Domaine Valent is an arts center organized by four lifelong artists and athletes.
It is a 5 acre terroir of garden, nature, terraces, and interiors, a unique habitat of elements and resources assembled to inspire and nurture.
The name Valent communicates in ancient Occitan the bravery necessary to make art.
We host writing retreats, artist residencies, and artistic events.
How It Works
You set your intention.
Our environment minimizes distraction and maximizes contemplation.
Your creativity and focus show up.
Personalized service enables you to stay in flow.
- Hand-made food customized to your preferences
- Blank walls for your projects
- Fields, forests, mountains, and stars for contemplation
- No group activities or must-see tourism
- Solitude and sociality in your rhythm
- Expert consultation to get unstuck, reorganized, or witnessed
We take care of you so you can get the writing done.
What's Included
- Our base rate is 7 full days (8 nights), with no charge for arrival and departure days.
- All meals prepared to your preferences and delivered to you.
- 24-hour self-service snacks and beverages.
- Coaching if you want it
- Customized workspace (standing desk, bed desk, external monitor...)
- Access to pool, gym, pilates machine, yoga mats
- Fibre internet and wifi, but you don't have to connect to it.
- Laundry Service
Rooms and Prices
We have four guest rooms, one on the ground floor and three upstairs.
All rooms have antique desks, chandeliers, vintage office chairs, plush reading chairs, large beds, clothing storage, Dyson fans, and hot water radiators (November through April).
The walls are blank to receive your ideas and maps. There are other indoor and outdoor spaces available for writing. (These vary seasonally.)
All rooms share modern, comfortable bathrooms down the hall. Bathrooms are assigned to share with one other writer.
Prices below are for 7 full days (8 nights). We do not charge for arrival and departure days. Additional days may be added and the price is prorated (price below/7.)
Lilhac and Aurignac are appropriate for double occupancy (€650 extra). We can host a maximum of 6 writers at a time, but double occupancy bookings are rare, so generally there are 3 or 4 writers in residence.
Aurignac
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Upstairs
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Most luminous room
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South- and East-Facing Windows
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25 m2
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€1289
Lilhac
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Upstairs
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Spacious 1940s desk
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East-facing Window
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25 m2
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€1189
Mondilhan
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Upstairs
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South-facing Window
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17 m2
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€989
Salon Noir
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Ground Floor
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The coolest room in Summer
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East-facing Window
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25 m2
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Available May through September
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€1089
Getting here
Airport Arrivals
The nearest large city is Toulouse. We are located 1 hour west of airport TLS Blagnac. For flights arriving before 16:00 there is a clean, safe, and cheap public transport option (details below).
If you prefer chauffeur pickup, we can organize it for you. The costs will vary from €100-€155 one way, depending on the time of your flight and availability of drivers.
Train arrivals
We do not provide pickup from Toulouse central train station, Matabiau, because the traffic in the center is terrible and there is no waiting/pickup area. If you arrive by train, please follow the instructions for public transportation.
Public transportation
From the airport TLS, take a taxi or the €9 shuttle to the main train and station, Matabiau/Routière. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes and takes 22 minutes.
Adjoining Matabiau train station is the bus station, Gare Routière, where you will find Bus 365 that brings you for €2 to the stop Montbernard-La Vierge, just 1 km from the Domaine. We pick you up from there.
The last bus leaves at 18:30 (17:45 on Saturday, 17:10 on Sunday), so if your flight or train arrives too late you can take a regional train to Boussens (40 minutes from Domaine). Driver pickup at Boussens is €50. Please be sure to book pickup 2 weeks in advance of your arrival (at the same time you pay your balance due).
Commendations
fully immersed in my work, effortlessly overcoming challenges I thought would make me give up.
Virginija, Lithuania
I’ve traveled a lot in my life – mostly for work, some for pleasure. I’m a “vacation with meaning” kind of person. Many who’ve accompanied me on travels, or spoken with me on the phone, would confirm that I’ll find something to complain about, while inwardly harboring a question: what’s wrong with me? Why am I never happy anywhere?
When I arrived at Domaine Valent, I realized nothing was ever wrong with me, I’d simply never found the right place. Here, for the first time, I had nothing to complain about.
