L'atelier Béarn:
Pastry Retreat
6 days, 5 nights
September 27th - October 2nd 2026
€4,000 EUROS
Class Occupancy: 8 people Max.
Join us at Maison Le Grand Saule for an immersive & relaxing week-long Pastry Retreat, guided by pastry chef Madeline Denison.
Throughout the week, you’ll create a selection of classic French desserts while building practical skills, mastering techniques, and gaining a deeper understanding of how a variety of desserts and other products come together from start to finish. In addition to the workshop sessions, guests will enjoy excursions to a local market, a wine tasting, a dinner in town & visiting local pastry shops.
Designed to be accessible for beginner to intermediate participants. This workshop provides a supportive and engaging learning environment. This course seeks to combine both learning and relaxation.
Course Products:
Sweet & Savory Tart Doughs
Lemon Meringue Tart
Quiche
Chocolate Eclairs
Pastry Cream
Choux Dough
Rough Puff
Millefeuille
Macarons
Ganache
Caramel
All instruction will be conducted in English.
Quick Links
What is included in your Retreat:
Room & Board:
During your stay, you will reside in one of our charming rooms at the Le Grand Saule property. We are pleased to provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, & beverages throughout your visit. Room assignments are first come first serve.
Guided local outings:
Throughout the week, we’ll occasionally step away from our workshops to explore the surrounding area. These excursions will include a visit to a local market, a vineyard, a dinner in town, & a visit to some pastry shops. Transportation will be provided for these outings.
Pastry Workshops:
Throughout the week, you’ll take part in hands-on workshops designed to guide you through the creation of a variety of French desserts and pastry products. We’ll walk you through each step of the process, helping you develop valuable new skills to carry into your future pastry endeavors. Here is a list of the products that will be featured during the workshop:
Sweet & Savory Tart Doughs
Lemon Meringue Tart
Quiche
Chocolate Eclairs
Pastry Cream
Choux Dough
Rough Puff
Millefeuille
Macarons
Ganache
Caramel
Recipes & gift bag:
All the recipes from the workshop will be compiled into an eBook, which will be provided you as a complimentary gift, along with a few additional surprises.
Itinerary
Start: Sunday, 27th of September 2026
End: Friday, 2nd of October 2026
*There may be slight variations in the schedule between now & the actual date
Day One: Sunday
Today is all about getting settled in. We’ll welcome you to the house, show you around the property, and get everyone checked into their rooms. Once you’re settled, we’ll reconvene for some light bites and drinks while we walk through what the week ahead will look like.
After that, you’ll have some time to relax before dinner.
Day 2: Monday
On our first full day, we’ll begin by learning how to make both savory and sweet tart doughs. We’ll then use the savory dough to create beautiful individual quiches, which we’ll enjoy together for a fresh and delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll turn to something sweet with a vibrant lemon tart topped with light, silky swiss meringue.
Day 3: Tuesday
Tuesday, we’ll learn how to make choux pastry and silky pastry cream as we use them to create delicious chocolate éclairs.
Later that afternoon, we’ll enjoy a field trip to a local vineyard for a guided tour and wine tasting—the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon in the French countryside.
Day 4: Wednesday
On Wednesday, we’ll turn our attention to mastering macarons, covering key techniques, common troubleshooting tips, and creating delicious fillings.
That afternoon, we’ll head into Pau to explore local pastry shops before enjoying a relaxed sit-down dinner in the city.
Day 5: Thursday
Today we’ll begin by learning how to make rough puff pastry before heading out in the morning to Salies-de-Béarn to experience a traditional French market. We’ll stroll through the market, take in the sights, and gather fresh ingredients to bring back to the house for a delicious market lunch.
That afternoon, we’ll return to the kitchen to create and assemble a millefeuille, which we’ll enjoy together during our final dinner of the retreat.
Day 6: Friday
As our workshops come to a close, we will enjoy a final breakfast together before it's time for everyone to say their goodbyes and embark on their next journey.
We hope that you learned a lot, enjoyed your stay & hope to see you again soon.
Your Hosts
Madeline Denison
Madeline Denison serves as the co-host, baker, and pastry chef at Le Grand Saule. She has her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu Paris, where she studied in both savory cuisine and pastry. With ten years of experience in esteemed kitchens in Paris and Portland, OR, Madeline has developed a deep appreciation for French cuisine and the vibrant culture of the region.
Common Questions
Here are a few of commonly asked questions regarding the workshop. If any questions you have are not answered here, please feel free to reach out and we will answer them for you.
Do you provide transportation?
We do provide transportation to and from the property from the Pau airport or the Orthez train station.
We have parking space if you wish to rent a car during your stay.
Please let us know in your application how you plan to make it to Le grand saule so we can arrange to pick you up if needed.
Do I have to stay on the property to attend the workshop?
No, you do not have to stay on the property.
There are other hotels & rentals in our area of various prices.
For hotels, if you wish to be as close as possible, we suggest looking in Navarrenx. (Our closest village)
How to get to Le Grand Saule?
by train:
You can take the train from the Paris Montparnasse Train station. There are direct trains with no connections. It is about 4hrs of travel.
by airport:
there are daily flights to Pau Pyrenees (PUF) Airport from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). It is about an hour flight.
Do you accommodate for allergies?
We are willing to accommodate allergies and food intolerances within reason.
Please let us know of your allergies in your application and we will let you know if we can meet your needs.
Are flights or train tickets included in the price?
No they are not. We can pick you up from the airport or train station as mentioned above.
Guests are responsible for getting theirselves to France and down to our region.
Is there a place that we can rent a car?
Yes! the best place to rent a car will be at the Pau airport. There are multiple car rental agencies to choose from.
Payment & Booking Information:
You can apply to attend one of our workshops through this link.
Once you apply we will reach out to confirm your application and send you further information and a payment link.
A deposit of 25 percent is required to book and is non-refundable.
Final payment for the class is due 30 days before the class start date.