My next Provençal reading retreat runs from from 27th-30th August 2026.
The experience
Taking place from 27th–30th August 2026, this three-day reading retreat is your chance to fall back in love with books. Set in a ravishing château in Provence, it’s the perfect excuse to unplug, exhale, and spend a few dreamy days eating well, swimming in the shimmering pool, and reading absolutely whenever you like.
We’ll kick things off with a champagne reception on arrival, where you’ll meet the owners of the Chateau, Costas and Alison, who will no doubt share the story of how they came to buy Château St Victor la Coste—preferably with a chilled glass of fizz in hand.
After that, the days are yours to shape. Love an early morning? Begin with a swim, followed by a leisurely breakfast of homemade granola, fresh croissants, seasonal fruits, Greek yogurt, and artisanal cheeses. Fancy a lie-in instead? Skip all of that and slip straight into a sun-dappled corner with your book. Wander the nearby village, journal in the gardens, carve out some reading time—or don’t. Everything is optional.
Afternoons are devoted to pure relaxation: reading by the pool with a glass of rosé, napping on sun-baked loungers, or taking a gentle stroll through the nearby village. Lunch is a simple, nourishing affair—vibrant salads or a homemade soup designed for slow, warm summer days.
In the evenings, we’ll gather for a three-course dinner cooked with local, seasonal ingredients. Expect lively conversation, bookish chats, and easy company. Afterwards, you can slip back to your room to read, enjoy a swim under the stars, or find a cosy corner with a new friend to keep chatting about books—or anything else that takes your fancy.
Every part of the retreat is intentionally low-pressure and flexible. Join everything, skip everything, or drift somewhere in between. It’s a few days of sunshine, stories, great food, and the kind of unhurried freedom that lets you fall back in love with reading—while enjoying the company of a few new like-minded friends along the way.
The reading list
I’ve carefully curated a French-inspired reading list to transport you straight into the heart of French literature, filled with the romance, intrigue, and effortless elegance the country does so well.
Before the retreat, I’ll send each guest a pre-retreat read—a book we’ll explore together during our time in Provence. The book is one I adore for its moody, atmospheric storytelling, rich sense of place, and just the right amount of intrigue, identity, and the uncanny.
Each guest will also receive a goody bag of literary treats, plus two additional French reads to dip into whenever the mood strikes—over a cup of coffee in bed, by the pool, or long after you’ve returned home.
The location
Château St Victor la Coste is a ravishing, dreamy château in the heart of Provence—the perfect backdrop for a late-summer reading retreat. By the end of August, Provence is at its best: long, warm days, balmy evenings, and that soft golden light that makes everything feel just a little bit cinematic.
We’ll have the entire Château to ourselves, which means total privacy and plenty of space to roam, read, and relax. This isn’t a typical hotel—Château St Victor la Coste is a wonderfully eclectic private home, full of artistic flourishes, characterful corners, charming cottages, and of course the Instagram-famous pool.
Expect lazy mornings stretched out by the pool, unhurried strolls through the gardens, and long spells of guilt-free reading. With 9 stylish double bedrooms, each with its own ensuite, there’s room to spread out, settle in, and make yourself at home.
Get ready for a few blissful days of good books, delicious food, warm sunshine, and the quiet magic that only Provence in late summer can deliver.
What’s included
Your retreat fee covers everything you need for a luxurious and immersive reading escape.
- Three nights’ accommodation at Château St Victor la Coste
- A champagne reception on arrival
- Daily breakfast (homemade granola, freshly baked croissants, seasonal fruits), light lunch, and three-course dinner with wine
- A long rosé lunch in a nearby Provençal village
- A curated book package, including a French-inspired reading list
Pricing
Shared Room (Double/Twin) – £1950 per person
Private Room (Double Ensuite) – £2600 per person
A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the balance due eight weeks before arrival.
Spaces are limited – email me on lucy@thelitedit.com to secure your spot.
Your host
Hello, I’m Lucy, and I’ll be the host of this reading retreat.
I’m never happier than when I have a book in one hand and a glass of prosecco in the other—preferably somewhere with a dreamy view. I’m a reader, a writer, a wanderer, and a firm believer in the magic of books.
As an award-winning book blogger, bibliotherapist, and library curator, I’ve spent my life surrounded by stories. After studying English Literature, I read my way through the BBC’s Top 100 Books and launched The Literary Edit, which went on to win the London Book Fair’s inaugural Book Blogger of the Year Award. Now, I spend my days curating book prescriptions, building libraries, and hosting boujee reading retreats in beautiful corners of the world.