Throughout my entire stay, not for a second did I feel like a customer, I felt like a guest visiting a friend, a relative, someone I’d known ages ago. I had space to craft my own routines, live them, and reinvent them. I felt a community around me, real life happening, not a performance. Conversations somewhere in the house that removed the sense of loneliness without obliging me to participate. The relief when you realize someone isn’t offended that you have boundaries. The joy of being allowed to be exactly the way you are in any given moment. No forced group activities, no kumbaya.
Another thing is the generosity of being cooked for. being asked what I’d like for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Perhaps this is personal and applies just to me, but when someone takes the burden off my shoulders of keeping myself nourished, it doesn’t just feed my body, it feeds my soul.
Domaine Valent is an exceptional place, with Amory being one of the most incredibly knowledgeable, intuitive, and nuanced human beings I’ve ever encountered. When I found it so easily, so randomly, I thought: okay, I’ll go, sleep, get fed, enjoy the sun in December (I’m from the Baltics, we see the sun maybe five hours in half a winter), while pretending I’m a writer. I scraped over my writings the first day, some the second day. By the third day, I was fully immersed in my work, effortlessly overcoming challenges I thought would make me give up.
To wrap up: this is a place where I developed thicker skin for my writer’s voice. I come from a documentary filmmaking background. I’ve spent more than a decade bouncing around industry events where everyone feels entitled to shape your voice under the false pretense of improving you. I wish every filmmaker would spend time here to befriend their narrative, so they could resist the harsh creatures of the film industry business and live fearlessly with their ideas.
an unforgettable journey into creativity and connection.
Rachel, Oakland
The tranquil location provided the perfect backdrop for focused writing.
Hosts Amory + Daniel have created a warm, welcoming and joyous atmosphere. The flexibility of the retreat allowed me to follow my own creative rhythms.
Shared meals were a highlight, featuring insanely delicious local cuisine and lively conversations. They could also cater to my gluten-free diet, and still, everything was divine!
Despite the retreat being self-directed, there was no shortage of support and resources. There were optional activities like yoga, meditation, and going to a local farmers’ market, etc… The choose-your-own-adventure style was ideal.
I left feeling rejuvenated and deeply inspired. I highly recommend it to any writer seeking a tranquil and supportive environment. It truly was a magical experience, surpassing all my expectations.
The setting, combined with the warmth and care of the hosts, made it an unforgettable journey into creativity and connection.
someone who understood the process of writing and who I could share that with.
Angela, Germany
For me, personally, this was a perfect getaway – such a luxury to have absolutely nothing else to think about than just your story and how to make it work!
What I loved about this retreat and why I chose it – initially – was that it was far away in the countryside with no distractions. (And I truly loved my walks in the nature and going to the Saturday market with its artistic and alternative vibe, which was lovely!)
Also, I chose this retreat, because it offered to take care of all the cooking and it allowed for complete flexibility in that I could decide what I wanted to eat and when and where (if I felt like being social, I could eat in the kitchen, if not, I stayed in my room).
And now – in retrospect – I would recommend it for the above reasons, but on top I would add that, as I am still a newbie writer, I liked having a support system around – someone who understood the process of writing and who I could share that with.
Further, I loved that I could get into a daily yoga routine with Amory.
I managed to write 45+ pages, did a lot of research, fixed plot holes and altogether really felt like I could dive all into the creative process.
Additionally, I developed a daily yoga practice (I had been doing yoga before, but not on a daily basis) and ate yummy veggie foods.
The environment for concentration is optimal. The team working at the house provide a creative energy that stimulates the process.
Lianda, Amsterdam
I was looking for a quiet place and found it matched my expectations exactly.
I finished the entire outline of my story, completed research and started with the first chapter.
The environment for concentration is optimal. The team working at the house provide a creative energy that stimulates the process.
I was looking for a quiet place and found it matched my expectations exactly.
I finished the entire outline of my story, completed research and started with the first chapter.
I can not describe how healthy and delicious the food was.
