‘Thank you so much for such a super week in Minervois. Milton for the fabulous transport and sharing your wonderful knowledge of the region and its history and Erin for the superb sketching guidance to confidently discard my pencil and rubber and be more bold with colour ….and cleaner!! It’s been an absolute joy. I leave with the fondest memories and sketches to remind me of you both … and Linda ❤️ ,  this beautiful corner of France and the fabulous experience.’

Alex from NZ

Let’s Sketch in
in the south of france 2025
*

7Day Sketch TouR

SKETCHING THE MINERVOIS in the SOUTH OF FRANCE. 2025
7nights / 8days
Perfect for Urban Sketchers, and those keen to learn Travel Sketching

Max: 1 to 6 sketchers
.

MAY 2025
Saturday May 17th - Saturday May 24th 2025
Arrive in Carcassonne on Saturday May 17th - Depart Carcassonne Saturday May 24th

COST: €2950pp
Deposit: €850pp
Non refundable but can be transferred to another of my tours within 12 months.

ITINERARY- this may change but is what we’ll start with😀

Arrival Day One. Saturday. Free Day
We pick you up in Carcassonne at 4.00pm and bring you back to Hotel d’Alibert in Caunes Minervois, 5minutes from my village.
Frederic and Charles will help you settle into your room and later Milton and I will join you for a relaxing evening dinner at Bar Fontaine nearby.

Sketch Day Two: Sunday
After breakfast - which Frederic will serve you from 7.30am, our driver will pick you up and bring you to my village of Trausse Minervois.
Milton will do tea and coffee for us in my upstairs studio and we’ll chat about our plans for the week ahead.
We’ll do our first sketch here.
For lunch we’ll go to a traditional French Bistro in the nearby village of Villeneuve. Actually the Truffle capital of the region.
Then a quick sketch after lunch near the old bridge over the river will complete our day.

Sketch Day Three: Monday
After breakfast our driver will take us to de Lastours where there are a group of Cathar Castles which were the last to hold out against the Crusaders in the 12th century.
We will sit below the steep peaks and sketch what we can see of the remains of 2 of the 5 castles above us.
Such a pretty little village in a rich and fertile valley nowadays a lovely village for holidaying.
We may even picnic under an old pear tree to complete our work.

Sketch Day Four: Tuesday
Let’s go to Market!
Olonzac Markets are some of the best around. There is an alleyway of food you will not believe. All is locally grown or made and they give you samples of everything from sausage to honey. Down the main road are cafes, baskets, hats, linen, beautiful clothing, tableware - all great quality.
Here we can do small sketches across our pages to get as many different things we see as possible.

Free Day Five: Wednesday
This day gives you a chance to relax and either shop and explore Caunes Minervois,
or have the driver take you to La Cite Carcassonne, one of the most visited castles in France.
Time to explore another Cathar fortress and learn the history of the town.
My students tell me that they really appreciate a day between sketch days,
but of course you can sketch to your heart’s content anyway.

Sketch Day Six: Thursday
Today we’ll be sketching beside the Midi Canal and watching the barges and houseboats go by.
There’s a classic hump bridge over the canal which is fun to sketch.
Lunch here is delightful and I then want to show you the incredible second hand book barn over the bridge.
Sketch something here if you can stop looking at books - they are in all languages.
A very exciting day today. One of the best wine tours in the region.
We meet our driver in the big carpark by the river and be whisked off to one of the two vineyards we’ll visit.
There will be tastings and you can try some quick sketches.
Lunch (included) will be a set menu at a beautiful village restaurant with wines to go with your food.
A great chance to sketch what’s on the table
Another vineyard will follow and you’ll have a chance to learn even more
about why the wines here are so special and different.

Sketch Day Seven: Friday
A very exciting day today. One of the best wine tours in the region.
We meet our driver in the big carpark by the river and be whisked off to one of the an organic vineyard.
There will be tastings and you can try some quick sketches.
Lunch (included) will be a set menu at under the trees in an Olive grove, with wines to go with your food.
A great chance to sketch what’s on the table
A fab chance to learn even more about why the wines here are so special and different.

Departure Day Eight: Saturday
Enjoy a lovely breakfast in the courtyard and wish all your new friends a fond farewell.
The driver will pick you up at 8.30am and take you to Carcassonne Station for your train to Toulouse.
That way you know to book your ongoing transport any time after midday.
You will have the most marvellous memories from your stay in the Languedoc wine growing rural area of France.
I know you’ll return.😀

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WHAT’S INCLUDED
Pickup at Carcassonne Station at 4pm on the Saturday.
Drop off at the station on the following Saturday
Daily sketching and tuition with Erin.
Fully Guided and organised visits to each location or village.
Transport every day from Hotel d’Alibert in Caunes and return, to a different location each day.
History chats and info about the locations we visit with Milton.

NOT INCLUDED
Flights to France
Accommodation - we suggest Hotel d’ Alibert in Caunes Minervois- 5mins from my village. Breakfast included.
Lunches or dinners
Sketch Kit
Travel Insurance
Personal spending

HOW TO GET THERE
Fly into Toulouse Airport and take a train from there to Carcassonne Station, about 25mins from our village.
Be sure your flights or train arrivals get you to Carcassonne station by 4.00pm
We will pick you up there and bring you to Caunes Minervois and your hotel.

This is a very special experience just for yourself, a group of friends, or your Urban Sketchers group.
Fully guided, Unique & Personalised Tours with private transport every sketching day to a different location.
Perfect for all levels of sketching and I work with you however experienced you may be.
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You’ll love the locations in and around Caunes Minervois- where you’ll be staying - plus the fascinating villages and Cathar castles we’ll be visiting.
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The minute pick you up, you are taken care of and can totally relax.
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Apart from daily sketching, we explore new places and learn the fascinating history of each.
We shop, discover, and enjoy different French restaurants for lunch.
Later in the week we take a truly wonderful day visiting two domaines for wine tasting with the best wine tour company in the region.
We then have a gorgeous lunch in a nearby restaurant and try the wines with our food.
Food and wine go together in France.

You’ll be staying at a beautiful old hotel (a former abbey) in the village of Caunes Minervois for the time you are here.
You can unpack and start feeling like a local
in this undiscovered historical and picturesque wine growing region in Southern France.

Erin Hill and Milton Hill are your organisers for these small more intimate tours.
It means we can more easily tailor our week to the things you’d most like to do.

Hotel d’ Alibert

Rue Saint Genes, 11160 Caunes- Minervois
Email Frederic to book your room: frederic.guiraud.dalibert@gmail.com
A 300yr old family owned former abbey.
All rooms are large with ensuites.
Daily breakfast.
Around €85 per night for one person. €95 per night for 2 people in a room.

 WHAT YOU'LL NEED
If you’re new to sketching you’ll need this sketch kit.
Sketch Kit - Available to order online if you’re in Australia, or get similar in UK, USA and France.

I’ve designed my custom sketch kit to be minimal and fit into your shoulder bag, ready at any moment.
It contains everything you need. Don't be tempted to bring more.

If you’re already a sketcher, bring your favourite sketch items.

Bring a folding stool if you like, a hat, sunglasses, sun lotion, money for incidentals, such as drinks and meals not included.
* Do get travel insurance - better safe than sorry.
* Come with a big happy smile and willingness to learn.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SKETCHING WITH YOU SOON 

Click the little icons below to see loads of my sketches on Pinterest and Instagram