Escape to the Normandy countryside and join me, for a unique and unforgettable weekend of French Elegance in a 17th-century château...

Aude de Vathaire

French Elegance in Residence

at the Château de Boucéel

French Elegance in Residence

at the Château de Boucéel

4 Days/3 Nights December 5th - 8th 2025 All-Inclusive Retreat

Immersive Semi-Private Elegance Coaching with Aude de Vathaire

Where tradition meets transformation...

Embark on an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime journey into the heart of French elegance: a weekend experience like no other!

Privately hosted at the stunning Château de Boucéel in Normandy, just a stone's throw from the breathtaking turrets of Mont Saint-Michel, this is no ordinary weekend getaway...

You will be fully immersed in the art of French elegance and refined living through in-person workshops and uplifting coaching with me — all within the walls of a historic family estate and steeped in French tradition, history, food, and culture.

Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when reservations open!

Weekend Retreat Highlights...

Heritage-meets-5 star comfort:

Accommodation at the historical Château de Boucéel

You will be warmly invited into the private home of the Roquefeuil family, where history breathes through every hallway.

Château de Boucéel is an authentic French chateau that has been passed down over generations, and remains occupied and operated by its original lineage to this day (the Count himself resides within the château, and often joins guests for breakfast with a side of family storytelling). Furnishings, paintings, and architectural details have been lovingly preserved for centuries.

You will be welcomed to an exquisitely appointed room filled with authentic French charm and antique family treasures, balanced with modern comforts for a luxurious yet deeply historical experience. This isn’t a typical hotel stay, or an Air BnB. It is an unparalleled opportunity to have an authentic taste of living French history.


A carefully curated itinerary of cultural beauty and transformation: from Mont-Saint-Michel to immersive private workshops in French elegance.

Just a short drive from the château lies one of France’s most breathtaking treasures: the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Retreat guests will enjoy a private wintertime excursion to this UNESCO World Heritage site, where sea mist curls through cobbled streets and medieval spires rise above the tides. With a personal guide by your side, you’ll explore the rich history and quiet magic of this iconic landmark.

....And your journey into French elegance will not stop there! At the château, over the course of the weekend you will benefit from immersive workshops and in-person coaching with me: designed to deepen your understanding and sense of French ELEGANCE, ETIQUETTE, and CONFIDENCE. Covering everything from dining etiquette to everyday personal refinement, I will be guiding you through a unique and powerful blend of tradition and transformation.


All-inclusive seasonal French cuisine, carefully prepared by a private chef and served in unforgettable settings.

Throughout the weekend, every detail will be thoughtfully taken care of to allow you to simply arrive, enjoy, and be truly present and immersed!

All meals are lovingly prepared on-site by a personal chef, featuring seasonal French cuisine crafted from local ingredients.

From traditional lunches in the château’s dining room to warm tisanes and elegant tea trays by the fire, each dish is served with the same elegance and homage to tradition as the château itself.

Guests will be able to experience the French rhythm of life at its most refined, through even the smallest of details.

What's included..

• 4 days / 3 nights of luxury accommodation in the historical 5 star Château de Boucéel

• Three immersive and joy-filled French Elegance, Etiquette, and Confidence Workshops, combining tradition with personal transformation: hosted by elegance expert, therapist and life coach Aude de Vathaire.

• All meals and beverages for the duration of the retreat, prepared by a personal chef:

• Three dinners

• Three breakfasts

• Two Lunches

• All snacks, beverages and wine

• "Cocktail de Bienvenue" (welcome cocktail gathering) with the château's custodians, the Roquefeuil family.

• Private guided visit to UNESCO Heritage-listed Mont-Saint-Michel

 A beautiful refined dinner "party" hosted in the château’s grand dining room, reminiscent of a traditional meal shared in a French aristocratic home.

....with more delightful details to be confirmed soon!

Sample Itinerary

(example only: full itinerary to be released soon!)

Friday 5th December - Day 1:

Arrivals in the afternoon for check in, evening welcome cocktail and dinner.

Saturday 6th December - Day 2:

Breakfast, morning workshop with Aude, traditional French lunch, afternoon workshop, French tea time, story-time with the Comte, traditional French dinner.