Virginia, Berkeley
Don’t pass up this magical retreat!<br><br>
This retreat was a tremendous value for what I paid. The countryside is exquisite, and most days I took walks to clear my head and think. You are really out in the country – lots of birdsong, everything blooming, and fresh foods at the markets. Amory is a great companion, smart, warm-hearted, and friendly. There are so many great results from this retreat. Amory was just the perfect mix of having knowledge and interest in my project, and knowing when to push me just a little, when to leave me along, and when to ask what I needed. <br><br>
Amory is an insanely talented cook, and I can not describe how healthy and delicious the food was. I am not used to being “taken care of,” but she did it gracefully. She cooked the kind of food I wanted, she served it whenever I wanted, and in the evenings, I had the choice of eating by myself, with her, or with her and the French friends who also live in the house. I ended up eating dinners with everyone most nights, and I got to learn more French and have a fun evening. All in all, this was the perfect retreat for me.
coaching is poignant and profound and I was not expecting this quality of food.
Catherine, Los Angeles
The location is ideal for focusing. The rooms are large, the view is lovely, and the beds and linens are comfortable.<br><br>
Amory is dedicated to ensuring your ability to accomplish your goals – from changing out my desk to one that was more suitable to my needs to ensuring I got the afternoon treats I needed to stay motivated! <br><br>
She is an incredible cook and prepares delicious meals with so much love! When you are deep in writing it’s a grounding experience to step out to a fabulous meal in a lovely setting.<br><br>
She is willing to engage with you whatever your needs are – I enjoyed discussing the day’s accomplishments over dinner and she provided astute feedback and helpful suggestions.<br><br>
This is a retreat like none other – suited for the independent-minded who want to formulate a retreat for their specific needs.
feedback has depth and clarity
Jeannette, North Carolina
I’ve been struggling to get across the finish line with a book for about seven months, due to a series of family difficulties, work pressures, etc.<br><br>
I really needed to get far away from my daily list of responsibilities.<br><br>
Wow. Where do I start?<br><br>
First, I completed in seven days what I had been struggling to get through for seven months. My book is nearly ready to submit now. On the eighth day, I contemplated my next book.<br><br>
I ate a ton of excellent cheeses. Plus, crepes, local breads and jams, and a lot of other wonderful food/dishes from local farmers. As a farmer myself, I LOVED visiting markets with Amory. Her cooking (and Daniel’s) is also fabulous.<br><br>
Amory’s feedback, when I asked her to read three of the essays from the book, had insight, depth and clarity–and came from a different perspective than some of my previous readers, which was great.
terrific – every aspect from beginning to end.
Daniel, NYC
I needed simply some dedicated time to work on my writing, with a change of scene…and the retreat delivered plus so much more.<br><br>
Amory was a perfect host, cook, and insightful confidante, truly interested and capable of assisting me with my needs. I especially loved the scenery and great walks, Amory’s care, and the great food experience (highly recommended).<br><br>
The house was charming and perfect. <br<br>
Hoping I can come back sometime!
I was totally relaxed, calm, and motivated to work.
Rumman, Lisbon
I am working on my first novel and needed some quiet and reflective time to work on it.
I chose it because it offered totally flexibility to work at my own pace but Amory was always available to help if I needed it.
I was totally relaxed, calm, and motivated to work.
Domaine Valent is a beautiful place to work. The rooms are nice, the bed is comfortable and the hosts took care of my every need, leaving me free to be creative with my work.
so perceptive!
Cecilia, Miami
exceeded my expectations
David, London
Domaine Valent was my first writer’s retreat. It exceeded my expectations – so much so that I look forward to returning next spring for another week. Amory, Daniel, Roberto and Rodolphe provide the ideal, cosy and caring environment to focus easily on writing. And so I was able to comfortably write several thousand words and, above all, boost my confidence. No ‘blank page’ syndrome on any day!
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Amory’s approach to coaching works well. As I’m at an early phase of my project, I asked for and received some invaluable, expert tips to improve both the structure and creativity of my work.
<br><br>
I can only echo the positive reviews regarding the creature comforts of the Domaine Valent. The beautiful, clean air countryside location and grounds are as peaceful as it gets, yet without feeling remote. I stayed in the ground floor Salon Noir which is attractively furnished with a good desk, excellent chair and comfy large bed.<br><br>Amory’s devotion to preparing only locally sourced delicious meat, cheeses, bread, fruit and vegetables is infectious. After spending a morning’s welcome break, shopping with her at a wonderful farmers market, I am converted to her food philosophy! If only I were young enough to join her and Roberto in learning Argentinian Tango – who knows, maybe next year? THANK YOU, Amory and the Domaine Valent team.
listens intently and offers thoughtful provocations
Angela, Birmingham
All the pre-arrival communications and transfer logistics were effortless, and I received a warm welcome from Amory, Daniel and their fur family.
