Your Story Begins Here
Write in the Tranquillity of the Beautiful Loire Valley
Welcome to Loire Writers Retreat
We are located in the Loire Valley France in the rural hinterland of Noyant close to the historic town of Saumur. Our mission is to provide Writers with a nurturing environment which has a calming and meditative ambiance in beautiful rural France.
We want others to experience the
tranquillity, peace, quiet and relaxation of life here at Loire Writers Retreat.
We provide writing retreats for Writers, Authors, Poets, Academics, Screen and Song writers, who need a creative haven to find their inner voice, develop their craft and begin or complete their story.
At Loire Writers Retreat "your story really can begin here."
"Iris and Derrick are the most kind, generous, and considerate hosts I’ve ever met. The cottage provided a peaceful refuge in the scenic Loire valley for my writing. The food was more than lovely. The company of two doggy friends, Moscow and Monet, was also delightful :) I would definitely come back again!" Xinwei Xu - China - June 2022
"I thoroughly loved my stay at Loire Writer’s Retreat.
Derrick and Iris have created the perfect place and situation for writers to get their words down. The setting is beautiful, peaceful, and infinitely conducive to creating, writing, reflection. In fact, I can’t imagine a better environment for this.
Derrick and Iris put so much care and thought into creating this ideal experience for writers. No distractions.
And I welcomed the delicious and nutritious meals prepared daily by Iris, a fabulous cook!
I also enjoyed sharing evening meals and delightful conversations with them in their warm inviting home, next to the lovely and inviting writer’s cottage. There’s no obligation of course, but it was a welcome and relaxing yet stimulating break for me.
Also loved the beautiful gentle doggies, Moscow and Monet, who are also very loving and respectful.
I highly recommend for writers who really desire a nurturing, supportive, private setting to create. This is it! In fact I plan on returning soon, with a project we discussed during our dinner conversations. Immensely helpful.
Infinite thanks to Derrick & Iris, and Moscow & Monet."
Jeanette Vigne - California -November 2022
What you can expect
Our writing retreats are on an all inclusive full board basis with your breakfast, lunch and dinner, teas, coffees and snacks provided. We offer a unique space for you to focus on your writing and creative works in the beautiful surroundings of the Loire Valley.
Your snacks and drinks are provided in the cottage with breakfast and lunch delivered each day to the cottage kitchen enabling you to set your own schedule.
Each evening you join us a la maison for an apéritif and meal along with good table conversation and a "bit of craic!"
We provide you with healthy home cooked meals lovingly prepared with produce sourced locally and from our organic garden.
You will have no cooking, cleaning or washing up to worry about.
* Following receipt of your booking we schedule a video call with you to clarify your dietary and food preferences and any other queries you may have prior to your writing retreat.
Whilst here on your writers retreat we support and take care of you. We can pick you up if required from Tours Valley Airport, Angers, Le Mans, Tours or Saumur Train Stations.
Just a few steps from your door we provide you with one complimentary holistic therapy session each week of your retreat. These sessions have proven to be very useful in helping writers feel rebalanced, relaxed and focused.
The session will help calm your mind and enable you to unleash your creativity.
The Cottage is fully equipped with all your creature comforts to give you a home from home experience and includes a washing machine.
There are comfortable beds, fluffy dressing gowns, writing desks, chairs and reading lamps with unlimited fibre optic broadband and a small library of books.
Outdoors, are a number of writing and reading areas should you wish to enjoy the full benefits of our warm micro-climate.
Bicycles are available to you to explore the local countryside and we have built into your retreat a visit to a local wine cave or Chateau in Saumur.
Who We Are.
Hi, we are Iris and Derrick Mathews originally from Northern Ireland and now the proud owners of Loire Writers Retreat.
From the late 1970’s we both worked in roles dealing with the Northern Ireland Conflict known as ‘The Troubles’ and its impact on the people of Northern Ireland. We are both experienced mentors and facilitators in Conflict Transformation, Good Relations, Peace Building, Youth and Community Work.
We decided to relocate to France to turn our dream into a reality. We both have a very positive outlook on life and have combined Iris’s love for cooking, her creativity and passion for helping people along with Derrick’s love of reading and writing to create the unique space and tranquil ambience that is Loire Writers Retreat. Derrick is currently working to complete his first novel!
