Reading Reset Retreat at La Faye
A 7-night reading retreat for relaxation, renewal and the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book, in the tranquil countryside of western France.
23–30 May 2027
29 August–5 September 2027
The Joy of Reading, Rediscovered
Imagine a week away from the demands of everyday life, with time to settle into a good book and rediscover the simple pleasure of reading.
At La Faye, surrounded by the peaceful countryside of western France, Reading Reset offers seven nights of relaxation, unhurried reading and the freedom to spend your days just as you please.
Enjoy a favourite book in the garden, find a quiet corner on the terrace, or simply unwind beside the pool.
With charming farmhouse accommodation, delicious home-cooked meals and a warm welcome, this is your opportunity to slow down, recharge and reconnect with yourself and the books you love.
Meet Your Hosts
Reading Reset is hosted by Madeleine and Stephen, the couple behind La Faye’s Gîte Holidays and Retreats for Art & Relaxation.
We love welcoming guests to our peaceful corner of the French countryside, where good company, thoughtful hospitality and time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures are at the heart of every stay.
Madeleine and Stephen look forward to welcoming you to La Faye for a restorative week devoted to books, relaxation and the pleasure of taking time for yourself.
A Retreat for the Love of Reading
At La Faye, we believe that reading is one of life’s simplest pleasures — yet finding the time to enjoy it can be surprisingly difficult.
Reading Reset offers seven nights to slow down, immerse yourself in good books and rediscover the pleasure of reading without everyday distractions.
Whether you arrive with a long reading list or simply want to see where a good story takes you, this is time set aside just for you.
Read in the garden, find a quiet corner on the terrace, or settle down beside the pool. You may enjoy exchanging book recommendations with fellow guests over a meal, or prefer to lose yourself in your own literary world. There is no pressure and no formal book club — just the freedom to enjoy reading in your own way.
With warm hospitality and the tranquillity of the French countryside, Reading Reset is an invitation to pause, recharge and reconnect with the books you love.
The Setting: La Faye
La Faye is a peaceful rural farmhouse set in the beautiful French countryside, offering the perfect setting to slow down and rediscover the pleasure of reading.
With lovely gardens, shaded outdoor seating, a swimming pool and tranquil countryside all around, there are plenty of places to settle down with a good book.
La Faye is also home to some much-loved four-legged and feathered residents! Guests enjoy meeting Tibo (Thibault), our friendly goat, and feeding him and our chickens, whose fresh eggs add a special touch to life at the farmhouse. Tibo has even been known to accompany guests on leisurely strolls around the hamlet!
These small, unexpected pleasures are all part of the charm of staying at La Faye, where life moves at a gentler pace and there’s always something to make you smile.
Food & Hospitality
Madeleine and Stephen look forward to welcoming you to La Faye and sharing delicious, home-cooked food throughout your stay.
All meals and wine are included, with menus inspired by seasonal ingredients and fresh produce from our garden whenever available.
Stephen enjoys cooking on his Kamado barbecue, while Madeleine brings her own flair to seasonal cooking.
Meals are enjoyed indoors in our rustic dining space or outdoors in the garden, weather permitting.
Around the table, over good food and a glass of wine, conversation can flow naturally. It’s all part of the pleasure of a relaxed, all-inclusive week in the French countryside.
Excursions & Wellbeing
The retreat combines gentle countryside walks with visits to local markets and beautiful historic towns, offering a little exploration alongside plenty of time to relax.
During the week, we’ll discover the medieval town of Chauvigny, explore Montmorillon’s charming Cité de l’Écrit et des Métiers du Livre, visit the picturesque village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin, and admire the remarkable UNESCO-listed Abbey at Saint-Savin.
There will also be opportunities to enjoy local markets, discover regional produce and browse brocantes.
On Saturday, we’ll return to enjoy Chauvigny’s wonderful, vibrant market, with time to browse the stalls and discover local produce and regional specialities. In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner in nearby Saint-Savin.
Back at La Faye, the gardens, terraces and pool offer peaceful places to return to your book whenever you wish.
A Truly All-Inclusive Reading Retreat
Your seven-night stay includes private accommodation, all meals and wine, local excursions, and the warm hospitality of Madeleine and Stephen.
With plenty of time for reading, relaxation and enjoying the beautiful French countryside, everything is designed to help you unwind, enjoy good company and rediscover the pleasure of reading.
“Simply arrive, settle in and let us take care of the rest.”
Retreat Schedule
Duration: 7 nights, Sunday to Sunday
May Retreat: 23–30 May 2027
September Retreat: 29 August–5 September 2027
Arrival: Sunday afternoon — courtesy minibus transfer from Poitiers Station or Airport, by prior arrangement.
Departure: Following Sunday morning — courtesy minibus transfer to Poitiers Station or Airport, by prior arrangement.
The programme offers a relaxed balance of reading time, shared meals, local excursions and opportunities to enjoy the gardens, pool and surrounding countryside.
🌻 A Gentle Start to the Day
At 08.00, Madeleine, a former ballet dancer, leads an optional session of gentle movement and stretching to music.
Weather permitting, these sessions take place outdoors in the garden beneath the shade of trees.
Movements can be adapted to different abilities, and there is no pressure to participate.
Sessions may be modified or cancelled if conditions aren’t suitable.
Breakfast follows at 09.00, leaving plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely start to the day.
Please note: The following is a provisional outline of the week. Activities and timings may be subject to alteration.
Day 1 – Sunday
Courtesy minibus from Poitiers Station or Airport (pick-up time TBC).
Arrival at La Faye, settle into your accommodation, welcome aperitif and dinner.
