LE GRAND BANC, PROVENCE

“One of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. You feel like a celebrity just being there.”

“Heaven! Retreat venues don’t come any better than this.”

Indoor workshop or discussion group with 15 people, mostly women, sitting on chairs and sofas in a well-lit room with large windows and a view of a garden.

ANGLE & POISE: A six-day yoga and writing retreat co-facilitated with yoga teacher Tashi Dawa

Next retreats: 3rd-9th May, 2026 & 10th-16th May, 2026

OVERVIEW:

Three years ago, Jax Hill-Wilson, the inspired manager of Le Grand Banc – an extraordinary retreat venue in the Luberon area of Provence – approached two expert facilitators and suggested they join forces. Her vision? To run a retreat in which the twin practices of yoga and writing are woven together, so that the mental poise achieved on the mat could be brought to bear on the page; and the sense of exploration and self-expression released by the writing could be channelled back to the mat. It was a huge success, with yogis discovering their inner poets; and writers previously reluctant to venture far from their heads finding that movement, in fact, works wonders for one’s creative flow... The collaboration has become a fixture for both Susan and Tashi Dawa ever since.

Le Grand Banc is an intensely charismatic venue. A series of individual rooms linked by cobbled, fairy-lit paths, it boasts both majestic, high-ceilinged spaces (including an outdoor dining room with stunning views over the valley), and cosy, intimate nooks where you can hide and not be found... Once a humble farming community, it became, for a while in the Sixties and Seventies, a gathering place for a glittering array of aristocrats, artists, writers and intellectuals and the art that adorns the walls still tells of these heady, decadent times. Now you’re more likely to hear a cuckoo or even a nightingale than the toot of a shiny new sports car – although we do all enjoy the sound of Jax’s 2CV turning up with morning croissants.

To ensure a total re-boot for the body as well as the mind, retreats at Le Grand Banc are both meat- and alcohol-free.

Enquire here

How your week will look:

Guests make their own way to either Marseilles or Avignon, and from there a minibus will collect you and bring you to Le Grand Banc for your week’s stay. Each day will begin with a dynamic yoga session, led by Tashi, to reconnect us to our bodies and bring our minds into a state of balance and poise. A delicious, healthy brunch made by a private chef using fresh, seasonal products from the nearby markets will be served mid-morning. Next up we’ll gather in the beautiful, airy writing room for our daily workshop with Susan – expect to find yourself discovering new angles on the world with your carefully toned mind. In the afternoons there’ll be time to make the most of our surroundings – taking a dip in the glorious pool, curling up with a book, or venturing off to explore one of the many charming local villages. A restorative yoga session will round off the day before a supper shared beneath the stars. Days don’t come any better than this!

Where you’ll stay:

Le Grand Banc is a series of individual cottages and rooms linked by meandering cobbled paths, magically fairy-lit at night. The rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes – some have kitchens; some a terrace; some involve sharing a bathroom and living space with one other. The price varies to reflect this range. Let us know when booking if you’d prefer a single room, twin sharing, or a double-room apartment, and we will provide pictures and descriptions to help you choose.

Prices start at £1,400 for sharing, and from £1,600 for a private room.

A dirt driveway lined with green grass and bushes leading to a stone house with a red-tiled roof, set against a bright blue sky.
A neatly made bed with a yellow floral quilt, two white pillows, and folded towels placed on top. The bed has a dark leather headboard. Behind the bed, there are two windows, a vase with flowers, and two adjustable lamps on either side of the headboard. The room has beige textured walls, framed pictures, and a wooden floor.
A bathroom with a large bathtub, two open windows, and beige textured walls. The bathtub is surrounded by a marble ledge with various bottles, a flower vase, and personal care items. A chair with a towel draped over it is visible in the left foreground, and picture frames hang on the wall.

“What a wonderful week! Susan was supportive, gentle, kind and precise.
I’m a teacher myself and I learnt a huge amount.”

A woman with gray hair, wearing sunglasses, a gray shirt, and a dark scarf, sits on a stone wall along a garden path, writing in a notebook on a beautiful sunny day. Lush green plants and trees surround her, with a blue sky and some clouds overhead.
Woman walking outdoors by a pool holding a plate of cookies, wearing sunglasses and a black dress with a slit, on a stone patio with greenery and trees behind.

About your yoga instructor:

Tashi Dawa (her name means “Happy Moon” in Tibetan) brings a variety of yogic traditions to her teaching style, but it’s best described as creative, organic and non-prescriptive. She has a particular interest in “embodiment” – or what it is to fully inhabit our bodies and be present – and how this brings us to a state of mental poise.