Sunday 7th December - Day 3:

Morning excursion and lunch at the Mont St Michel, afternoon workshop with Aude, closing dinner in the grand dinning room.

Monday 8th December - Day 4:

Breakfast, departure.

Not included:

• Flights and transport to Normandy


Your Semi-Private Coaching Schedule...

Workshop 1

Saturday 6th of December - Morning

In our first class together, we will explore the fundamentals of elegance.

My elegance philosophy is that there is no true elegance without an open heart, and that elegance is deeply connected to self-confidence!

In this session I will demonstrate the posture of the heart and the body (with practical exercises — it’s essential for me to include experiential moments so this doesn’t feel like a one-sided lecture!), learning how to say hello, introduce ourselves, gracefully introduce others, deepen our confidence and posture to uplift our lives in all situations.

Workshop 2

Saturday 6th of December - Afternoon

The theme of this session will center around table elegance, whether we are hosting or being hosted!

We will cover all aspects of dining elegance: from how to set the table, the art of conversation, the rhythm and timing of each moment... what kind of gift to bring, how to prepare and organize ourselves, how to feel confident, and how to dress appropriately for each occasion (whether chic or more casual), and some traditional French dining etiquette tips to make your meals a deep nourrishment for the body and soul. Come home with life changing insights that will elevate your meals everyday.

Workshop 3

Sunday 7th of December - Afternoon

The theme today will be elegance in relationships: at work, with our children or grandchildren, in romantic relationships, within the family, and more (as this will be a small group, I will tailor this to suit attendees, as there will be plenty of space for personal guidance).

We will explore how to say no with grace, how to make a request, how to accept compliments, how to earn respect and so much more...

We will also touch on gallantry and the many codes of etiquette, along with communication techniques that are valuable across all areas of life.

I am a life coach am I make sure my clients experience personal transformation especially for confidence and worthyness!

By the end of this immersion, you will...

• Feel a renewed sense of self-confidence, anchored in a deeper understanding of true elegance... not just as an external presentation, but as an inner way of being.

Move through the world with greater poise, ease, and refinement: drawing on the principles of French etiquette adapted to your everyday life.

Carry yourself with elevated presence, from the way you enter a room, to the way you host a dinner or connect in conversation....

• Have mastered the art of dining and hosting with confidence, knowing how to navigate both formal and informal occasions with ease and self-confidence....

• Possess a refined awareness of how to express elegance in relationships without feeling forced, unsure, or awkward: at work, socially, and in your personal life... balancing warmth, boundaries, and respect..

• Return home not only refreshed by the beauty and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the historical château and Mont-Saint-Michel... but transformed by the inner shift of living as your most confident, elevated self..

Retreat Pricing

DURATION - 4 Days / 3 Nights

SINGLE OCCUPANCY:

3300€ per person

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY:

2550€ per person

DURATION

ROOM OCCUPANCY

PRICE PER PERSON

4 days / 3 nights

Single

Double

3300€ One person

3300€ First person
2200€ for second person

  • Prices shown are per person.

  • Double occupancy refers to two people travelling together, sharing a room (twin bed setup can be arranged upon request)

  • Triple occupancy can be arranged upon request.

  • For currency conversion estimate, check this convertor

  • Full details regarding special early-bird waitlist pricing, cancellation policy and payment options to be released soon!

About your Hostess -

Aude de Vathaire

I am a mother of four, a new grandmother, and a therapist, life coach, and elegance mentor with over 15 years of experience supporting senior executives in the Paris region. Over the years, I’ve also been an artist, a parenting coach, a piano teacher — and above all, someone deeply committed to helping others grow into their most confident, elegant selves.

Raised in French high society, I inherited a deep understanding of aristocratic etiquette and refined living. I draw on this heritage, combined with decades of lived experience and practical coaching tools, to make elegance accessible, personal, and alive.

As your hostess for this very special weekend, my intention is to create a space to connect you with French tradition, culture, and your very own innate sense of elegance. Not only through the beauty of our surroundings, but through the warmth of shared meals, meaningful conversation, and semi-private coaching workshops to guide you towards joyful transformation.

It will be my honour to welcome you!

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