Paper Flower Retreat in the Dordogne with Meg Lowder of Floragami
2,205 €
9 places available
Join Meg for a creative week in the beautiful Dordogne countryside. Take time to slow down, relax and see what unfolds in your hands as you work with paper, wire and glue to create your own beautiful life like flowers. We’ll explore shape, colour and texture, inspired by the wild gardens in Cadiot. You don’t need any previous experience, just come as you are and be curious. By the end of the week, you’ll have a beautiful sculptural piece of handmade blooms to take home, along with new skills, ideas and the confidence to keep exploring further.
9 places available
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please ensure you have read our Terms & Conditions before making your booking.
Floragami paper flowers with Meg Lowder
Artist
Meg Lowder
Dates Friday June 11th – Thursday June17th 2027
Number of Places
min 6 – max 10
Location
Hosted in the converted Walnut Barn in St Cybranet, in the heart of the Dordogne and close to Sarlat-la-Canéda, you will be surrounded by medieval villages, stone churches and winding river landscapes. Included are visits to stunning gardens for inspiration and study of the flowers we will be making throughout the week.
Overview
Join Meg for an immersive week of creative joy in the beautiful surroundings of the Dordogne. Inspired by the natural beauty and spring flowers, you’ll delve into the art of paper-flower making — exploring form, colour and texture — specifically flowers growing in the wildflower gardens in Cadiot. The week will culminate in a beautiful finished piece for you to take home. A week spent relaxing in floral craft, balanced with local natural beauty, fresh locally produced food and wine and lovely people.
Who It’s For / Skill Level
Designed for all levels: from complete beginners to experienced makers. With expert tuition and small-group attention, you’ll be supported at your own pace in a warm, encouraging environment. The workshops will be taught in English.
What You’ll Learn
Paper-flower construction techniques: From stamens and flower centres to petal and leaf design and shape. A variety of flower styles and finishing techniques to bring your blooms to life.
What to Expect / Course Structure
The week has been designed to give you a balance of local interest, historic visits, culinary delights and half day workshops.
• FRIDAY 11th
Guests arrive at St Cybranet and settle in. Evening welcome aperitifs followed by dinner in the Walnut Barn
• SATURDAY 12th
Leisurely breakfast at the Walnut Barn. Morning visit to the local wildflower gardens in Cadiot Picnic at the gardens provided by host Afternoon workshop with Meg in the Walnut Barn Evening drinks and dinner at a local restaurant at guests own cost.
• SUNDAY 13th
Leisurely breakfast at the Walnut Barn. Morning workshop with Meg followed by lunch in the Walnut Barn Afternoon visit to Chateaux Castlenaud, swim in the river and drinks at a local bar by the river Dinner at the Walnut Barn
• MONDAY 14th
Breakfast at the Walnut Barn. Morning workshop with Meg and lunch in the Walnut Barn
Short afternoon workshop Evening visit to Eyrignac Gardens. Explore the stunning gardens and enjoy a white themed picnic in the white floral gardens with music, dancing, and fireworks
• TUESDAY 15th
Breakfast at the Walnut Barn. Morning workshop with Meg in the Walnut Barn followed by lunch a the Barn. Afternoon canoeing and swimming or just relaxing by the river. Aperos and dinner at the Walnut Barn
• WEDNESDAY 16th
Breakfast at the Walnut Barn. Morning visit to Sarlat a la Canada on market day followed by lunch in Sarlat at guest own cost Afternoon Barn open for finishing off flowers with Meg Evening Aperos and Farewell dinner at the Walnut Barn
• THURSDAY – Departure Day
Breakfast and relaxed departure with coffee in Domme and transfer to Bergerac Airport.
Included:
Venue hire. 6 x breakfast, 3 Barn lunches and 1 x picnic lunch, 3 x Aperos, 4 x Barn dinners and 1 x picnic dinner. Transport to and from excursions. Local pick up and drop off at Slow Village (approved accommodation partner) All workshop materials.
Not Included:
Flights, accommodation, airport transfers to and from Bergerac, off-site dining, excursion entry fees.
Materials to Bring:
n/a
Materials Provided at Venue:
All essential workshop materials and tools are provided. You will need to bring reading glasses if you wear them and Meg recommends not having long nails as these can make shaping petals tricky.
Local Resident Workshops:
Mon 7th and Tues 8th June 2027, details to follow and will be posted on the events page.
Important Travel Information:
Getting Here
The Walnut Barn, 66 Alle du Forgeron, Saint Cybranet, 24250, France Bergerac Airport is just over an hour from us. We provide one scheduled transfer from Bergerac on the day the retreat starts and a return transfer on the final day.
From the UK
The most straightforward option is a direct Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport. Flights typically operate several times per week during the summer season and often align with our arrival and departure dates. Additional UK routes to Bergerac may operate seasonally from airports such as Bristol, East Midlands and Liverpool.
Travelling from Further Afield
If you are travelling from the USA or elsewhere internationally, you may wish to fly into Paris and continue your journey by rail. Direct trains run from Paris Austerlitz to Gourdon several times a day, with journey times of around 5½–6 hours. Gourdon is approximately 30 minutes from the Walnut Barn venue. Alternatively, you can travel via Bordeaux. Guests can take a direct train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station to Sarlat-la-Canéda, approximately 20 minutes from the Walnut Barn venue. Journey times are typically around 2½–3 hours.
Travelling via Toulouse
Toulouse Matabiau station has regular direct services to Gourdon train station, with journey times of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, making Toulouse another convenient gateway to the region.
Train Travel Within France
Gourdon and Sarlat are the nearest railway stations and are approximately 30 minutes and 20 minutes respectively from the retreat venue. Complimentary transfers from Bergerac Airport, Gourdon station and Sarlat station are included in your retreat package, making rail travel a simple and stress-free way to reach us.
Driving
Driving from the UK is straightforward via Eurotunnel or ferry routes such as Calais, St Malo or Santander. The journey from Calais is approximately 9–10 hours, mostly motorway, with parking available on site. Guests making their own travel arrangements and not requiring a transfer receive a €70 reduction. Guests often choose to combine their retreat with a few days in Paris, Bordeaux or Toulouse, turning their visit into part of a longer French adventure.
