Discover the world famous Loire Valley!
Welcome dear artists and travelers!
Rosemary and I would like you to be our special guests for a unique Art Experience in the most beautiful region of France: The Loire Valley, its world famous castles, the magnificent river Loire, the gorgeous villages, the food, the wine and good friends!
My name is Mathieu Brousses, I have been hosting Art excursions & Painting Workshops in Provence and all over France for the past 10 years, let me tell you all about our all-inclusive Art Experience with the talented artist and very dear friend Rosemary Connelly
It is very special to me to be hosting a 3rd workshop with Rosemary as we already been to French Britanny and Provence together!
The Loire Valley is the region around the Loire River’s middle stretch in Central France. Comprising about 800 km2, this is the biggest area in France ever to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
It is one of the most beautiful destinations in France, a delicate blend of nature, history, and French elegant art-de-vivre. Here, you can enjoy vibrant medieval towns, magical meandering rivers, fairytale castles, stunning gardens, delicious food, and some of France’s best wines.
We will be staying at the Domaine de Brou, a magical place located near Sainte-Maure de Touraine. A village well-known because it gave its name to the famous goat cheese Sainte-Maure!
I am so very excited to go back to The Château de Brou. It took me weeks to find this gem of a place, it is an actual fairy tale castle with pointy towers, gargoyles, a chapel, a pond and a wonderful park of 300 acres. We won’t be staying in the castle as the price tag is pretty « ouchie » and there are way too many stairs! However there is a marvelous charming Mansion (La Roseraie) right in front of the castle which is just the perfect place as when you open your windows in the morning, you get to see this (I took this picture one morning at 5:50am and I still can’t believe how beautiful it looks!)
Your morning view!
The owners of the castle are a lovely couple and they allow us to paint everywhere in the park, near the castle, in the chapel. They also allow us to paint in the main dining room or ball room of the castle!!
The following pictures give you an idea of what our mansion – home away from home – looks and feels like : the bedrooms, the dining room, the kitchen and its incredible and delightful solarium (not sure about the word, this is a veranda entirely closed with big beautiful glass windows which allow us to enjoy the view and the sun light!)
Our guest house
Now let me introduce you our itinerary
The following itinerary is the foundation of our trip, it might be subject to change according to the weather, to the calendar of cultural and traditional events, to our specific desire and energy as a group and to the incredible diversity of beauties the Loire Valley has to offer. Please consider the following as a gourmet menu we will choose from!
Years of experience taught me that 2 days of excursions followed by one day at the guest house is the perfect pace. Our Guest house is a place of beauty and quietness where you can rest, read, paint, take a stroll in the park, etc.
Saturday, May 30: Château de Gaillard and its orangeraie – A unique and hidden gem in Amboise
Château Gaillard was renamed the « King’s Gardens » in 1500. For Charles VIII, it was a place of prestige where he could showcase rare species and exceptional citrus plants to his visitors.
A Neapolitan genius, Dom Pacello de Mercoliano, a monk, gardener, and botanist regarded as « the greatest gardener in Europe, » accompanied Charles VIII and brought his dream of a terrestrial paradise to life in the valley of Château Gaillard. Pacello introduced his Arte del Verde and acclimatized France’s first orange trees. He invented the first orange tree containers and pioneered greenhouse cultivation.
Nestled in a protective valley, this Renaissance jewel became the first site in France to house orange trees from Italy. In 1496, Pacello established France’s first orangerie. Behind a large walled garden, shielding the royal plantations « from theft and malice, » Pacello’s exotic species—such as orange trees, peach trees, and palm trees—flourished. A conservatory of 200 citrus trees, including 70 different species of oranges and lemons, was created.
Dom Pacello’s orange trees and his first Royal Orangerie soon became symbols of a new royal status. The orangerie evolved into the grandest and most ornamented space in castles. The acclimatization garden for the first orange trees, with their intoxicating floral scent, forever shaped the destiny of Château Gaillard.
Sunday, May 31: Candes-Saint-Martin – The graceful banks of La Loire
At the confluence of the River Loire and the Vienne, the village of Candes-Saint-Martin naturally developed as a river port. At its peak in the 19th century, Loire Valley wines, dried pears, as well as cut stones, Guérande salt and fish from Brittany passed through here.
A short 3.5 kilometre walk takes you along the charming streets of this beautiful village, where the collegiate church of Saint-Martin and its Plantagenet Gothic architecture dominate the tufa houses with slate roofs.
