Sanse is a comfortable Three Star hotel, which offers you friendly hospitality. Built in the local blonde stone, it’s an XVIII century girondin Château, restored to a high standard. The elegant, stylish restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide. Eric Berthelot, the inspired chef proposes a ‘Terroir & Cuisine’ course for non-painting partners. Expect delicious french food!
Le Château de Sanse is in the heart of wine country, half way between Bergerac & St Emilion (twenty minutes drive). It sits high on the hills of the left bank of the Dordogne river. There’s fine views over a mixed tapestry of rolling hills, woods, small farms & vines. It’s a cultivated pastoral landscape, going back to the roman times. Vines are a quintessentially ‘french’ landscape & are great to paint. Ancient oak woods, rolling hills, old stone architecture, cool shady spots, an overgrown fisherman’s pond where you could maybe see Corot…
Lots of Great Places to Paint
The south facing terrace has lovely views over the soft, pastoral landscape. There are good painting spots within easy walking reach. It’s a quiet, peaceful place, good for day-dreaming.
There is a heated, comfortable studio, for when we work inside. It provides the perfect setting for artists to develop their paintings. Too often, paintings started outside on location aren’t developed & resolved. But with a teacher & a studio, these finishing-off sessions are vital to successful picture making.
Painting Trips Out
We go out to paint ‘en plein air’ to Les Jardins du Sardy, the romantic garden in the Italian/English style..
The Painting Course
Sanse is well equipped for hosting a painting holiday. It’s a comfortable venue, suitable for those who need a little comfort & not too much walking. Or explore the gardens & terraces – and soon find yourself in deep countryside. There’s a heated studio – ‘tout comfort.’ Time to finish paintings or try still lives, portraits,etc. Easels, tables, stools, boards, solvents, sun umbrellas, etc… Plus the possibility of hiring a set of paints so you can travel lite. This course is appropriate for beginners as well as advanced.
Lead by Adam Cope, a local artist with many years of experience in teaching painting holidays.Adam has painted the vines, the river, the views…. so he can share with you an in-depth local knowledge.
The Michelin Guide likes Sanse. The stylish restaurant, ‘l’EffervéSanse’, offers a delicious range of french regional cooking. Here you will find a warm welcome for your luxury painting holiday.
The Cooking Course
Martial also cooks up a ‘Terroir & Cuisine’ course for non-painting partners. Throw yourself in a total immersion in a professional kitchen preparing for a chic restaurant. Then… you’re let out to have fun exploring the area & the world-famous wines of St.Emilion & Bergerac. Visit lively local markets & find out how to cook some local specialties. It’s as hard work as you want to make it. Martial is a passion about food as well as a great chef, so expect laughter & delicious tastings!
Prices for The Cooking Course
Places limited to four non-painting partners. Prices are for a morning session. For more information, please contact Sanse.
Dates 2025
Thursday 5 – Thursday 12 June : Last Availability
Monday 6 October – Monday 13 October : Last Availability
Course starts first day from 15hr onwards & ends after breakfast on last day
June is early summer. The wheat is being harvested, the fields are smiling with profuse flowery nature. The gardens are still in flower. Bright southern sunlight. Hot enough for the swimming pool but not the full heat of July.
October is early autumn. It’s still ‘tee shirt’ weather in the day time. Golden light, lengthening shadows with yellows emerging in the landscape. ‘Vendange’ time, the vines are heavy with grapes. Mists, red leaves & mellow fruitfulness. October is a good time to paint in South West France.
Prices 2025
2044 € for one painter, in a single bed standard ensuite
1712€ per painter (based on 2 people sharing a standard ensuite, so 1077€ per non painting partner).
Character ensuites & deluxe appartments available
What’s included:
- The Painting Course.
- Use of a large heated studio.
- Painting furniture such as easels, stools, umbrellas, jars, etc.
- Solvents & studio basics such as tape, rags, tissues, latex gloves, etc.
- 7 nights accommodation in a three star charcter hotel.
- All meals : breakfast, light lunch, pre-dinner aperitif and a three course dinner with half a bottle of wine per person. Waiter service.
- Tea & coffee.
What’s not included : Your travel. Your art materials. Entrance to Le Jardin de Sardy (8 euros). Your holiday insurance. Transfers to & from Libourne train station > Sanse on start & finish days (see below in Travel section for more details).
You pay the teacher & the hotel separately.
Travel – Getting to Sanse
- Sanse is situated between Bergerac and St.Emilion on the south bank of the river Dordogne in Aquitaine, South West France. The nearest town is St.Foy la Grande. Bordeaux Merignac Airport is about 50 miles.
- Nearest TVG train station is Libourne (about 70 kms. 75 minutes drive from Sanse) or Bordeaux.
- Possibility of transfers to & from Libourne SNCF TVG on start & finish days.
Libourne SNCF train station is also a stop for TVG fast trains direct from Paris. Libourne is on the Bordeaux>Bergerac> Sarlat local line.
These transfers are in a shared taxi with other students, which is organized for you. You pay the taxi directly (which is not included in the price). Price of taxi is about 140 euros, which is then divided by the number of voyagers. This usually works out around 30 or 40 euros per person per transfer. Pick up time is 15hr (3pm) on arrival day @ Libourne. Departure time from Sanse is 9hr on departure day. - If you require a private taxi at other times than this, the hotel reception can organise this for you at your own cost.
- If you are coming from Bergerac or Sarlat, please ask us for advice on a transfer from Vélines train station at pre-agreed times (arrive around 3 pm depart around 10am).
- For travel advice, we recommend this online app: rome2rio
Road & Rail Travel
Trains from Paris > Bordeaux > Libourne
- The new ultra-high speed TVG Océane takes about two hours from Paris.
- The TGV (fast train) from Paris, Montparnasse station to Bordeaux or Libourne (which is the best, reduces travel time) takes about three hours.
- https://www.voyages-sncf.com
- Take the local train on the Bordeaux – Sarlat line. Get off at Libourne (about 30 minutes).
Paris is 595Km (370 miles) > less than three hours on the ‘TVG Océane’ ultra-fast train
Air Travel
Bergerac
* Flights to Bergerac Airport from up to nine different UK airports, Dublin, Rotterdam & Paris. https://www.bergerac.aeroport.fr/en/
* The distance to Hotel de Sanse is 31Km (19 miles), a 35 minute drive. The hotel can organise a taxi for you. Or take the train to Vélines
* Bergerac train station >Vélines on the line D33 Bordeaux -Sarlat .
* Lots of car hire at airport
Bordeaux
- Flights to Bordeaux Merignac from Gatwick, Paris CDG, Amsterdam & Ireland.
- UK : Many different airports including Gatwick, Bristish Airways cheap daily flights.
- Shuttle bus from ‘Bordeaux Merignac’ airport to ‘Bordeaux St Jean’ Gare SNCF (the main railway station). 30 minute ride.
- https://www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en/info/bordeaux-airport-shuttle-service
- Take the train on the D33 Bordeaux – Sarlat ligne 26 & get off at Libourne (about 30 minutes). Ticket & timetable info from https://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine/horaires/
- Private taxi from Bordeaux airport arrivals to hotel from about 140€. Ask hotel to organize this for you if interested.