Come bask in the beauty and charm of Loire Valley, France for a delightful five  days of creativity, great food and wine, rivers, castles, vineyards, historic  towns. You’ll stay in a gorgeous manor house in the heart of Saumur, enjoy  delicious meals, and spend days sketching, drawing, and painting. Led by  Marilyn MacGregor, artist, teacher, and resident of Saumur, well known for scenes of interesting places from her travel sketchbooks. Portfolio site at  www.mmacgregorart.com

 Arrive at  Saumur and settle into your room at  La Maison Trumeau. Depending  on your arrival time, you may want to  stroll around the historic town before a  delightful apero, served at 6pm in the garden and a 4 course welcome meal.  

After breakfast we’ll set out with sketchbooks to explore Saumur, wandering  the old streets, walking across the Loire on the 16th c bridge for fabulous  views of the castle and town, then back to Place St Pierre to enjoy the vibrant  scene of this lively centre. In Place St Pierre you’ll have some nice choices  for lunch. After lunch you can return to La Maison Trumeau for some  quiet time or spend the afternoon drawing and painting in your choice of  spots. 

The Loire River flows past many  charming villages and fascinating places.  Today we’ll seek out several of these,  beginning with Montsoreau, officially ‘A  Most Beautiful Village of France’. Set  between the river and vineyard covered  cliffs, the town is an artist’s dream of   lovely houses, impressive castle, and  vistas over countryside and the Loire.  A short riverside stroll then takes us to  Candes Saint Martin, another  village full of possibilities for artists. As   part of our day we’ll taste some of the  celebrated Loire Valley wines.  

 The Loire Valley is renowned for castles big and small,  some famous, some less well known. Today we’ll visit a great one in the nearby town of  Montreuil-Bellay, a fascinating place with much to offer for artists. Impressively sited  in the upper town, the ancient castle of Montreuil-Bellay dates to the 12th c. Now privately owned, it is a  delightful combination of  picturesque buildings,  lovely gardens, and  magnificent views. Along  with the castle we'll enjoy  the town and stroll along  the lazy Thouet river,  savouring views and finding  good subjects. There are  several nice choices for  lunch in Montreuil Bellay. 

We will have lunch (included in your price) at L'Auberge des Isles, a fabulous restaurant nestled in between the castle and the river Thouet. 

In Saumur, on Saturdays, everything begins with the  famous market. Centered in Place St Pierre, it winds through the town, filling the  streets with color and vibrant life. We’ll join in, feasting on the sights, smells and  sounds of one of France’s best regional markets. There will be plenty of  inspiration amid the crowds of happy sociable shoppers; you’ll wander freely and  happily sketching, drawing, getting ideas! In the afternoon after the market  closes, it’s a good time for further exploration in Saumur, with a climb up to visit  the Castle and to marvel at the amazing wide views of the Loire and countryside. 

On our last evening we’ll share our drawings and paintings (as we wish)  and talk about our week of art and exploration in the Loire Valley, finishing up with  a wonderful celebration dinner at La Maison Trumeau  

 Breakfast at La Maison Trumeau, and personal time to add more to your drawings, relax and enjoy peaceful time at La Maison Trumeau or take a wander in Saumur before departure. 

Checkout time is 1pm.