The man who cut his cape in two to share it with a beggar is none other than Martin of Tours, the bishop of the capital of Touraine, and also known as Saint Martin. The piece of cape he kept later became an object of veneration, and is the origin of the word “chapel”, the place where people came to see the famous cape!
Many villages are named after him, but the holy man died here, in Candes-Saint-Martin. The beautiful Saint Martin collegiate church was built on the site of his house.
After our painting session in the village (maybe in the Dutilleux Rose garden!), we will have lunch at a lovely little restaurant in front of the local Saint Martin Church.
Then, if the weather and our energy are aligned we will drive to Montsoreau (just 1 mile from Saint Martin) to meet Francis and take a small boat tour on the river to complete a lovely day!
Tuesday, June 2: The gardens of Château de Villandry : Style and substance – A flower lover’s paradise
The Château has boasted gardens since the Renaissance. In keeping with the Renaissance style in the 16th century, French in the 18th century and transformed into a landscaped park in the 19th century, the gardens of Villandry, which were redesigned by Joachim Carvallo in the early 20th century, are an original creation blending tradition and innovation.
To explore the gardens of Villandry is to explore the stylistic library of French garden art, from the mediaeval garden to the Renaissance garden, the garden “à la française” to contemporary garden design.
The gardens have been redesigned by Joachim Carvallo, who, having restored the Renaissance-style château to its former glory, is implementing his plan to give it a spectacular green setting. Seven gardens, organised according to the classification established by Joachim himself – kitchen garden and orchard, ornamental garden and water garden – have been born out of this monumental enterprise: the Ornamental Kitchen Garden, the Love Garden and the Garden of the Crosses, the Music Room, the Herb Garden, the Maze, the Sun Garden and the Water Garden.
Step by step throughout your visit, immersed in nature that has been raised to the peak of perfection, you will discover an ephemeral painting that changes with the hours, the weather and the seasons.
The effervescence of life is a never-ending spectacle: the emergence of the first spring buds, the buzzing of the bee, the blooming of a rose, the running water, the swan carried along on the current, the gardeners hoeing or pruning the topiary
Wednesday, June 3: The International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire – An unbelievable explosion of creativity and blooming
The International Garden Festival has been providing a unique panorama of landscape design all over the world since 1992 (from early April to late November). At the same time a source of ideas and a nursery for talent, the Festival gives an extra boost to the art of gardens and gains the interest of both the public and those in the trade by displaying new flower arrangements, new materials and new ideas. Simply a must-see.
THEME OF THE 2026 FESTIVAL:
LE JARDIN FAIT SON CINÉMA or MAKING A SCENE? THE GARDEN ON CAMERA
The fortress of Chaumont-sur-Loire was built around the year 1000 to keep watch over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjou.
It was owned by the Amboise family for a good 500 years, and it was Charles II d’Amboise who turned it into an ornamental château in the Renaissance style, with sculpted decoration becoming the major feature of its outer façades.
Friday, June 5: The village of Richelieu – Street market, a quaint park and a french artist studio visit!
Richelieu, in the heart of Touraine, is a rare example of a perfectly planned 17th-century town, built at the command of Cardinal Richelieu.
Conceived with a strict grid layout, it was designed to showcase order and harmony, once centered around the cardinal’s now-vanished château. The village remains enclosed by high stone walls and accessed through three monumental gates, which preserve its sense of grandeur and symmetry.
Within, elegant hôtels particuliers line arcaded streets, while the central market square reflects the ideals of classical urban design. Though quieter today, Richelieu still carries the imprint of its illustrious founder, offering visitors an atmosphere of history, refinement, and architectural balance.
Our dear chef Lily’s husband is a reknown French painter, Julien des Monstiers. He was born in 1983 in Limoges. He lives and works between Faye-la-Vineuse and Paris. He graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 2008, where he studied under Jean-Michel Alberola.
Through his virtuoso and innovative approach to oil painting, Julien des Monstiers is now regarded as a rising figure in contemporary art. Hunting scenes, animal paintings, patterns, landscapes, tapestries—these are all subjects that serve as pretexts for the painter, who constantly explores the limits of the medium. His works must be viewed with attention: it is the painting itself, as pure material, that remains the true object of obsession in his practice.
We might get lucky enough to visit his studio today!
