More info for Travel Journaling at Atelier Clos Mirabel
in Jurançon, Pau, SW France!
This info is for the 2026 Embroidered Journey at Atelier Clos Mirabel tour October 17th to 24th 2026
PLEASE register your interest by filling out this form. Places will be offered in order of interest forms received!
This Embroidered Journey is a little different! It’s ALL about the journal – not the embroidery! I’ll be instructing different ways to make your personalized travel journal based on the locales and experiences that are close by. And, of course, you are welcome to add stitching to your journal experience!
This session is at a much slower pace than the big European cities, and we spend our time alternating between local exploration to find inspiration for our journals, and relaxing studio time to turn our inspiration into art. You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind book of memories from your trip, and a few new skills for your future travel journals.
No artistic experience is necessary! I’ll teach you various different journaling skills and you get to choose the ones you like best. We’ll cover:
- Sketching and drawing styles
- Watercolor
- Found objects
- Collage
- Ephemera
- Map-making
- Pop-up structures
- “How to” drawings
- Photography tips
- Use of text and writing
Embroidered Journey tours and retreats are small, bespoke events led by Sam Hunter. For this very special tour, we have collaborated with Atelier Clos Mirabel to create a delightful art experience in one of France’s most beautiful regions. With no more than a dozen guests, our group is friendly and intimate! I’m thrilled to share that the team at Clos Mirabel has worked closely with me to find the best local art and textile experiences in the region for us to experience.
Atelier Clos Mirabel is a beautiful fifteen-acre estate between coast and mountains. Its 18th Century Manor House is set in private parkland amidst the gentle hills of Jurançon with magnificent uninterrupted views out over vineyards to the entire chain of the Pyrénées Atlantiques. A haven of peace, ever changing light and tranquility, it is the perfect location for Art Ateliers and retreats. At Atelier Clos Mirabel the focus has been on green credentials and responsible design.
Each tour has extensive use of the spaces and grounds, and the off-site experiences are custom-created for each group. Ours will include Pau, Bayonne, Salies de Béarn, Jurançon, Lourdes (optional), chateaux, cathedrals, markets, and a very special tour of Tissage Moutet, a 5th generation weaving studio.
Meals are prepared using fresh local and mainly organic produce with vegetables and herbs from their Permaculture garden.
PLEASE NOTE:
The enrollment for this trip is a little different than the classic Embroidered Journey experience, as you will book your tuition here with me, and then book your Tour Package and accommodation with Atelier Clos Mirabel. The accommodation selections at Clos Mirabel and adjacent chateau range from a solo large queen room to a shared twin space and studio apartments, allowing you to choose what suits your comfort and budget best!
Pricing is the total of:
- Full Board Accommodation: 1895€ to 2995€ per week based on room choice and single or shared occupancy (paid to Clos Mirabel)
- The Embroidered Journey Tour package: 795€ per person (paid to Clos Mirabel)
- The Travel Journal Workshop: $475 – includes blank journal and other kit supplies to get you started on your travel journal! (paid to the Embroidered Journey)
All activities outlined in the Tour Package (below) are included.
For our creative project, we will travel and explore locally, gathering the inspiration for the journals! The schedule alternates between studio time and exploring time to maximize getting inspired, and translating that to a journal.
No prior artistic experience is necessary! Sam is a former university fiber arts professor and loves to help people discover their artistic voice. She is helpful, fun, and encouraging, and creates a relaxed learning environment. One of her superpowers is making art accessible to anyone who wants to come play. She has been making travel journals for over a decade, and it has become an integral part of her travel experiences (and so much more fun for her friends to look through than a folder on a mobile phone, or carousel of slides!)
Registration Details for 7 days, 7 nights retreat:
- First come first served in order of interest form sent and deposit received (only 12 places available)
- When you apply to the trip, we’ll reach out for a zoom convo to answer any questions (and to make sure we’re good travel pals!) and then send you all documents, contracts, and an invoice for the Embroidered Journey Tuition part of the tour
- Embroidered Journey Tuition $475
- We’ll send you to Atelier Clos Mirabel’s booking form to put a separate deposit on your Tour Package (795€) and accommodation (1895€ to 2995€ – varies by room choice! Mostly single occupancy, a couple of double occupancy rooms available if you’d like to share with a friend)
- BONUS!!!! My friend and fellow artist Graham Hollick is teaching “Creating Hooked Textiles Inspired by the French Pyrenees” the week after me, and I’m staying on to take his class. If you’d like to join Graham and me, please use my special code SAMH26 when you book with Clos Mirabel for 150€ off!
Here’s a taste of Graham’s work!
