About Caroline
As Co-founder and CEO of the Mindsight Institute in Santa Monica, California, I’ve spent the last 12 years learning about and promoting healthy minds and well-being. Our mission is to bring more kindness, compassion and resilience into the world. I'm happy to introduce you to my first book, The Gift of Presence: A Mindfulness Guide for Women.
From Chaos to Calm:
A Nature Immersion and Mindfulness Retreat for Women Entering Our Fourth Year!
June 1 – 7, 2025
(6-nights)
Castle Marouatte, Grand Brassac, Dordogne, France
Limited to a maximum of 14 participants
Overview
Join Caroline Welch, Cofounder & CEO of the Mindsight Institute, mindfulness practitioner, attorney, and author of The Gift of Presence: A Mindfulness Guide for Women (Penguin Random House 2020), together with Dr. Adriana Copeland, certified forest bathing therapy guide, UCLA certified mindfulness teacher, psychotherapist, and Somatic Practitioner (SEP), for a six-night, seven-day journey of self-discovery, immersion in nature, and renewal.
We are located within the privacy of fortified walls dating back to the 13th century, in a family-owned medieval castle surrounded by 270 acres of evergreen and oak forests, just two hours south of Paris by train. We offer plenty of time for you to enjoy the beautiful castle grounds, including its pool and seven circuit labyrinth, recreated by Dr. Copeland in the ancient design, also known as the Cretan Labyrinth, dating back more than 4,000 years. You will experience a safe haven for inspiration and restoration. Discover the timeless healing wisdom of living in attunement with our natural world and be your most resilient self. We will be a small group of up to 14 women.
General Daily Schedule
Subject To Change To Allow For
What The Day May Bring
Arrival Day – June 1, 2025
05:30 p.m. — Check-in at Castle Marouatte – Rapid Covid test, or similar, done on premises (if applicable)
07:00 p.m. — Bienvenue! Welcome at Salon de Troubadours — Enjoy your first taste of the Dordogne culinary delights, including exceptional local wines. Introductions and castle logistics
Days 2 through 6
08:30 a.m. – 09:00 a.m. —Qigong, daily meditation, and intention setting (optional)
09:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Petit Déjeuner
10:00 a.m. – 01:00 p.m. — Morning mindfulness or forest bathing workshop, experiential exercises, and/or discussion
01:30 p.m. – 03:00 p.m. — Déjeuner and free time
03:00 p.m. – 06:00 p.m. — Afternoon mindfulness or forest bathing workshop, experiential exercises, and/or discussion
06:00 p.m. – 07:00 p.m. — Refreshments and free time (for walking, journaling, etc.)
07:00 p.m. – 09:00 p.m. — Dîner
10:00 p.m. — Inviting you to rest deeply, and peacefully. Bon Nuit!
PLEASE NOTE: One local excursion will be included in the schedule
Departure Day – June 7, 2025
08:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Petit Déjeuner
11:00 a.m. — Departure
*All times are local. Schedule also subject to change due to weather or other conditions beyond our control.
Benefits
- Learn and experience the scientifically established psychological and physiological health benefits of mindfulness and forest bathing
- Articulate your life’s purpose, and reflect upon your core values
- Build inner resilience to feel more confident to meet changes and challenges
- Experience your unique inner strength and the collective power of the group
- Internalize why self-care isn’t selfish
- Practice establishing boundaries
- Return home feeling relaxed, renewed, and ready for whatever comes your way
Retreat Details
Accommodations in the Castle
Due to the fact that you will be staying in a twelfth-century castle, it is important to note that all rooms are not created equal! They vary, and each one has its own unique size, character, and decor. There are single bedrooms with private or shared bathrooms on the ground floor, 1st, and 2nd floors. There are also shared bedrooms on the lst and 2nd floors.
Chateau Marouatte and its grounds are smoke free. There is no laundry service available. Hair dryers are provided.
We encourage you to apply and provide your preferences as soon as you’re able, and we will work to honor them to the best of our ability.
Transportation to and from Angouleme Station to Castle Marouatte
The retreat will provide roundtrip transportation between Angouleme Station and the Castle. Pickup times on arrival day at the station will be announced within the letter of acceptance. Pickup time at the Castle on departure day, will be at 11:00 a.m. These are the only pickup times offered by the retreat. Transportation will be on your own for arrivals or departures at any other time. Please note that on arrival day, check-in time is 5:30 p.m., and on departure day, check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
Upon acceptance, we strongly encourage you to secure your roundtrip train tickets. They are in great demand this time of year, so it would be prudent to buy in advance. Further, upon acceptance, we will contact you to ask the number of suitcases. Please limit yourself to one medium suitcase and one carry-on. French trains have limited space available.
