Saint-Jeannet, French Riviera
The Art of French Living
Riviera Hilltop Retreat
One week in France where everything is taken care of and the only
decision you'll need to make is whether to swim before or after lunch.
l’art de vivre
A MORE BEAUTIFUL WAY TO EXPERIENCE FRANCE
Most people visit France and see it at a slight remove - through a blog post recommendation, a tour bus window, a carefully planned itinerary that leaves no room for the unexpected.
I take a small group of women into a different version of France - the version I actually know. The producers worth seeking out, the villages that aren't in the guidebooks, the kind of meal that goes on for three hours because nobody wants it to end.
I've spent twenty years finding these things, and a week with me is the fastest way to get to all of them.
Join me September 6-12, 2026, in the hilltop village of Saint-Jeannet for a retreat
that celebrates the French art of living: Beauty, connection, and the joy of slowing down.
This is not just a trip to France.
It’s an invitation into the France I know and love - the long lunches, morning markets, village beauty, unforgettable meals, and small rituals that make life here feel so rich.
Through curated retreats and experiences, I help women step into a more meaningful, delicious, and inspiring way of being in France.
Saint-Jeannet sits high above the Riviera - close enough to see the Mediterranean on a clear day, far enough that the village moves at its own pace entirely. Stone streets, panoramic views across the hills toward the sea, and the particular quiet of a place that hasn't tried to make itself more appealing to anyone.
Nice is 25 minutes away by car. It might as well be another world.
This retreat is about experiencing the very best of what makes France so special: Beautiful meals, café culture, local markets, wine, extraordinary scenery, and those unforgettable pinch-me moments that most travelers would find difficult to create on their own.
l'Art de Vivre
This September, I’m inviting a small group of women to experience a special week filled with extraordinary views, long meals under the stars, market mornings, laughter over wine, and quiet moments to simply be.
You’ll stay in a beautiful home overlooking the hills and Mediterranean sea, surrounded by women who, like you, are ready to reconnect with themselves, laugh with new friends, and rediscover the beauty of life.
You’ll find yourself at a beautiful table with a panoramic view over the Riviera, surrounded by flowers, local wine, and late afternoon light, thinking, "I cannot believe this is real."
The Art of French Living -
Riviera Hilltop Village
What Awaits You in France
You already know what you're looking for... A week where the days feel full without being scheduled to death, where the food is worth talking about, where you meet women you actually want to stay in touch with. You come home feeling refreshed and restored, maybe even glowing.
That's what this week is built around.
The Experience
What our days will feel like...
Mornings here have a particular quality. We start with coffee on the terrace while the village is still waking up, the hills are hazy, and the sea is off in the distance. No one is rushing you anywhere.
Some days we go. A morning at a winery that has been making wine the same way for generations. A boat out to one of the islands off the Riviera coast, with a perfect French picnic lunch we've put together - cheese, charcuterie, good bread, cold rosé.
Other days are slower. You read by the pool, wander the village, sit somewhere with a view and do absolutely nothing about it. Both kinds of days are the point.
Evenings are long. The table is always set somewhere beautiful. The wine is local, the food is good, and the conversation tends to go places you didn't expect.
Each group brings its own unique alchemy of backgrounds, personalities, and senses of humor, as we create the memories of this special week together.
Our Hilltop Village
What's Included:
Every detail has been thoughtfully curated so you can simply arrive and enjoy.
Your 7-day, 6-night retreat includes:
6 nights accommodation in a beautiful property overlooking the hills of Saint-Jeannet all the way to the Mediterranean
Daily breakfast on the terrace overlooking the hills and the village, with the sea in the distance
Long, leisurely meals featuring local French cuisine and wine (all meals included except 2-3 during free time)
French cooking class
Guided journaling sessions
Curated experiences that capture the essence of French living - Market visits, village walks, local tastings, and time to experience the rhythm of French life
Wine Tasting at a local winery
Time to rest, reflect, and absorb the beauty around you
Day trip to the French Riviera - We'll take a boat trip to an island on the Mediterranean coast, snorkel in the sparkling sea (if desired), and have a picnic lunch on an island.
Everything is taken care of, so you can focus on what truly matters - slowing down, reconnecting, and soaking in the beauty around you.
What Makes This Retreat Special...
This is a curated invitation into French life.
What makes this week different isn't the location - though Saint-Jeannet is extraordinary. It's that every part of it has been chosen deliberately, by someone who has spent twenty years learning what makes an experience in France genuinely memorable versus merely pleasant.
The winery visit isn't a tour, it's an introduction to a family and a way of life. The market isn't a photo stop, it's where we source lunch. The meals aren't catered in a generic sense, they're built around what's good right now, in this region, at this time of year.
I know what makes a week in France feel ordinary, and I know what makes it feel like something you're still thinking about a year later. Every decision about this retreat was made with the second one in mind.
This week is designed for women want to be immersed in the atmosphere, flavors, rhythms, and extraordinary beauty that define the French art of living.
About Your Host
Bonjour! I’m Julie - though my friends gave me the nickname French Julie over 15 years ago, after visiting me in Paris. At the end of the trip, they said:
“There are two versions of you: American Julie and French Julie. And when French Julie is in France, magical things happen.”
They were right.
Something about being here brings out a different energy... I'm happier, filled with awe, more curious, more present, more alive.
That’s the spirit behind this retreat.