What’s included (Tuition + Tour Package + Accommodation):
- 7 nights accommodation at Atelier Clos Mirabel, in a room of your choosing (rates vary)
- Travel Journal Workshop with instructor Sam Hunter (20-25 hours of instruction and tour accompaniment)
- A custom, personalized kit of creative goodies for our sessions, including a journal and various art supplies
- A meet and greet service at Pau Airport (PUF) or Pau Train Station
- Access to the Atelier at Clos Mirabel throughout your stay, with ample time to create your journal
- Buffet breakfasts of local and regional produce
- 3 lunches at Clos Mirabel with accompanying wines
- Aperitifs before each dinner
- 7 four course dinners with accompanying wines at Clos Mirabel
- Excursions to Pau and its chateau, Bayonne including a visit to Bonnet-Helleu Fine Arts Museum, and Salies de Béarn, with transportation and the services of an English-speaking guide (entrance fees to all scheduled activities included)
- Wine tasting
- A Champagne reception before the farewell dinner
- Departure transfers to Pau Airport and Pau Train Station
What’s not included:
- Any meals not listed as included (most off-site meals)
- Any accommodation incidentals or supplementary services (access to laundry is available at Clos Mirabel)
- Tips
- Optional excursions or entrance fees (additional trips to other cities such as Lourdes will be available to book at the beginning of your week at Atelier Clos Mirabel)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included
Other terms:
- There are no refunds for the Embroidered Journey at Clos Mirabel tuition portion of this tour if you cancel. We highly recommend travel insurance! Please see Atelier Clos Mirabel for their refund policy.
- There is no refund for leaving the retreat early, or arriving late. There are no refunds for any portion of the program you choose to opt out of.
- We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the Embroidered Journey at Clos Mirabel up to eight weeks prior to its start in the unlikely event that we don’t have enough registrants, or an act of God, and will refund all monies (less a $100 administrative fee) in such case. We highly recommend travel insurance!
- Feel free to contact us with any questions: hello@embroideredjourney.com
The Travel Journal at Atelier Clos Mirabel – Information to Consider:
Art Skills
We’re not kidding when we say it’s OK if you don’t paint, sketch, or draw! We’re here to help with that! Journaling can be done at all levels, and the provided kit includes enough material to get you started. We’ll also show you examples of travel journals for all skill levels! We’ll help you make the version that makes YOU happy.
Travel skills
We’ve put together a program that is designed to ease travel anxiety as we want you to feel relaxed and cared for! You’ll be shuttled and/or guided throughout all the scheduled activities, but you’ll also have plenty of unstructured time to explore on your own.
Walking
We will be walking in historic towns with uneven streets, so please be honest about your fitness capabilities. This trip is not recommended for those who need walking assistance devices (such as canes or walkers), or who cannot comfortably manage stairs.
Eating
Most dietary preferences can be managed at Clos Mirabel. Be sure to connect with them about your needs when you book your accommodation package. When we are out and about, Google Translate is an excellent tool for communicating about food!
Proposed Itinerary
We reserve the right to make slight changes to the activities in the itinerary based on weather and availability, and will do our best to keep them to a minimum.
Saturday – Arrival at Atelier Clos Mirabel
- 4:00pm Welcome drinks upon arrival
- Explore Clos Mirabel Manor, Park and Atelier
- An introduction to the Travel Journal project and the schedule for the week
- 6:30pm, Apéritifs and introductions, followed by 4 course dinner
Sunday – Clos Mirabel Atelier
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- 10:00am – 1:00pm Atelier: Introduction to journals and what we might capture in them, with a look through Sam’s collection of journals from her last decade of travels along with a drawing and painting demo
- Light buffet lunch at Clos Mirabel
- 2:00pm – 4:00pm Atelier: Create our first paper structure for your journal, an embedded envelope for collecting ephemera
- 6:00pm Apéritifs followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Monday – Bayonne, Pays Basque
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- AM Travel by coach to Bayonne, visit Bonnet-Heleu Fine Arts Museum
- Own lunch at the indoor market (we’ll give recommendations)
- PM Guided tour in English
- 6:00pm Apéritifs followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Tuesday – Clos Mirabel Atelier
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- 10:00am – 1:00pm Atelier: Working on journals, demonstration of fold-out maps and ways to create extra pages
- Light buffet lunch at Clos Mirabel
- 2:00pm – 4:00pm Atelier: Working on journals, possible outdoor drawing session
- 6:00pm Wine tasting followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Wednesday – Royal City of Pau
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- 10:00am – 4:30pm Trip to Pau; Guided tour of Pau Chateau, time to explore the town, Cathedral, Place Royale
- Own lunch in town (we’ll give recommendations)
- OPTIONAL: Afternoon in Lourdes (additional cost)
- 6:00pm Apéritifs followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Thursday – Market Day Salies de Béarn and private visit to Tissage Moutet Weavers
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- AM Travel by coach to Salies de Béarn – Market Day
- Walking tour
- Enjoy lunch (we’ll give recommendations) and free time to browse
- PM Tissage Moutet weavers – private tour
- 6:00pm Apéritifs followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Friday – Clos Mirabel Atelier
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast of local & regional produce
- 10:00am – 1:00pm Atelier: Working on journals
- Light buffet lunch at Clos Mirabel
- 2:00pm – 4:00pm Atelier: Working on journals
- 6:00pm Evening Exhibition, and farewell Champagne reception followed by 4 course dinner Clos Mirabel
Saturday – Departure from Atelier Clos Mirabel
- 8:30am Buffet breakfast and departure (Check-out 11am)
More Information about the Region and our Activities:
Pau became the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1512. Its royal status was secured through Henry IV. Born in Pau Castle. He became King of France in 1589.