Dining at the Castle
We have an amazing chef, and feature farm-to-table cuisine with local wines. Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available if requested in advance. After you are registered, we will reach out to confirm your dietary restrictions, if any, and we will do our best to accommodate. If you are gluten-free, vegan, or have any food allergies, you may want to bring along a few power bars or other protein supplements of your choice as the castle is not near a market.
Health / COVID Information
We require all attendees to comply with France’s Health Requirements in place during the time of this retreat (which can be found here) for entry and departure. If current conditions warrant testing for a given virus, such as Covid, we we will administer a test, upon arrival on the premises.
Travel Insurance
We also strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, since if at any time during your stay it is determined that you have contracted Covid or any other contagious illness, or show signs of illness, we will kindly ask that you leave the castle in order to protect our community. Any costs associated with your departure will be your responsibility. One option for travel insurance is Travelex.
We also strongly advise you to cover yourself for baggage accidents and trip cancellation insurance.
Contact Us
Please contact us with any questions at calminthecastle@gmail.com
Chaos to Calm Testimonials
"Do give yourself the gift of attending this retreat. . .You will not regret it!"
Elke Kellis
Psychologist – Melbourne, Australia
"If I could do it again, I would."
Laurie Macnair
Executive and Development Coach Tennessee, United States
“It got me very, very clear on the question I was asking: ‘Where to next?’”
Jennifer Burrell
Business Owner / Educator – Chichester, UK
Apply Today
Payment Information
Upon acceptance of your application, Mind Your Brain, Inc.
will send you an invoice for the full amount, due upon receipt.
Price includes:
- 6 nights lodging
- All farm-to-table meals and local wines, except for one lunch on excursion day
- Program, including forest bathing and mindfulness practices
- Transportation on our excursion day, likely to Périgueux
- Round-trip transportation between Angouleme Station and Castle Marouatte
Price does not include:
- Round-trip airfare to and from France
- Transportation between Paris and Angouleme (approximately 450 km - 2-hr train ride from Paris or a 5 - 6 hour drive)
- One lunch you will purchase on your own on excursion day
From January 11, 2025 (PDT), our regular rate of $5,499 will be in place, but we will still offer a 10% discount for sharing a room and a bathroom, subject to availability.
We have three room options: 1) Single room options with private bathrooms – these are limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis; 2) Single rooms with shared bathrooms; 3) Shared rooms with shared bathrooms. If at any time you choose to share a room and a bathroom, you will get an additional 10% off of the total cost.
Experience the Castle
FAQs
What Do You Need to Know?
This retreat is for you:
- if you are at a crossroads in your life and would appreciate some guidance
- if you want to live a more meaningful life
- if you want to experience forest bathing
- if you wish to unplug, slow down, and get back in touch with nature
- if you wish to reconnect with yourself in a supportive environment
- if you wish to calm your mind and open the door to inner peace
- if you wish to feel more confident and resilient
- if you wish to build more personal and professional boundaries
- if you wish to learn about mindfulness and meditation
- if you wish to experience how nature can support your psychological and physiological well-being
- if you wish to create your own portable, life-empowering kit
The term shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a body and mind practice which connects us with nature as we slow down and take in the atmosphere of the forest with all of our senses. The purpose was to offer an ecofriendly antidote to burnout and to inspire people to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests. While Japan is credited with the term Forest Bathing, many cultures have long recognized the importance of the natural world to human health. In the 1990s, researchers began studying the physiological benefits of Forest Bathing and science now confirms, as you might have suspected, time spent immersed in nature is good for us.
Prior to January 31, 2025, if your plans change and you need to cancel, we will promptly issue you a refund minus a $300 administrative fee. After January 31, 2025, all bookings are non-refundable unless we can fill your spot. If we can fill your spot, we will issue you a refund minus a $300 administrative fee. If we cannot fill your spot, we will be happy to apply your payment towards a future retreat.
We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance to protect your trip in the event that you need to make a change. Facilitators are not responsible for expenses incurred by participants (e.g., non-refundable airfare, visa and passport fees, etc.). We reserve the right to cancel the retreat for medical emergencies or other unforeseen reasons. In such a case, we will provide a full refund of your payment, which shall release the Facilitators from any further liability.
In late May and early June, Dordogne, France experiences warm and pleasant weather, with average highs of 23-26°C (73-79°F) and lows of 12-15°C (54-59°F). Days are typically sunny with occasional clouds, perfect for outdoor activities. While packing layers is advisable for temperature variations, occasional showers may occur. Overall, it’s an ideal time to explore the region’s charming villages and historic sites amidst the beautiful spring-to-summer transition.