Saturday, June 6: Surprising Château du Rivau and its Rose Festival (June 6 & 7, 2026)
A Dream Day Among the Fragrant Roses of Rivau”
Enrich yourself with tips and advice from our botanical specialists and renowned rose enthusiasts as you enjoy playful strolls through the gardens. Take part in a wide range of gardening activities and storytelling walks across the 15 fairy-tale gardens. This festival is also the perfect opportunity to meet and exchange with over 50 exhibitors from the world of gardening, including renowned nurserymen and passionate rose collectors. Together, let’s celebrate 500 varieties of roses!
A furnished castle between collections of ancient and contemporary art
A true medieval castle with its keep, moat and drawbridge, Château du Rivau was also remodeled during the Renaissance period. As soon as you enter into the castle – topped by the coat of arms of the Beauvau family and their motto – you climb the spiral staircase, where you can see 15th-century graffitis. The vast rooms of the castle exude a majestic atmosphere. Everything contributes to this impression : monumental Gothic fireplaces, walls painted as seen in Tuscany, sumptuous Brussels tapestries, cushions in front of the mullioned windows… The Gothic and Renaissance furniture will also delight enthusiasts. The castle presents a collection of art works from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Cuisine!!
Just to tease our taste buds and our eyes, here are a little sample of what our chefs Lily and Anthony prepared for us this past spring 2025! (Thank you Sherri for some of the pictures!)
More options for excursions!
Amboise – Château of Clos Lucé – Leonardo Da Vinci’s last home
« Details make perfection and perfection isn’t just a detail. »
Leonardo Da Vinci
1516: King Francis I, passionate by Leonardo da Vinci’s talent, names him “ Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King » and offers him the enjoyment of the Château of Clos Lucé located only a few meters away from the Château d’Amboise, one of King Francis’ home.
The national archives in Paris own a certificate for payement mentioning the pension from Francis I to Leonardo da Vinci « To Master Lyenard de Vince, Italian painter, the sum of 2000 ecussoleil, for his pension of two years ».
A beautiful journey in a delicious garden, a lovely small castle and a museum celebrating Leonardo’s work
Leonardo spends the last three years of his life at the Château of Clos Lucé and works on several projects for the king of France, surrounded by his students.
An underground passage between the two castles allows both men to meet frequently. Today, only the first meters are still visible.
The Italian Master passes away on May the 2nd 1519 in his room at the Château du Clos Lucé.
Visit a « Chèvrerie » – When life gives you goats you make goat cheese!
You guessed it, a « Chèvrerie » is a goat farm! Time to put some good boots on and go for the cutest concerto in « Baa » minor! We won’t be able to paint there, but you might be able to get some pretty lovely reference photos!
The Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine goat cheese, the shining star of any cheese platter, stands out with its rye straw and log-like shape.
Mentioned by writer Honoré de Balzac as early as 1841 in La Rabouilleuse, protected by an AOC since 1990 and an AOP since 2008, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine holds the title of the leading goat cheese designation in France in terms of production volume!
It is easy to recognize: coated in ash (a mixture of salt and vegetable charcoal) and shaped like a small elongated log weighing 250 grams (early molds were made of wicker), it is traversed lengthwise by a rye straw. This straw serves both as a mark of authenticity and a guarantee of origin.
The famous Guinguettes on the banks of the River Loire –
Guinguette, this funny little word originally refers to a popular cabaret restaurant that developed at the end of the 19th century in the Paris region and all over France. Often located on the banks of a river, they were both a place to relax and have fun.
Luncheon of the Boating Party Le Déjeuner des canotiers – 1881
A painting by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir
What’s special about it? The spontaneity of the concept… an outdoor bar, a few chairs, tables and lanterns for lighting. An ephemeral and basic installation, on a country and authentic theme.
It can offer theatre, dance, concerts, open-air cinema, shows and conferences. In addition to its incredible atmosphere, this new generation of music hall is environmentally friendly!
Customers are charmed by the friendly and lively atmosphere of these very successful guinguettes. You can find grills and dishes of the day for lunch, tapas snacks and aperitifs for the evening, topped off with a cocktail or a nice beer.
Please meet your art instructor: Rosemary Connelly
She will help you capture the essence of those breathtaking places
Watercolor was my first love, although I also work in acrylics, collage, and mixed media. Playful use of line and color are hallmarks of my painting style and I find joy and inspiration in historic towns, aging factories and barns, botanicals, and abstract patterns.
