Art and Nature Retreat in France
Are you feeling called to retreat and reconnect with yourself? If so, you've come to the right place. Reconnecting with nature is the real teacher of creativity, and it's here where alchemy and healing can happen. Welcome to the Alchemy Garden, a magical place for artists, writers, and those seeking to escape the fast pace of life for a lovely nature holiday, or rekindle inspiration with an art course.
With love and light,
Rana
The magic of The Alchemy Garden
Go into a Meditation Retreat
The Alchemy Garden is the perfect place to practice meditation and to quiet the mind. I've been practising meditation for the last 35 years and would love to share the peace you can find within.
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Enjoy a Painting Holiday in France
Come and explore your artistic expression in a wonderful location in the heart of the French countryside. Rana's art courses are fun and inspiring. She'll teach various techniques she has learned over the years to help you find your innate form of artistic expression.
Perfect for Artists and Writers
Popular with all nature lovers, walkers, writers, and those involved with the healing arts. Five writers have written their books at The Alchemy Garden and many artists have come here to paint. The perfect place for a writers retreat.
Experience the tranquility of the Southwest of France
The property is situated deep in the heart of the countryside of the Tarn-et-Garonne in SW France, yet only 90 minutes from Toulouse airport. It is a 15-minute drive from medieval St Antonin Noble Val and the spectacular Aveyron River and gorge. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide transportation. The best way to get here is with a personal vehicle.
Reconnect with your Inner Artist
Rana believes that there is an artist inside each one of us just waiting for the right opportunity to emerge. Ideal for beginners, those who have always wanted to paint and be creative but somehow have never found the time...or who believe that they cannot paint and lack confidence in their artistic abilities.
Come back to Nature
The land immediately surrounding the house and pool has been sensitively landscaped with shrubs, flower beds, rock features, and gardens. Wild deer often come to visit here and 35 different species of butterflies and moths have been spotted on the lavender bushes. Lizards, dragonflies, frogs, toads, bats, giant moths, and praying mantis, are a few of the visitors who live here permanently.
What our guests have said
' This is such an amazing place for a retreat. A time to refresh ones batteries and take stock of life. Such beautiful surroundings, wonderful company and amazing food. I can highly recommend this tranquil place. I will be back soon! '
' I wanted to write about Rana's wonderful Art Retreats. I was was so blessed to go on one. I loved experimenting with the mixed media art and learned so many skills in such a wonderful and spiritual place. This really is the place to take time out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find the creativity that is within you. Anyone who is taught by Rana will learn so much and the environment is so beautiful and relaxing! I look forwards to my next adventure at the Alchemy Garden '
Nina Dougal
' I went and stayed with a friend and we had a wonderful time at this magical spot. Rana was the consummate hostess, Loopie, her beautiful cat, too. The lands and gardens are gorgeous and the surrounding Medieval towns fascinating. I highly recommend Alchemy Garden for a retreat! '
Beth Duncan
' I spent several wonderful weeks at the Alchemy Garden in summer 2019. It was a thoroughly rejuvenating stay and Rana was a joyful and attentive host—and her cat, Loopie, is a delight! I thoroughly enjoyed the trips to the charming nearby towns and sacred spots. Rana has an infectious positive energy and is a very talented artist—she has consciously created this amazing retreat center and infused it with this same spirit. I absolutely recommend staying at this nature retreat and soaking in every minute! '
Rita Kovun
' This is a great location for walks, has a lovely pool and is ideally situated for visiting the local town of Cazals for its museum, shops and market and Gindou for the cinema. '
Crawford Dougal
' The Alchemy Garden is one of the most beautiful pieces of land I've ever been to! You see incredible plants and flowers wherever you look, you've always got lovey companion by lots of different butterflies, beautiful snails or the lovely cat Loopie - he will enchant you with his smaragd green eyes and his powerful healing energy!
Whether you wanna go for a walk in the unicorn woods, relax on a hot summer day next to the pool, learn more about gardening or herbal medicine... you'll always find something that blesses your heart!
If you are thinking to continue or even just start your spiritual journey, the alchemy garden is also the best place to go! Rana can share incredible knowledge with you, has lots of interesting books to read and you really have the time and silence there to get to know yourself better, learn about your patterns, feelings, habits and behavior, reconnect with the nature and your inner child! It truly is a magical journey, so whatever you're looking for... I'm sure you can find it in the stunning Alchemy Garden! '
Sophia Van Hood
' I spent 2 weeks at the Alchemy Garden Retreat in the summer of 2019, and had one of the most wonderful experiences: The land is sacred, Rana is a most gracious host, taking visitors such as myself, to local spots: refreshing rivers, Medieval towns, Mary Magdalene caves, Knights of the Templar ruins. Every day was an exciting experience. Lots of downtime too. I highly recommend a visit! I'm looking forward to my return in July2020!! '
Laura Maher
' Es un lugar maravilloso, y Rana una persona excepcional. Un fuerte abrazo, Ranita. '
' The Alchemy Garden has such a deep place in my heart! <3 It is an amazing place full of love, life and peace. I spent two months there over the course of last year and it was the peaceful, relaxing space I was looking for! Rana is such a loving and caring women. She makes the place so welcome, her cooking is delicious and nurturing and her fun happy presence is a joy to be around. Loopie her beautiful cat is there to give you all the cuddles and purr's you could ask for. She has so much space in her garden to relax, have a walk or a meditation. It really is a sacred place where you get to connect to yourself and nature, to retreat for the craziness of life. You don't even hear any traffic passing by! Just the beautiful buzz from all the butterfly's that come to visit the many colourful plants Rana has grown. There are many beautiful walks to be had around the area as well!! It is one of the most magical experiences I have had and I am so happy to have met Rana and the amazing Alchemy Garden! I can't wait until the next time I can go back '
Philippa Rippon
' Un accueil très chaleureux de Rana, un séjour ressourçant dans un endroit charmant baigné de calme, de soleil ... ou l'on se sent immédiatement bien, en vacances ... Je recommande vivement cette expérience. De plus la région autour est superbe, restée sauvage ... elle regorge de lieux à découvrir à proximité de la maison. Merci Rana ! '
Myriam Van Thiel
' I just spent a lovely restful night at Rana's home. My only regret is that I didn't book to stay longer at this delightful, laid back oasis of calm. Rana is an extremely kind and generous host and pays attention to all those little touches that turn a place from ok to great. Her paintings are on display throughout the house and she was happy to chat with me about the area and her work as an artist. Any time I need a break in the future and time to really relax I think this is where I will be heading.'
Juin Gibson
' My overnight stop at Ranas was short but perfect. Rana is a charming hostess and the place is in such a lovely place of calm and tranquility. Thanks room was clean and tidy as was the bathroom and kitchen which I was able to use . A very friendly place. '
Julie Harding
' This is a "in the country setting" if you like a communion with a forest to relax and unwind this is the place. I loved sitting on an outside couch to soak in the nature. The swimming pool was nice as well. Rana was very kind, we shared a few meals and she is a wonderful vegetarian cook. She also brought me to a few places I would have never found on my own that were very powerful. '
Bart Sharp