Three centuries later Pau was discovered by a Scottish doctor, Alexander Taylor, who announced it as the place for cures of all kinds of ailments due to the great oceanic climate; warm and wet in the winter, warm in summer. The English flocked here in the 19th century, bringing with them all the English pastimes: horse racing, cricket, and fox-hunting. The first 18-hole golf course in Europe was built here in 1860, and it was also the first to admit women to its range. The English also built splendid homes, a hundred of which still remain and some can be visited. The building of the railways brought other nations to this city and Pau became the most fashionable resort in western Europe up until 1914.
Château de Pau – Our guide will accompany us on this visit to see the splendid interiors and marvel at the finest collection of Gobelin tapestries.
A short walking tour of Pau – The central old part of Pau is pedestrianized, so it’s a pleasant, relaxed city to walk in. The Boulevard des Pyrénées makes the best starting point with views to the country on one side and the majestic mountains on the other. There’s plenty of good shopping too. Since our historic visit takes place on a Wednesday there will be an opportunity to return to Pau for those who would like to go shopping or just sit in one of the lovely cafés and watch the world go by.
Bayonne – Even though Bayonne is technically a city, it is void of the stress normally associated with cities. It boasts an exceptional cultural heritage which includes the Cathedral, cloisters, the ramparts, Gothic vaults, the Château-Vieux and the old town restoration project. It is also historically the French capital of chocolate and famous the world over for its ham.
St. Mary’s Cathedral (Bayonne) – Gothic in style and built using locally-sourced white and red stone on the site of a Romanesque cathedral which was destroyed by fire in 1258, it is quite extraordinary. Situated in the heart of the historic centre of Bayonne on a mound overlooking the Nive and Adour rivers, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998 as part of the French pilgrim routes of Santiago de Compostela. The adjoining cloister dates back to 1240.
The Basque and Bayonne History Museum (Bayonne) is located in a late 16th century town house on the banks of the River Nive. Listed as a historic monument, evidence of the former maritime activity in this part of the city, it houses the largest collection devoted to the Basque people, culture and customs. The building is interesting from an artistic and historical point of view since it illustrates the history of Bayonne as a major port and melting pot of French, Basque, Gascon and Jewish cultures.
Chocolate – L’ Atelier du Chocolat (Bayonne) – Visit this famous Chocolate maker and learn the secrets of each stage of the production process.
Les Halles, the covered market (Bayonne) – In Bayonne Les Halles form an integral part of local life and are in perfect harmony with the restoration of the old town. You will find charcuterie stalls with the famous Bayonne ham and many specialities reflecting the gastronomy of SW France.
Salies de Béarn is a beautifully preserved town. It is affectionately called the Venice of Béarn because of the canals that meander through the town under overhanging, half-timbered houses and ancient buildings. It is famous because of its thermal spas that are fed with naturally occurring salt water from springs underneath the town.
The Market at Salies de Béarn – Thursday is market day and we will enjoy seeing stall holders from all over the region. You will enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and a short walking tour before choosing somewhere for lunch (recommendations provided).
Tissage Moutet – This is a family run weaving firm in operation since 1919, now spanning five generations. The company has developed an exceptional know-how for weaving Basque and Jacquard linen. Both weavers and talent developers, Tissage Moutet has a wonderful collection of home and tableware and also weaves for designers, international museums and Michelin starred chefs. The labels Atelier d’Art de France (French Art Atelier) and Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (a Living Heritage company) indicate and commend the quality of their work. Bring your wallet!