I lived in Italy with my late husband Bob, a photographer, where we fulfilled our dream, to « live cheap and make art. » My memoir Two Years in Italy is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and eBook. Travel remains an integral part of my life and work.
Below is a lovely video of a Journal Rosemary created in Brittany in 2022 when she joined Mathieu for their first art experience together! A dear and a wonderful memory!
Discover the art of Rosemary
A bit about Mathieu – Matthew!
your host, interpreter, guide, driver, jack-of-all-trades french friend!
I was born and raised in Arles, Provence. I studied biology and film making. After 10 years in Paris working for the movie industry and television networks I came back to Provence to enjoy life with my wife and son. I renovated and settled in a 200 years old house up in the hills of Aix en Provence. I know Provence and its people like the back of my hand. With Wendy Higbee Carando I co-founded the Provence Art Experience in 2015. Art is part of my everyday life. I will be doing everything so you have a memorable stay: a unique experience! Since 2022 I have been expanding my reach, bringing artists to Brittany and Loire Valley!
What I want the Provence Art Experience to be
A thoughtfully tailored adventure for a small group of passionate artists led by an attentive considerate guide-interpret-driver-friend through the beautiful and secret places of Provence, Brittany and Loire Valley.
One of my artist participant (whom I today call my friend) once told me
“You literally hand-carried us through Provence!” and this artist was Holly!!
The sentence stuck with me ever since.
Participants of Provence Art Experience painting workshops tell me I am a provider, a caretaker.
There is no secret about it. I love to meet people, I love to share with them the Provence I know and cherish.
I love to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Is your folding chair ok? Do you have enough shade? Would you like a bottle of water? Would you like some more wine?! Our mini-van is a bit high to step in? Let me put this little stool here!
A Provence Art Experience is nothing like a crowded tour bus.
Nobody will impatiently tap their wrist-watch to tell you to hurry and run because the bus is leaving.
You will not be an anonymous number in a crowd of 50 people. You will be my guests.
And – in my book – guests are always of honor.
You will be a part of an all-inclusive tailored private experience with 7 artists maximum and your artist instructor.
I want to keep it this way so we can get to know each other. You get to discover French Culture and “art de vivre” with someone born in France – in love with France – and eager to share it with you!
Sharing is really the main idea. The meals together are always heartwarming and special moments, breakfasts at the guest house with fresh croissants and anything you might like with it, lunches at small cafés in the most beautiful typical villages or gourmet dinners with our talented and friendly chef at the guest house or in a delicious restaurant.
We will discover the treasures of France. On the small meandering back roads of this enchanting country we will visit old, typical villages and just enjoy the lights, colors and atmospheres.
I also make sure you get the rest you need because 9 days of immersion can be intense! You will have your alone time to replenish your energy so you get to do and see more.
Provence Art Experience is the way to discover France like no where else.
Ultimately the most appropriate persons to talk about the Provence Art Experience are the artists who experienced it:
You can read their enthusiasms and the extremely enthusiastic and sweet reviews they wrote on Facebook, they really are heartwarming for me:
The Experience is ALL INCLUSIVE
The pricing of our painting workshops – as you can easily compare with other offers – is more than reasonable for an all-inclusive private tailored journey in Provence.
We aim to offer you a memorable journey you will remember dearly – a unique artistic, cultural, gastronomic and immersive experience.
Your Loire Art Experience includes:
-your lodging in the mansion of Domaine de Brou
-All your meals with beverages: breakfasts, lunches and gourmet dinners by our chef and/or in local restaurants!
-All airport transfers as well as everyday local transportation,
-The organization of the plein-air sessions,
-The outdoor activities,
-The wine tastings,
-The tickets for the latest events, art museums and must-sees on the itinerary
-My 24/7 attentive and considerate presence as your host, driver, interpret, guide and provider of all you might need!
It does not include:
-The airfare tickets
-Your travel and airfare ticket insurances (strongly recommended)
Due to the variability in the dollar/euro exchange rate in the past years and to secure the higher level of services we are proud to offer for your Provence Art Experience – we now base the price on the Euro.
Our main goal is to offer the same level of service and quality for the lodging, the meals, the transportation, the tickets for the must-sees and everything else we pay in Euros here in France.
To secure your spot, please ask for the application form I will send you as well as our Terms & Conditions documents
To pay your deposit with a credit/debit card or a PayPal account, please follow this link to our PayPal payment page
I can also send you via email a PayPal invoice you can also pay with a credit/debit card or a PayPal account.