Retreat venues in Occitanie: 40 venues

Organising a workshop or retreat in Occitanie

There is a very wide choice in Occitanie. Among the group gîtes, rooms for hire and group centres, you'll find old mas in the garrigue around Nîmes and Montpellier as well as renovated farms in the Cévennes, the Aveyron and the Ariège. Many are deep in the countryside, well away from busy roads. People come for yoga and meditation, but also for qi gong, tai chi, dance or fasting.

The season is long. From April to the end of October you can run retreats without worrying about rain, and many venues stay open in winter for smaller, quieter retreats. In high summer, though, the Gard and the Hérault get really hot. Look for a shaded practice room, ideally with a pool or a river nearby.

Nîmes and Montpellier are about three hours from Paris by TGV, and Toulouse has good air links. For the more remote venues, in the Lozère or the upper Aveyron, plan a shuttle from the station; most owners can sort one out.

Good to know

• Spring and September are the busiest times, so book six months ahead.
• In July and August, mountain venues (the Pyrenees, the Cévennes, the Aubrac) stay cooler.
• Ask whether the meals are vegetarian. It's common in the region, but not a given.