The grand villa has a faded elegance and the minimalist décor throughout was delightfully worn and homely – beautiful to look at, but not so perfect you don’t want to use it! Ask Amory what she enjoys cooking and allow yourself a culinary adventure, I tried many new dishes, and they were all delicious.
The white walls in my room offered unrestricted spatial arrangement of sticky notes as my ideas unfolded. Inspiration came easily by wandering around the grounds to view the distant mountains of the Pyrenees, it’s a spectacular location.
Amory has created a winning formula for helping others to initiate and follow their flow state of creativity. She does this through a mixture of encouragement, taking care of any practical needs, responding seamlessly to guest’s varying rhythms for socialising or solitude, she listens intently and offers thoughtful provocations, always in service of you and with non-judgement.
My whole experience was life-enriching in ways I did not anticipate, and I have left feeling more connected to my true nature and excited about my renewed creativity. Don’t hesitate, book your stay and experience it for yourself.
This does something to the mind… unlocks it, frees it…
Ottilia, Dubai
WOW! I wrote a lot every single day for most of the day. The complete lack of distraction is priceless. And then of course there were those gorgeous morning walks in the countryside. Fresh air, feeling safe and unrestricted. This does something to the mind… unlocks it, frees it….I left Domaine Valent filled with immense gratitude! Thank you, Amory, for creating this little piece of heaven in the middle of nowhere in the South of France. Being there has changed me and continues to influence the way I write and remind me that breaking the mould is possible.You may well surprise yourself with what emerges in your writing
Sherryl, Whangarei, New Zealand
I simply needed some solid time out to write and develop my manuscripts in progress, with focus and quiet.
I wanted to go somewhere in France, out in the countryside for peace and quiet. The location was excellent. The food was lovely.
I was inspired to start a completely new project and do substantial work on it at the time I was there.
Montbernard is very organic in many ways. Food, surroundings, atmosphere. You may well surprise yourself with what emerges in your writing.
a fantastic dream location because it was created by lifelong dedicated artists with the intention to serve artists
Klara, Prague
I was looking for a place and a few consecutive days to clean the draft of my first novel and sort of test whether I am just a cafe writer stealing time from my regular work routine, or if I am able to produce a quality piece of work under the right conditions.
Domaine Valent looks like a place which jumps straight from Virginia Woolf´s novel: secluded, peaceful, safe, beautifully decorated, ideal as a productive writing environment with very carefully thought-through nourishment options which Vio manages so well.
Overall, this is a fantastic dream location because it was created by lifelong dedicated artists with the intention to serve artists. 🙂
Originally, I arrived with a lot of questions, possibly doubts even, and left with the cleaned draft, 10.000 words added and a clear direction for my writing process.
At this point, and also very much thanks to Vio´s initial guidance, I got the chance to observe myself in the creative process, understand what works for me, and how to best leverage my skills for effective writing. Somehow, after a week full of hard work, I returned home with a complete sense of fulfillment, which is just priceless. 🙂
On a separate note, I really enjoyed Vio´s approach to food, local ingredients, and cooking in general, which I will incorporate into my regular routine as well.
nothing else I could have possibly wanted
Jennifer, Texas
This experience has been like nothing else…I have never had the opportunity to focus on writing and growth within myself in quite this way and I am so very grateful. Thank you again for giving me a beautiful birthday! There is nothing else I could have possibly wanted.
This whole experience is about being heard and seen in one’s needs and ideas.
A, Berlin
The stylish old lamp made of white marble immediately caught my eye when I entered the room and sat down at the desk for the first time. The lamp seemed to convey an important message: ‘You’re in the right place.’<br><br>
The rhythm of my days is defined by meals that are mostly served directly to my desk. These intermezzos from writing are a true feast every single time. <br><br>
I have been asked what I would like to drink…The hosts made logistical efforts and there it was: a jar full of beautiful chamomile flowers. This whole experience is about being heard and seen. In one’s needs and ideas. It’s also the story of how I became a writer.
my deepest respect and love for what you have created here
N, Geneva
…the right amount of space to get to a place where I could begin to hear myself….I had the feeling of not wanting to leave this version of myself that I was able to rediscover here. You have reminded me that I may be stronger than I believe.