We are experienced hosts who enjoy a good chat and a bit of craic, so you can be assured of a warm Irish welcome when you stay with us at Loire Writers Retreat.
We have over the last three years lovingly turned a blank canvas into beautiful gardens and created a luxury two-bedroom cottage in a contemporary design where the ambiance is so still you can almost hear it breathing.
"While your mind wanders you imagination creates."
"We look forward to welcoming you to Loire Writers Retreat and to the beautiful and historic Loire Valley France."
Iris & Derrick
Our Other ServicesAirisu Holistic Therapies
are available on site. While your retreat has a complimentary therapy session built in if you wish an additional therapy session this can be arranged with Iris. These sessions are charged at €60 per session. For further information on our Holistic Therapies please click the link below.
AIRISU
Loire Writers Retreats 2021 Availability & Prices
- Writing Retreats are available as shown below
- Please contact us to discuss your required dates.
- Writing Retreats are available from a minimum of 4 nights to a maximum of 7 nights.
- No cost reduction is applied should you not wish to avail of the Holistic Therapy.
- Please see supplied Terms and Conditions for our Cancellation Policy
- Costs are per Writer/Person per Week based on 7 nights
- Costs are in Euros.
- Dates marked in RED are fully BOOKED
- PRICE - €1470.00 Per Person/Per Week (7nights)
- Writing Retreats are on an all inclusive full board basis only, and include 1 Complimentary Holistic Therapy Session per 7 night Retreat and collection and drop off within 1 hour of the retreat.
Loire Writers Retreat has a New Postal Address
Following reorganisation in the commune we now have a road name where previously we were an unlisted road. Our new postal address is:
Loire Writers Retreat
1116 Route de Bel Ebat
Breil 49490
Noyant Villages
France
COVID 19 UPDATE
January 2023
We are open for bookings. While most mask wearing conditions have been relaxed in France many people continue to wear them when in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets. You will find masks available in the cottage. We look forward to welcoming writers of all genres and disciplines to Loire Writers Retreat in the beautiful Loire Valley, France.
We will continue to keep the situation under review should there be changes with regard to freedom of movement.
We are not taking back to back booking and allow a few days between each booking to enable a full COVID clean.
STAY SAFE
Iris & Derrick, Loire Writers Retreat.
Gallery & Video Reviews
Check out in-depth reviews by some of our guest authors on our YouTube channel
VIEW OUR CHANNEL
Loire Writers Retreat - Review March 2023
Here at Loire Writers Retreat we believe the simple things in life are always the best. After posting some pictures of my Irish Potato Bread Farls some of our followers have requested the recipe saying they have fond memories of their parents and grandparents making potato bread farls. After years of cooking and following our Mum's recipes, which were passed to her from our Grandmother; I discovered the secret ingredient that was never written down in any recipe but went into all their cooking - it was prepared and 'cooked with Love', passion; care and intention. Soul food which hugged and comforted you making their food always tasting delicious. In the words of Sophia Loren: "The most indispensable ingredient of all home cooking: love for those you are cooking for. This recipe for Irish Potato Farls only requires your leftover potatoes (spuds), a little flour and butter, a griddle or frying pan. It takes about 20 minutes of preparation time and 10 minutes to cook. INGREDIENTS: 450g cooked potatoes 55g butter 110g self-raising flour 1/2 pinch salt Method: Heat a flat griddle, or heavy based frying pan Mash your potatoes, add flour, butter and salt until a stiff dough forms Turn your dough onto a lightly floured surface: Knead the dough lightly and roll out to about 1cm thick. Cut into triangular wedges Add flour to your griddle or pan and working in batches cook the farls turning once until golden brown 4 - 5 minutes each side. TIPS: You can also purpose boil your potatoes I use a fork for ,fixing the ingredients Make a large batch and freeze them Serve them with sauage, bacon and fried egg - this will soon gather a group around for their 'Ulster fry' breakfast, brunch. You can tweak this recipe to suit the tastes of your family. BON APPÉTIT
How to get a good nights sleep
Introducing Loire Writers retreat
There are many benefits to holistic therapy, from the physical to the psychological. The focus of holistic healing is to encourage the person to gain balance in all aspects of life.