise, write or create, away from the bustle. Here is how to picture it in Normandy.
Winter naturally invites reflection and rest. Short days draw the group into the house, outdoor activities become fewer and more deliberate, and the warmth of an interior is a luxury in itself. For a writing workshop, a gentle yoga retreat or a creative weekend, it is a precious context.
Normandy adds its particular light, bare forests and morning mists, just 1h45 from Paris: the journey stays short, even on a December Friday evening.
At Domaine Majorelle, the large living room with its fireplace and the Christmas tree in December set the tone: a house just for your group, in the heart of the Normandy countryside, up to 10 guests in 3 bedrooms. A landing with games and books, an enclosed garden, a kitchen open to the living area: everything invites you to stay together. See the Gîte page for facilities.
Please note the heated pool is open from May to September only. In winter, life happens indoors and on walks.
These are examples: your programme stays yours. See our retreats and group stays offer.
In winter, the table counts double. Soups, gratins, tarts, cheeses, pastries: hearty home-made meals created with our local partners accompany every moment of the retreat. For inspiration on Pays de Bray produce, see the Bray Gourmand guide and the Neufchâtel route (both in French).
At the end of the year, Forges-les-Eaux comes alive: the tourist office announces each year an ice rink at the Domaine de Forges, a craft Christmas market and festive events. Dates change from year to year: check the Christmas in Forges-les-Eaux page and the events calendar (in French) before fixing your weekend.
Outside the festive period, a walk in the Bois de l'Épinay or the former spa quarter makes a lovely break between workshops. For a cultural outing, the château de Martainville (museum of Norman traditions and arts) is close by.
Got a date in mind? Let's talk about your retreat.
No: the heated pool is open from May to September only.
Yes, a tree is set up in the living room in December.
Up to 10 guests in 3 bedrooms; day participants possible on request.
A stay, wedding, seminar or retreat in mind at Domaine Majorelle? Get in touch: we will reply quickly.