Tashi can work with you whatever your level – complete beginners are as welcome as accomplished yogis. Beginners often leave with the tools to continue a home practice after just one week, while seasoned practitioners seem to find the permission they need to tailor their practice to their own requirements. Either way, Tashi brings a lovely lightness of touch to her sessions – expect to stretch your laughing muscles on your mat as well as your arms and legs!

“Restorative and nourishing in every way. I arrived exhausted and depleted and left recuperated and with a skip in my step – my spark back. Tashi makes yoga fun and accessible to everyone.”

A woman with dark brown hair and tattoos smiles with eyes closed, wearing a black tank top with a circular logo, against a pink background.

Our host for the week:

The resident manager at Le Grand Banc is the brilliant Jax Hill-Wilson. She, her dog Plume and her cat Gypsy have made Le Grand Banc their home over the last few years, and Jax’s eye for detail and design is evident wherever you look. As well as ensuring guests are well nourished in mind, body and spirit during their stay, Jax will be in charge of taking bookings and co-ordinating travel arrangements.

An elderly woman with long white hair sitting on a stone wall outdoors, wearing a long yellow dress. She is smiling and looking at the camera, with lush green trees and a blue sky with some clouds in the background.

Getting there:

The nearest cities to Le Grand Banc are Marseilles and Avignon – so these will be your transport hubs. Many guests choose to fly to Marseilles; others take the Eurostar to Paris (or a ferry to Caen then a train to Paris) and then a TGV to Avignon. We will arrange transfer to Le Grand Banc by mini-bus, leaving Avignon and Marseilles at mid- to late afternoon on the Sunday and returning from Le Grand Banc at 11am on the Saturday. The cost of these transfers will be split between the passengers.

If you prefer, it’s also an option to hire a car and make your own way to Le Grand Banc – a good idea if you want to extend your trip before or afterwards.

Please let Jax know your travel plans before buying your tickets so that she can guide everyone to the same flights and trains where possible.

 

How to book:

If you’d like to book, or want to find out more, get in touch with Susan via the form below. She’ll answer any questions you might have, then pass you on to Jax to help with your accommodation. A deposit of £400 will be taken at the time of booking, with the balance due six weeks before the retreat. If for some reason you have to cancel, we will do our best to fill your place, but payments are non-refundable if we are unable to do so.

“They both complemented each other really well as a team. The yogis loved Suse. And the non-yogis loved Tashi.”

“Susan is my absolute favourite writing tutor. I trust her. She challenges kindly and wisely and listens well. The week completely re-set me – I came back with renewed determination to finish my novel and do more yoga. Both still on track 10 days later!”

A long outdoor dining table set with green plates, glasses, and silverware, surrounded by wooden chairs. The table holds salads, bread, and condiments, with a scenic view of greenery and hills in the background, under a roof with a chandelier hanging
A girl wearing a hat sits on the edge of a swimming pool, dipping her feet in the water while reading a book on a sunny day.
A woman standing on a grassy yard under a large tree, holding a red cup, with a scenic green hillside in the background on a sunny day.
Four women practicing yoga outdoors on grassy ground with trees in the background, sitting on yoga mats and stretching forward.
Living room with white sofas, a glass coffee table loaded with magazines, a large potted plant, and an open dining area in the background.
A group of people sitting outdoors on a curved, striped cushioned bench around a central table with books, cups, and mugs in a sunlit garden with green trees and a stone building in the background.
Outdoor patio with a wooden table, striped cushions, potted plants, and scenic green landscape with trees and mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky.
Two women practicing headstands by a pool, with greenery and a stone wall in the background.
A group of people sits and lounges on poolside chairs under umbrellas, with some reading and taking notes, near a swimming pool and surrounded by trees and greenery.
A living room with a textured white wall, a built-in window seat with cushions, a wooden coffee table with a flower arrangement, leather poufs, a wicker chair, a wooden chair, decorative pillows, and wall-mounted lights.
Group of six women in a cobblestone alley, some sitting on a stone bench, some standing, all holding colorful mugs, engaged in conversation on a sunny day
A woman in a black chef's coat preparing multiple plates of apple pie with dollops of whipped cream and colorful edible flowers on a wooden table in a kitchen.

ANGLE & POISE:

WRITING & YOGA RETREAT AT LE GRAND BANC

A deposit of £400 will be taken at the time of booking, with the balance
due eight weeks before the retreat.

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