7 minute read
Local Entrepreneur's - Themed Holidays
Themed gîtes are becoming more and more popular but Maison de Lunel, which has been in the making for two and a half years, has taken it to a whole new level.
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Experiential in nature and designed to be a haven where people can escape and rediscover themselves, this massive project has involved a major change in lifestyle and an enormous restoration. A labour of love born out of their best experiences from the many places they have stayed as part of their “previous corporate lives”, Ross and Neil Beckley have transformed a set of old buildings into a luxurious, relaxing retreat that offers a wide variety of courses to truly nourish the mind, body and soul.
A beautiful setting at Mauroux, Lot (46)
www.maisondelunel.com
The Beginning
“It all started in 2016”, explains Ross, “with a lazy conversation about what’s next and where. Neil had always wanted to move to France and we had a yearning to create a boutique retreat so, a few days later, we were on our way to Toulouse to view 15 properties.
“As with all the best laid plans, our checklist of must haves went completely out of the window when we first saw Lunel. Driving through the gates, we could see the potential immediately but, more than that, we fell in love with the place with its far reaching views and 35 acres of designated Natural Area. However, it only had 3 bedrooms, not the 12 en-suites we were looking for, but it did have an amazing stable block and a striking old barn.”
The accommodation, which is ideal for weddings as well as courses and private parties, now comprises 10 spacious en-suite bedrooms, including two self-contained apartments and two small cottages. The stone barn was blitzed and now offers a 120m² multi-purpose studio space with fabulous French oak floors and dramatic albeit ambient lighting, whilst the former tractor and animal food store has become the communal dining room with a professional kitchen that’s ideal for external traiteurs. The design is chic and elegant and peppered with furniture and decorative objects from small businesses and artisans from the local area as well as international craftsmen and women.
The heated swimming pool and large covered terrace combine with a lounge area and cinema wall to provide relaxation, and the professional gym offers a treadmill, bike and elliptical trainer. There’s even an infra-red sauna.
The multi-purpose studio
www.maisondelunel.com
Mind, Body and Soul
As a nutritional adviser and weight loss coach, and currently training to be a natural juice therapist, Ross is keen to help people discover the tools and knowledge to make a long term shift towards better physical and mental well-being.
However, it’s not all about nutrition and lifestyle, the mind is catered for too with self-help, painting, amateur dramatics, creative writing and crafting opportunities.
“Yours to Discover is our philosophy and, as part of our service, we take care of the menus and catering, relaxation and spa treatments, airport transfers and, if required, bespoke excursions. The course leaders can even have their own separate accommodation to experience some private down-time. “We have courses planned from yoga, natural juice detox and naturopathy to cycling, making natural cosmetics and mindfulness.
‘The Best Ever You – Unlock your Power and Claim your Potential’ at the end of June, for example, is an inspirational 6-day retreat for women. It aims to help women to push themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of, and understand that they are only bound by the limits they create.” Run by a certified health and life coach with over 10 years’ experience, this is typical of the forward-thinking philosophy behind Maison de Lunel. Experiential? Definite
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www.beauvillearts.com
www.beauvillearts.com
• Week long courses for children aged 8-18
• During the spring and summer holidays
• Residential or non-residential places
• The SW France (47) & Côte d’Azur (06)
We bring together young people and performing arts professionals to stage inspiring, high-quality performances. Our expertise, international ethos and vibrant atmosphere develops talent, boosts confidence and helps create lifelong friendships and memories.
2020 Courses & Dates Beauville
(47) Lot et Garonne Musical Theatre Show themes... ‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’ 11 – 17 July ‘THE GREATEST SHOW’ 18 – 24 July ‘CHICAGO’ 25 – 31 July ‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ 1 – 7 August Côte d’Azur (06) Musical Theatre Centre International de Valbonne
Show themes... ‘WEST END MEDLEY’ 13 - 17 April ‘MOULIN ROUGE’ 28 June – 3 July ‘MAMMA MIA!’ 5 – 10 July ‘MATILDA’ 18 – 23 October
Discounts available for siblings / multiple week bookings.
www.beauvillearts.com
Creating a Magical vocal experience
Anke de Bruijn has found her vocation
www.singingholidaysfrance.com
Having experienced the joy of singing in ancient churches during a week’s holiday in France herself, Anke de Bruijn has developed a holiday retreat business with song at its core.
“There really is nothing quite like it and I knew I had found my vocation. Singing Holidays was born.
“I was also in the perfect location. Dating back to the Knights Templars, Richard the Lionheart and the days pre-100 Years Wars, there are hundreds of stunning Romanesque churches in the Lot, many of which are closed to the public. Thankfully,the local Diocese granted special permission to our singers and we rehearse in a different medieval church every day.
www.singingholidaysfrance.com
THE SLAP
“Nerve tingling, awe-inspiring and emotional,singing in these churches transforms the voice with a slap, quite literally. Believed to be the sound of angels’ wings back in the 5th-Century, the ‘slap echo’ is when sound bounces off stone walls. To every “TA”,there is a softer, resonating “ta-ta” and the acoustics really are heavenly.
To be technical for a moment”, she explains, “if you sing and hold a note in a ‘dry’ space where there is no resonance and you go slightly off pitch, you will hear it immediately. The sandstone walls create a ‘wet’ space with plenty of reverberation where the sound bounces back and forth, holding the original pitch and you can, in theory, tune to your own voice and sing in key. Your voice comes back to you, bolder and richer creating an almost out of body experience.”
We rehearse in a different church every day
www.singingholidaysfrance.com
THE BUSINESS
“When considering how I could attract my target audience, I knew that the choral singing and vocal coaching would be a vital part of the offering but I also realised I had to make sure that the package ensured a rounded experience. Couple the singing with mild weather, beautiful scenery, French food and wine, and the comradeship that comes with a choir and you have a wonderful themed holiday. There is time for relaxation by the pool and even some sight-seeing too. Recognising that different people have different requirements in terms of accommodation I provide contact links so they can make their own arrangements, whether it be self-catering gîtes or bed and breakfast, etc.
Anke adds. “To make the most of their time with us, our guests receive the score, sheet music and mp3’s before they arrive. This means that we can start the fun part straight away, singing together and perfecting the choir in time for our final concert, a public performance in one of the churches.”
www.singingholidaysfrance.com
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