THRESHOLD: THE ART OF BECOMING

An artist's workspace with a dark wooden table holding art supplies and a sewing machine. Wall above the table features various sketches, photographs, and artwork, including botanical illustrations and surreal images. A window above the workspace lets in natural light.

ART AND WELLBEING RETREATS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

Through our immersive retreats, we design experiences that ignite connection—to self, to others, to something far beyond the ordinary. We believe creative expression is power. It’s how we speak our truth, awaken our potential, and unleash the force within.

A sanctuary for the bold, the curious, the seekers ready to remember who they are and move like they were always meant to—unbound, lit from within.

This is not just a retreat. It’s a return to your true, limitless self.

OUR NEXT RETREATS WILL RUN JUNE - SEPT 2026

Our week-long retreats take place in the French Riviera at the La Napoule Art Foundation, a site steeped in the artistic legacy and inspiration of artist Henry Clews. The Chateau was born as a place of reinvention, where boundaries were broken and lives were rewritten against the backdrop of the brilliant Mediterranean. Today, the Chateau is a contemporary art center, offering studio space and residencies to select artists every year.

Retreat guests will be hosted at the all-inclusive Villa Marguerite. Adjacent to the Chateau, the Villa is itself an historic gem as the former home of the Austrian Princess of Pless.

Led by outstanding contemporary artists, this retreat invites creators of all levels to gather in the inspiring and exclusive settings of the Chateau and Villa — settings where they can explore, experiment, and deepen their craft while reflecting and reconnecting to their innermost self.

THE ART FOUNDATION VENUE

Participants will have the chance to engage in artistic instruction and other activities designed to support art, creativity, and foster community. Stay at the Villa Marguerite, the former home of the Austrian Princess of Pless, which is located adjacent to the Château. Retreat-stay guests have access to much of the Château property, including the gardens and studio of sculptor Henry Clews. All retreat proceeds go to fund our artist residency programs, and to maintain the Foundation’s historic buildings and grounds.

A castle-like building on the shore of a body of water, with a hill in the background at sunset.
An art studio filled with sculptures and busts, shelves with busts along the wall, artworks on the wall, large windows with sunlight, and various art supplies and stands
A small rectangular pond with water lilies and a fountain, surrounded by green bushes, trees, and paved stone pathways in a garden setting.
A historic stone building with ivy growing on one side, overlooking a rocky shoreline and calm water, with hilly terrain in the background.
Stone sculpture of a human face with wings, mounted on a decorated pedestal, surrounded by greenery.
Two men standing and talking inside an art gallery surrounded by wooden sculptures and art pieces on display.
Close-up of the back of a large bronze statue of a male figure, showing muscular shoulders, back, and buttocks, against a plain white background.
A courtyard with a bronze statue of a man, a brick tower, tall trees, and a decorative brick wall with sculpted dragon heads along the top. The ground is covered with light gravel.
Two birds perched on a fountain in a garden with lush green plants and a small pond.
A stone sculpture of a mythical creature with a human face, wings, and a serpent's tail in a niche with stone arch and columns.
Colorful stained glass windows in a church casting vibrant light on three wooden chairs inside.
Stone corridor with carved column capitals featuring animal motifs, arched windows, and hanging lanterns, leading outside to a street with parked cars.
An outdoor sculpture of a humanoid figure made from large wooden logs, set against a stone archway with greenery.
A stone castle with a tower and arched entrance, surrounded by neatly trimmed green bushes and trees, under a clear sky.
A modern art gallery featuring a white pedestal with a glossy, abstract pink and cream sculpture, and a framed colorful abstract painting on the white wall.
View of the ocean and a distant coastline through a decorative arched window from inside a room, with a bed partially visible in the foreground.
Art gallery with wooden sculptures, some on white pedestal, and stacked green boxes, in a bright, minimalist room with white walls and a window.
A corner of a room with white walls decorated with various pictures and artwork. There is a table with folders, papers, and a book, next to a black upholstered bed.
Pink house with ornate windows and lush garden featuring orange trees and palm trees.
People viewing an art exhibition with painted murals on the wall, and rows of small bronze bowls arranged on the white floor.
A stone pedestal with a tall lamp post decorated with colorful pink, yellow, and cream fabric and tulle in an outdoor setting with trees and brick walls.

RETREAT SESSIONS ALL INCLUDE

Lodging, art instruction, food, transportation, yoga and sound bowl meditations. Click for more information.