Loved it
Michael, Vienna
Find your Writing Voice
Sonja, Belgrade
the time spent there was invaluable.
Renee, Washington DC
The hosts went above and beyond on everything.
Ryan, Edmonton
I needed time away from my usual life to get some writing done. I chose this retreat because there was a writing coach, a beautiful countryside setting to write in, and it’s affordable. What I loved most was getting immediate feedback on my pieces. The food was also amazing—all with the freshest ingredients bought at farmers’ markets, with wine and cheese every night. I also had a blast filming an action scene with a pro stuntman. The hosts went above and beyond on everything. I wrote some new pieces. Amory gave me feedback the same day I would write them. Her feedback was so insightful—it really improved my pieces and helped me take my writing to the next level.
Photos
The Cats
Moonlight
Hello and welcome to my home. I am Moonlight and I look forward to introducing you to my family. I first came to the Domaine in the early Spring of 2023, where I met my husband, Catella, who had made himself at home. We liked it very much here.
Catella
Catella fell in love with me and asked me to marry him right away. (I was very beautiful before I had 5 babies.) Even thought he was very shy, I knew he was a really good person. After he saw our children enjoying snuggling and playing, he tried it and now he loves to be in contact with other beings.
Cookie
In June, to everyone's surprise, we had a little baby. I found a tiny cave in the wall of the barn to keep her safe.We all just called her Baby for many months, but she finally got a name, Cookie, because the marks on her face looked like she'd been eating a chocolate chip cookie.
Choco
Then one day, when Cookie was about 6 weeks old, we found another little baby in the garden. Choco was so malnourished that his fur was stiff. His fur is just like Catella but a little more grey , so we think his Papa brought him here after a divorce. (But Catella doesn't talk about that.) Choco was so happy to have a family. He wanted to be held all the time and he even learned to dance tango. And he and Cookie adopted each other and played and snuggled.
Mousie
Pretty soon we were pregnant again. This time I decided to have the babies in the attic of hte house. There were four! I didn't think about how I would get them down from there. I carried Mousie as far as I could and then meowed for help.
Mousie looked just like Cookie and me but with a long nose like a mouse. He's gone on to be the best athlete. He can jump 283cm!
Butterfly
Butterfly looks like her father and Choco, except she's more golden. She's a Princess. She's very pretty and quite aloof. She has a sweet meow for complaining when things aren't up to her standards.We call her Fly-Fly to remind her to be egalitarian.
Inky
Inky is the best writer. She's very serious and focused. She's also very stubborn. She has a lot of clarity and she's not interested in outside input. She fights for what she wants. Her hobbies are fancy lingerie and makeup.
Blacky
Blacky is the ambassador of the family. He's open-hearted, courageous, and a little maladroit. He loves to play and all this has made him very spoiled. He pretends not to know the rules.
We were all shocked and devastated when sweet Cookie –who was not adventurous– went in the road and was killed by a car. After this tragedy, and heeding the warning of her sacrifice, we built a 90-meter enclosure around our garden to keep everyone safe. We have our favorite climbing trees in there. The birds build their nests outside of our garden, in the barn and in the big hedge.
Brötchen
Brötchen came from Germany with Roberto and Eva, our dog, to live with us. At first we weren't used to being with anyone who wasn't part of our family, and he was kind of intimidated by all of us. Once he and Mousie even had a fight! Now they are good friends and we all hang out and sleep together. Brötchen and I like our alone time and we're slow to get to know strangers. If you get in our personal space, we'll give you a swat. All the others are gentle and sweet.
Eva
Eva met Roberto in 2016 and never left his side until they started the process of moving here. She had an old injury on her back leg, but she has received an operation so she doesn't have pain. She's learning French but she prefers to speak German. She's responsible for telling us when guests or the post are arriving and for mediating family disputes.
The Coach and Team
In 2019 I was ready to leave Berlin and to find home. I knew that home had to be in a foodscape with both quality and depth. And home had to be a house big enough for a guest room.
