Relais de Camont

… a Quiet Place to Create

Over the last 30 years, artists, writers, photographers, filmmakers, chefs, and dreamers have found their inspiration at Camont, Kate Hill’s 18th-century Farmhouse in Gascony, France. In 2022, Kate opened the Relais de Camont as a home for creative residents and offers residency stays and mentored retreats. Residency rooms are available for 2024-2025 now.

What is a Residency?

Residencies are for those seeking a less structured yet inspiring and productive environment in which to work. You work at your own pace on your own projects while sharing common social space and time in the kitchen, salon, studio, and gardens with other residents. Residents cook for themselves and most residencies are a minimum of 2 weeks.

What is a Retreat?

Retreats are focused creative time under the guidance of a teacher, mentor, or expert. We invite our successful colleagues to share their own creative experiences while guiding you with a gentle hand to achieve a short-term goal. Retreats are usually one week and include a balance of workshops and private time; most meals are prepared and served family-style and evenings are free.

How do I apply, and when?

Self-funded Residencies and Retreats can be applied for year-round for individuals and small groups. Complete the application requesting open dates at any time. (see 2024-25 calendar)

Les Chambre Studios in the Relais

Charm and Comfort. NEWS! Now there are three very comfortable and capacious bedroom studios—1. Le Bleu Moon & 2. Orion’s Nest are both upstairs in the tower over the salon; 3. Above the Quince Tree faces the sunrise above the kitchen orchard. Each has a double bed, private bathroom (tub or shower), a writing desk, high-speed WiFi access, and windows looking onto the gardens and park. With ceiling fans and windows facing the gardens and central heating and wood stove, the rooms are pleasant and comfortable from long summer days through cozy winter nights.

Residency Rates 2024-25

• One week- 975€ per person

• Two weeks- 1750€ per person

• Four weeks- 2950€ per person

Residency Rates are based on one-, two-, or four-week periods per person and include a private bedroom/studio with a private ensuite bathroom, shared living spaces including: kitchen salon, gardens, and park, bicycle use, weekly market shopping trips, and high-speed WiFi throughout the house. A new Studio Space, L’Atelier, is available for all residents to use for painting, printmaking, and other projects needing more room beyond a writer’s desk.

Self-funded residents pay (or may seek funding) for their residency, travel, expenses, etc. Letters of invitation may be supplied upon request. The Relais de Camont is not supported by other funding. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve dates. See the cancellation policy for more details.

There are three studios/chambres: Chambre 1. Le Bleu Moon and Chambre 2. Orion’s Nest are located in the pigeonnier tower of the Relais. The newest private studio/Chamber 3. Above the Quince Tree is in the restored Barn building, adjacent to the open studio, L’Atelier, which can be shared by all.

Where are we? Gascony in Southwest France!

Our French neighborhood, nestled alongside the Canal de Garonne, is surrounded by small villages and rural farming and is just 3h20m from Paris’ Gare Montparnasse; Bordeaux and Toulouse train stations are 1h15m away; and Camont is 20 minutes from Agen (pop. 45K) and its TGV train station—Gare d’Agen on the direct fast train line from Paris to Toulouse.

The Relais de Camont sits between a quiet country lane and a shady, grassy towpath at the garden gate for long walks and a paved bicycling lane on the other side of the canal.

Boulangeries, supermarchés, pharmacies, La Poste, and many village cafés are but a 10-15 minute bike ride away in the neighboring villages of Brax and Serignac. Village farmer’s markets and farmstands are within an easy drive from Camont, and we shop for food, have a coffee, and meet the neighbors a couple of times a week.