THE VIBE

All images courtesy of Pinterest
“I shall make no assumptions...but simply say yes to the world.”
— Claire Lispector
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  • A historic castle by the water with stone walls, towers, and greenery, likely a tourist attraction near a body of water.

    Location

    Perched on the Mediterranean in the South of France, the Chateau de La Napoule is the heart of the art and wellness retreats.

    Situated between Cannes and St. Tropez, the Château de La Napoule occupies a magnificent seafront site first settled by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago.

    La Napoule, France
  • Stone sculpture of a turtle with a shell pattern in front of an old brick castle with a tower, surrounded by green plants.

    Henry Clews

    Mirth, Myth and Mystery are the words carved by Henry Clews above the doors at the Château de La Napoule. Unhappy with the traditional life laid out for him by his family and society, Henry bucked expectations placed on him, instead reinventing himself as an artist, writer, and designer of the creative world he desired.

    More about Henry Clews
  • Stone archway with green ivy leading to a courtyard with a classical statue of a woman holding a vessel, surrounded by a cobblestone pathway and lush green bushes.

    The Chateau's History

    Originally erected by the Villeneuve family during the 14th century, the fortress was destroyed and rebuilt eight times before it was transformed into a glass factory in the 19th century.

    Henry and Marie bought the property in 1919. Marie integrated two original towers - Saracen and Romanesque - into the walled complex. She added a turreted gatehouse, tall ramparts, and sea view terraces.

    Read more about the history
  • Room filled with various sculptures and busts displayed on tables, shelves, and stands in an art studio with large window.

    The Art Foundation

    La Napoule Art Foundation offers time and space for creative minds to engage in cultural interchange and meaningful work that impacts the world of the common good, by providing residency opportunities for accomplished and emerging artists from around the world.

    The Art Foundation is a non-profit organization, thus reliant on donorship, grants, and museum tour visitors to fund the artist residency programs and to maintain the buildings and gardens.

    Link to Retreat Reservations

Example Retreat Itinerary

Click + to expand

  • -Arrive by 2pm (or 1 day prior)
    - Welcome to the Chateau and Gardens
    - Sound Bowl Meditation welcome in the Spencer Gallery
    - Rosé on the Terrace
    -Introduction to to the Instructors and Art Foundation Staff
    - Dinner at the Villa

  • - Chateau seafront arcade walk
    - Breakfast
    - Morning Painting
    - Lunch by Naturopathic Chef
    - LNAF Museum Tour
    - Afternoon Painting
    - Fresh-made juices by Chateau Chef
    - Self-led Dinner

  • - Yoga on the Chateau rooftop, overlooking the sea
    - Breakfast
    - Long morning session painting
    - Lunch at the Villa
    - Optional Jin Shin Jyutsu
    - Painting in the Chateau Gardens - plein air or still life (no model)
    - Hike to San Peyre
    - Dinner in Theoule

  • - Sound bowl healing in lovers garden
    - Breakfast
    - Visit to Maeght Foundation
    - St. Paul de Vence lunch and shopping
    - Free afternoon to relax and enjoy the beauty and nature
    - Optional beach/water sports
    - Dinner at the Villa

  • - Yoga and Meditation
    - Breakfast
    - Long morning session painting
    - Optional trip to Cannes for a museum visit, lunch, or shopping
    - Optional afternoon painting
    - Optional Jin Shin Jystsu
    - Formal Dinner by the Chateau Chef in the Gothic Dining Room

  • - Optional morning swim / paddleboarding
    - Breakfast
    - Morning painting
    - Lunch at the Villa
    - Afternoon painting
    - Beach/water sports
    - Dinner at the Villa

  • - Morning Meditation
    - Farewell breakfast gathering on the Mer Bleue terrace
    - Retreat Reflection
    - Self-led lunch
    - Free afternoon
    - Farewell Dinner at a La Napoule restaurant
    - Digestive at the Villa

  • - Departures - transport to the airport

A collage of three images: an abstract mixed media art with hand and small collage elements, a black and white photo of a woman swinging with balloons and birds, and an art installation with waterfalls and light reflections.

Peace | At the heart of our foundation is the pursuit of peace—a peaceful state of mind, body, and environment. Peace isn’t just the absence of conflict; it’s an active cultivation of inner harmony, and an grounded and authentic connection to oneself and others.

Cultivation | We are dedicated to the ongoing process of growth— creativity, new skills, and deeper self-awareness. Cultivation is about nurturing what’s within and expanding it outward.

Sanctuary | This is a refuge for exploration, reflection, and rejuvenation. It is where people can reconnect with themselves and others in a nurturing, inspiring, and non-judgmental environment