Many people had supported me as an artist. I felt the need to give back. I would invite my friends and their friends to nurture their creativity. I would give them blank walls, good paper, lots of tape. The only rule would be they had to let me cook for them.
The search for the home was so long and confusing that by the time I found it I had almost forgotten. What are we going to do with all these rooms?
Then I remembered the trip to Greece. I was packing when the book fell on my head. I sat down in the suitcase to write the table of contents. Then I knew I had to start writing. I can do it at the beach house in Greece. Just to be sure, I checked the photos with writer’s eyes. The bed had a wrought-iron back and the chairs were bentwood with tiny seats. I cancelled the reservation and got back into bed to write the book over the next 30 days.
Besides uncomfortable furniture, trying to write in an Airbnb involves shopping, cooking, cleaning… And while hotels provide services, both of these options threaten loneliness.
So I bought great chairs, lots of pillows for the beds, and trays to bring the food wherever my writers are working. I design the landscape as a garden of contemplation stations. Writers need serenity, not isolation. Solitude, not aloneness. Walks and treats. Elevation.
- Vocation
- Publishing in the 2020s…
- Suffering is not the price of Cooking
Vio and Roberto met in Berlin in 2014. Our company, TangoForge, is known for its contemporary interpretation of tango in fashion and music, as well as for its anatomically correct and comprehensive teaching methods. Domaine Valent is our long-awaited space for artistic expression.
Roberto L’Ange is from Rügen, Northern Germany. He has been a professional tango dancer and dance teacher since 2004 and has collaborated with TangoForge since 2014.
Since 2019, he has worked in disability support, primarily with people with autism.
Rodolphe Reiss is from Lyon, France. He is educated in the beaux-arts and applied arts. He is electrician, carpenter, dancer, clown, illustrator, ceramist, scene designer, videomaker. He can accompany guests in any artistic project.
Imogen Thomas left an education career in London to live in the countryside of Southern France. She is in charge of making the house sparkle and she is our hea gardener. She is planning a mushroom farm.
Daniel Adrenaline is from Gennevilliers, Paris. He is an extreme actor, stuntman and performer.
He is one of the pioneers of the Parkour discipline which he helped to develop and make known throughout the world with his Team Adrenaline. Daniel also practices gymnastics, acrobatics, stunts, break-dancing, karate, wing chung, French boxing and capoeira.
In the cinema, he demonstrated with Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard, Emmanuelle Beart, Vincent Perez… He also worked as a first assistant director and production assistant. In his own productions, he is a director, fight choreographer and stunt coordinator.
His live performances include acrobatic fights and stunts for parties, award ceremonies, festivals…as well as choreography and stage management.
At the Domaine Valent he offers services to actors and stuntmen in creating clips for their reels. He also does photography, video, and editing.
He coaches our screenwriters, and anyone writing in the genres of horror, thriller, and action.
The Food
Our cooking style is Nouvelle Cuisine, interpreted through California and returned home to France. This means a focus on seasonal and regional ingredients prepared simply.
We buy almost everything directly from local farmers. We do not use any industrial ingredients.
We prepare your meals personally for you and by hand, so we can accommodate dietary regimes and preferences.
We love cheese and will introduce you to the local cheese culture.
Our coffee is locally raosted.
French wine is included in the meal service.
We have a junk food drawer full of cookies.
We serve serve your meals where you want to eat: at your desk, in the dining room, in the sun on the terrace, or chatting at the kitchen island.
The Chairs (and other Furniture)
Our beds are new 160cm (Queen). Guests report that they are super comfortable.
Our desks are antique, elevating your experience of writing.
Rooms contain both a comfortable reading chair and an office chair.
The Castelli 106 was designed in 1965 by Giancarlo Piretti and is still in production.
The chair has become an integral part of design history and it is present in many museum collections all over the world. The elegant interweaving of lines that define the forms of DSC 106 has been admired by generations of architects and interior designers who have always recognized the chair not only with a timeless aesthetic quality, but also with an extreme functionality and durability. DSC 106 is a concrete evidence of how the Italian Design is more than just creativity, especially for the ability to blend the aesthetic element with ergonomic research, efficiency and usability; the chair is the one of the best result of the partnership between the designer Giancarlo Piretti and an historical Italian brand: Castelli.