I’ve spent over 20 years exploring and eating my way through France, with many of those years living here (including now in a small medieval town in the South of France.)
What keeps me coming back is the beauty of everyday life:
morning markets, long lunches, beautiful surroundings, and a slower rhythm that invites you to actually enjoy it all.
After 15 years of corporate hustle, I experienced extreme burnout and came back to France to reset and start over.
And I realized something simple but powerful:
France offers a different way of living.
One that values:
presence
connection
beauty in the everyday
and time to savor life instead of rushing through it
This retreat was created to share that experience with you.
Not just seeing France, but stepping into it.
Beautiful settings, incredible food, and moments that feel memorable, a bit unreal, and a bit magical.
I’ve hosted an award-winning travel series (A Parisian Food Affair), written about French food and culture for years, and built my life around helping others experience the best of France.
I care deeply about the details and spent ten years of my career designing unforgettable five-star travel experiences in France.
Most women come on their own.
And very quickly, it feels like traveling with friends.
My goal is straightforward: to give you a week in France that you couldn't have put together on your own, with women you're genuinely glad you met, in a place that stays with you after you leave.
September 6-12, 2026
Who This is For
This week is for you if you've been putting off doing something entirely for yourself for longer than you'd like to admit. If you want France but don't want to plan France. If you're happy to come on your own (most women do, and within a day it doesn't feel that way). If what you're looking for is the food and the beauty and the real conversation, not a packed schedule of wellness programming. If you're ready, for one week, to let someone else handle everything and just be somewhere.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrive, settle into your room, and meet the group over a welcome dinner on the terrace as the sun goes down over the hills.
Day 2 — A slow morning with breakfast overlooking the village. Afternoon cooking class. The rest of the day is yours — the pool, the village, a book, a nap.
Day 3 — Morning yoga if you want it. Then we visit a local winery (not a tasting room with a gift shop, a real producer) and spend a few hours understanding how wine actually gets made in this part of France, and the unique way it's been made for centuries.
Day 4 — The unhurried day. Breakfast on the terrace, free time to read or wander, a candlelit dinner in the evening with views across the foothills.
Day 5 — We leave the village early. We'll take a boat out to one of the islands with pine trees, clear water, and no cars. Lunch is a picnic: cheese, charcuterie, good bread, cold rosé. We swim if we want to. We stay as long as we like.
Day 6 — The market in the morning, then a long picnic lunch together with everything we've found. A farewell dinner in the evening to close the week.
Day 7 — Departure.
What past guests have to say...
“Being part of this retreat was like pressing pause on everyday life and stepping into a gentle, joyful rhythm with amazing women around me.”
“It was by far the only vacation I’ve ever been on where I was totally present, not worrying about a thing other than what amazing thing I was going to experience the next day.”
“This retreat wasn’t just a trip - it was a heartfelt experience that nourished my soul. It really was one of the best experiences of my whole life.”
Payment Plan
A €1,000 deposit reserves your spot.
The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the retreat.
A total value of: (Amount)
Buy/Enroll/Join now for just (Amount)
A week that stays with you long after you return home.
You've been waiting for the right moment. It doesn't come.
A small group of women, six nights above the French Riviera, everything handled from the moment you arrive. There are a handful of spots left. This retreat will fill, and the women who come will have said yes when something in them said go.
Reserve your spot below. Or write to me first at [email protected] - I read everything and I'll get back to you.
September 6-12, 2026
You’ll be able to review all details before confirming.
Additional dates may be added. The wait list will receive new date releases first.
FAQs
What is included in the retreat price?
The retreat includes 6 nights of accommodation, multi-course meals with wine, a day trip to the Riviera with a boat ride, snorkeling (if desired), island visit, wine tasting, yoga class (optional), transportation for scheduled activities, sunset apéros, and more.
Is the retreat suitable for solo travelers? Am I too young/old?
This retreat is designed to bring women together, whether you come with a friend or on your own. It’s a perfect opportunity to make new connections in a welcoming, supportive environment. Last year, only 2 women knew each other beforehand; Everyone else came on their own and left as friends.
We have had age ranges from 25 years old to nearly retired. We had a guest this summer founding a startup in San Francisco and another starting a family in Germany. And plenty in between. We welcome a diverse range of ages, backgrounds, & life situations.
What is not included in the price?
Flights, travel insurance, and couple meals on your own during free time are not included.
You are responsible for getting to/from the property.
Do you have payment plans? What is the cancellation policy?
Payment plans are available. Please contact me at [email protected]
Deposits are non-refundable. You may transfer your spot to another person if you are unable to attend. Please consider travel insurance for added peace of mind.
How do I get to the retreat location?
Nearest City: Nice (25-30m by car)
Nearest Train Station: Nice-Ville (35m), Nice Saint Augustin (30m)
Nearest Airport: Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (25m)
Recommended Routes: Train or Fly from Paris to Nice (or fly directly into Nice).
Then take a taxi, Uber, or shuttle bus from there (25-35m).
I can help arrange for guests to share a ride together if arriving at the same time.
How much free time will I have?
I’ve curated an amazing itinerary, but you’ll still have downtime to relax by the pool, explore the village, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings. This is your retreat, and I want you to savor it at your own pace. If you'd rather nap by the pool than join an activity, you are free to choose your own adventure.
Watch the 2025 French Julie Travels Retreat:
(Different location, same philosophy)
French Julie Travels
Women's Retreats in the South of France
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