Calling all writers!
This is a chance to escape the commercialized madness of mid-February that is Valentine’s Day and give yourself to your true passion - getting the words down!
This will be a cozy week of writing, reading relaxing, but there will be good quality chocolate and wine available for everyone so you won’t misss out too much!
If you are craving time away from the everyday routine to concentrate on your writing, with some time to rest, recharge, reconnect with nature & be inspired, The Mill could be exactly the place you are looking for.
“Visiting The Mill was an experience of a lifetime. It is the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature and get in touch with your creative side… I left The Mill feeling so fresh and revived. The atmosphere and energy is incredible. I definitely plan to do the writers retreat again in the future and cannot recommend it highly enough.” EMMA USA
Our self guided writers retreats are for you if you’re serious about committing time to your writing craft. Get away from the everyday chaos & the daily grind & allow yourself space to get the words down.As a self guided writers retreat - you can write to your own schedule , at your own pace., there are no prescribed sessions.
The Mill is home to Nathalie a ceramic artist and writer. She is a qualified interior architect, designer, and project manager originally from London. Her native language is English, she speaks passable French. She has renovated The Mill to encourage a place of creativity, connection & community for artists and writers alike..
As part of your writers retreat there is an opportunity to share & read your work aloud which is totally optional. We have found this to be a very gentle way for people to get specific feedback from the group or just an opportunity to hear your words aloud, without any pressure. If you prefer to just listen that is also absolutely cool. .We have a library filled with books to inspire you and assist with your writing journey, as well as a projector for film nights in our Salon.
Evening dinners around the table (by the log burner in winter/ outdoors by the river in the summer) is where the magic really happens with your fellow writers. Guests share resources, book recommendations, their own inspirations & techniques that help them work, often talking deep into the night! River swims & canal swims all year round for the brave! We have a supply of river shoes and river side towels..There are plenty of outdoor seating spots, even during the winter months there are often blue sky days where it's warm enough to sit outside with a cuppa and write.
There are writing desks & comfy corners throughout the building as well as a desk in each bedroom..Maahes the Mill cat is super friendly and loves to cuddle up with our guests.
It is possible to book two back to back weeks to extended stay (there's a minimum room fee for the change over days, these days are not catered for- but you are welcome to use the kitchen /cook for yourself or eat out locally.
There is an optional guided walk to see actual Dinosaur footprints made millions of years ago plus an optional trip to the weekly farmers market in Millau - a truly authentic French experience!
With local walks, river swims on the doorstep, space to practice your own yoga or meditation (yoga mats provided) and delicious home cooked Mediterranean style fresh healthy food to fuel you. This retreat will quiet your mind, allow inspiration to flow in, have you feeling nurtured & content, allowing you clear head-space for some fulfilling writing sessions.
You can read ( or listen) to Gabrielle de la Puente's , one half of The Art Critic Duo that is The White Pube - experience of her time here below.
Your stay is fully catered : Self-serve breakfasts, daily buffet style serve yourself lunches, and 5 of your evening meals.are all included. & home cooked.
Groups are usually 4-8 people.
Booking
Millers Nook
A single bed and shared shower room (shower shared with one other guest) and a separate WC on the second floor of the Mill.
Our cabin style Nook rooms are not the largest but super cute with authentic & very popular with guests.
Mill wheels and original detailing. Insulated and timber paneling ensures they are cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder months.
As these rooms are in the heart of the building they have internal, not external windows.
Don't tell the other guests but these rooms have the best WC in the building 😊🤭!
Mezzanine Nook
A vintage French sleigh bed and upper bed deck If you are tall this may not be the best bed for you, you have the option to sleep at the higher level, up a metal bed deck ladder.. or choose one of the other rooms.
French people 100 years ago were not very long!
This room shares the shower room with one other guest and a separate WC all on the second floor of the Mill.
Our cabin-style Nook rooms are not the largest but super cute with authentic Mill wheels and original detailing, they are loved by all our guests.
Insulated and timber paneling ensures they are cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder months.
As these rooms are in the heart of the building they have internal, not external windows.
Don't tell the other guests but these rooms have the best WC in the building 😊🤭
Hill View Room
Our bright and airy Hill view room on the first floor. has a calm fresh feel with views to the hills of the Larzac Plateau.
You will be sleeping in a French Vintage Corbel bed and guaranteed a good night's sleep!
There is a large oak wardrobe in this room and a desk by the window.
The shower room and WC is adjacent to your room.
The shower is shared with one other guest the Garden view room on the ground floor. ( They have their own WC)
Riverside View Room
Our River View Room is situated on the first floor. It has a double bed and its own private en-suite shower room.
The river passes below the window.
This room has a desk directly under the window, allowing you a beautiful leafy riverbank view every time you look up from your writing. As well as the soothing sounds of the river as your background soundtrack!
A white room with hints of pale pink deco. It has been described as Vintage England Cottage-style vibes! With the added bonus of a contemporary black & white shower room.
Canal View Apartment
Our modern 2 bed roomed, open-plan self-contained apartment on the second floor is very bright and airy.
With a Juliette balcony affording views of the Mill canal and the weir..
The apartment has contemporary loft-style vibes with bright contemporary artwork on the wall.
This self-contained space has a double bed, with a curtain rather than a door, a s omfy sofa & a large table in the living area. The single bedroom has a writing desk & chair as well as a single bed. storage space , bedside table and a window over looking the river
You also have your own kitchenette if you want to make your own early-morning tea of coffee. As well as your own private shower room.
Garden Room
This room has become a regular favorite with returning guests!
Situated on the Ground floor with use of the adjacent WC.
The shower room is shared with one other guest and is situated on the 1st Floor.
This room has been transformed from an old machine room into the most dare I say, romantic, bohemian feels.
With a polished concrete floor, rattan rugs vintage French Corbel bed antique lace curtains, and full-height opening windows that open onto the riverbank a few feet below the window.
It is absolutely heavenly to sleep in this room with the windows open all night, and the sounds of the river. the room has a desk next to the window, storage, and hanging space.
What’s Not Included:
Your travel to and from the Mill
Your travel / holiday insurance is not included. Please ensure you take out your own insurance policy
Airport Transfers - We do offer a pick service from Beziers or Montpellier or Rodez at 80 Euro per person
How To Get Here
Our Address is:
Le Moulin, ZA Vergonhac, 7 Route de Linas, Saint Georges de Luzençon, 12100, Aveyron, France
Contact Details:
Email: nathalie@themillfrance.com
UK Mobile: +44 (0)775 631 5823 (WhatsApp)
FR Mobile: +33 (0)6 30 04 62 87
Our nearest town is Millau - A 10 minute drive away.
There are trains and buses from Rodez, Montpellier and Beziers.
If you are driving from the UK please check the map, we are a long way down! We advise you break your journey en route if coming via Dover/ Calais.
There is the option of an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St.Malo which makes the drive in France approx 6 hrs. from St.Malo to The Mill France.
We encourage car sharing with other guests on retreats & residencies and are happy to connect guests via WhatsApp to make this possible.
The operator Flixbus offers a night bus from Paris to MIllau
Our nearest airports are Rodez, Montpellier and Beziers.
If you are coming from the USA it is possible to fly into Barcelona & from there get a train to Beziers where you can either join the airport pick up at 80 euro per person or get the connecting train from Beziers to our village where we will meet you. ( We are closer to Barcelona than we are to Paris and flights into Barcelona from USA are often cheaper than flights to Paris)
We offer an airport pick from Beziers or Montpellier or Rodez at 80 Euro per person
Pick up from Millau or Saint Georges train/ bus station is free of charge