Day 2 – Monday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
10.00 – A leisurely introduction to La Faye, its gardens and the surrounding hamlet.
11.00 – Time to settle into your chosen book and discover your favourite reading spot.
12.30 – Lunch
14.00 – An afternoon of uninterrupted reading, relaxation or enjoying the gardens and pool.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.00 – Dinner
Day 3 – Tuesday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
10.00 – Excursion to medieval Chauvigny, with time to explore and enjoy refreshments at a café with a view.
13.00 – Lunch at La Faye
14.30 – Relax with a book, enjoy the gardens or pool.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.30 – Dinner
Day 4 – Wednesday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
10.00 – Visit Montmorillon’s Cité de l’écrit et des métiers du livre, exploring its charming bookshops and literary heritage.
12.30 – Lunch at La Faye
14.00 – Free afternoon for reading, relaxation, or enjoying the gardens and pool.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.00 – Dinner
Day 5 – Thursday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
10.00 – Free time for reading and relaxation.
12.30 – Lunch
14.00 – Excursion to Angles-sur-l’Anglin, one of France’s prettiest villages, with time to explore and enjoy refreshments at a café with a view.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.00 – Dinner
Day 6 – Friday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
10.00 – Visit Saint-Savin and its beautiful historic abbey.
13.00 – Lunch at La Faye
14.00 – Free afternoon for reading, relaxation, gardens or pool.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.00 – Dinner
Day 7 – Saturday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
09.45 – Visit Chauvigny market and explore the medieval town.
13.00 – Lunch at La Faye
14.00 – Free time for reading, relaxation, gardens or pool.
18.00 – Aperitif
19.30 – Farewell dinner at a restaurant in Saint-Savin.
Day 8 – Sunday
08.00 – Optional gentle exercise
09.00 – Breakfast
Morning – Departures and farewell
Courtesy minibus transfer to Poitiers Station or Airport at a pre-arranged time.
Please coordinate your travel plans with us before booking flights or trains. One shared departure will be arranged for the group.
Pricing & Booking
Price: €1,950 per person (Private room, all-inclusive
Includes: Seven nights’ accommodation in a private room, all meals and wine, home-cooked food featuring seasonal and garden produce when available, local excursions, and optional morning movement and stretching sessions to music.
Partners and friends are very welcome to join us. The price is the same for everyone, whether sharing a room or staying in a private room. When booking, please let us know if you would like to share a room.
Payment Details:
Deposit: 25% (non-refundable) upon booking
Balance due: 8 weeks before arrival
Cancellation Policy:
* More than 8 weeks before arrival: refund minus deposit
* Within 8 weeks: no refund
Book Your Place
Spaces are limited to just six guests, creating an intimate and relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy a week of reading, good food, local excursions and the peaceful French countryside.
To enquire or reserve your place, please contact us.
We ask all guests to coordinate their travel arrangements with us before booking flights or trains, so that we can organise arrival and departure transfers for the group.
📍 Location — La Faye, Antigny, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
La Faye is set in peaceful rural countryside in the Vienne département of western France, close to the historic towns of Montmorillon, Saint-Savin, and Chauvigny.
We are surrounded by gently rolling fields, woodland, rivers, and charming medieval villages — an ideal setting for slow, creative retreat.
Address:
11 La Faye
86310 Antigny
Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
France
Nearby towns:
10 min — Saint-Savin (UNESCO Abbey)
15 min — Montmorillon (City of Writing)
20 min — Chauvigny (market, medieval castle, birds of prey show)
50 min — Poitiers (TGV, airport)
🚗 By Car
From Poitiers (north):
Take the D951 towards Chauvigny → continue to Saint-Savin → follow signs to Antigny → La Faye is 3 minutes outside the village.
From Limoges (south):
Take the N147 to Lussac-les-Châteaux → continue to Montmorillon → Saint-Savin → Antigny → La Faye.
We have plenty of free private parking on-site.
✈️ By Air
Poitiers–Biard Airport (PIS)
– 50 minutes from La Faye
– Flights from London Stansted (seasonal)
Limoges Airport (LIG)
– 1 hr 20 mins
– UK + European connections
Tours Airport (TUF)
– 1 hr 50 mins
🚐 Free mini-bus pick-up from Poitiers.
🚄 By Train
The nearest major station is Poitiers, with fast TGV trains from major cities:
Paris Montparnasse → Poitiers: 1 hr 20 mins
Bordeaux → Poitiers: 1 hr
Lille / Brussels / London connections via Paris
🚐 Free mini-bus pick-up from Poitiers.
🚐 Inclusive Courtesy Mini-Bus Transfer
To make your journey as smooth as possible, we offer inclusive courtesy mini-bus transfers for all retreat guests.
Available from:
Poitiers TGV Station (approx. 50 minutes)
Poitiers–Biard Airport (approx. 50 minutes)
Once you arrive in Poitiers, we take care of everything—simply step off your train or flight and we’ll meet you at the arrivals area.
Transfers back to Poitiers at the end of your retreat are also included.
“A week of reading, relaxation and peaceful living — and the beauty of La Faye.”
A Place to Pause, Read and Recharge
Imagine a week in the peaceful French countryside, with time to rediscover the simple pleasure of reading.
Settle into a favourite book in the garden, find a quiet corner on the terrace, or enjoy a lazy afternoon beside the pool.
With delicious home-cooked meals, beautiful surroundings and the freedom to spend your days as you please, Reading Reset is an invitation to slow down, unwind and make time for yourself.
Over meals, conversations may naturally turn to books and stories you have enjoyed — with no formal book club or planned discussions, just the pleasure of good company.