The Castelli 106 is an ergonomic yet beautiful office chair. We have several signed copies in leather and collections in blond bent plywood and the classic wool fabric.
This chair accommodates writers who like to sit cross-legged.
The Domaine and the District
The house was built in 1859 as a countryside villa. Later it became a farm, with two barns and farmland. In 2018, the land was separated from the house and sold to a young Belgian organic farmer.
The Domaine is 5 acres of forest, orchard, meadows, gardens, and swimming pool. We are developing and installing a garden design which creates various places of contemplation. We encourage guests to explore, use different places, and find yours!
The district is composed of small farms and charming villages. The landscape is tranquil. There are no must-see touristic locations, but we invite writers to visit one especially charming local farmers market in the village of Aurignac. There are many other beautiful villages to visit by car or e-bike. We are 10 minutes drive from 2 villages, Boulogne-sur-Gesse and L’Isle-en-Dodon that each have a supermarket, pharmacy, post office, and tobacco stores. The nearest shopping center and hospital are 30 minutes away in St. Gaudens. The nearest airport is Toulouse Blagnac, just over one hour drive to the East.
‘Valent’ means brave in the language Occitan. The name Domaine Valent expresses our commitment to creating an environment encouraging the bravery required to make art.
Occitan is the ancient language of the Southernmost 1/3 of France, Pays d’Oc or Occitanie. It is more Latin and less Germanic than French. It was the language of the troubadors.
The Bread
On Wednesdays we buy our bread from the Maison Barrailler stand at the farmers market in Boulogne0sur-Gesse.
At the age of seven, just after visiting a bakery, Maître Boulanger, Guillaume Barrailler was certain that he himself would be a baker; as if the vision of his future was already spinning in the arms of the mess. His mind was in perfect harmony with matter, smell, night…
Guillaume Barrailler’s bread is that of the countryside of yesteryear…on a large wooden table… identical to that of the peasants of old, when they drew a cross on the tip of their knife before slicing it. Guillaume’s bread is love in all its purity, it is authenticity. found by the four elements: water, earth, fire and air… At a time when our society inflicts so much mistreatment on nature, … the ingredients he uses are 100% organic. The water is osmosis, the electrical energy is renewable, the bread is baked in a wood pellet oven.
L’étymologie du mot « Compagnon » voulant dire : celui qui partage le pain
text par Mr Vincent ORVILLE
The Salt
We use Salina di Cervia
The Cervia Salt Pan is the smallest and northernmost in Italy. It covers 827 hectares in a natural park, now the southern gateway to the Po Delta Regional Park, and has always been a natural breeding and nesting reserve for many animal and plant species.
Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, the State Monopoly, which had been responsible for salt pans throughout the country during the 20th century, decided to dispose of part of its assets. These included the Cervia Salt Pan.
A similar fate befell other Italian salt pans. And here the history of Cervia took on an important dimension. The Cervia community united around its salt pans, which everyone felt to be an identifying value.
Although the State Monopoly considered the small Cervia salt pan (small compared to the immense salt pans in Sicily and Apulia, where salt is collected several times a year, thanks to different climatic conditions from those in northern Italy) to be ‘uneconomic’, the citizens of Cervia felt it was essential that salt production should not cease altogether, to prevent the area from becoming swamped. In this respect, the attribution of landscape value to the salt pan and its function as an ecosystem that must be maintained was justified. The most precious asset of a community is, together with its history, its landscape. Hence the Statute’s insistence on the protection of the landscape, but also the struggles of communities to save what remains.
The Cervia Salt Pan Park (Società Parco della Salina di Cervia) was formed on 8 December 2002 to manage the environmental, cultural and leisure activities for tourism and ecological purposes of the entire Cervia Salt Pan and the surrounding area.
It is only from this point of view that one can also understand the approach of the Società Parco della Salina di Cervia, which looks to the future, and the urgency that the whole town has in giving the Salina and therefore Cervia itself a dimension of practical life.
The salt is sweet because of geographical, historical, climatic and chemical reasons. The position of the salt pan, the most northerly in Italy, the characteristics of the basins and the Adriatic Sea, mean that the salt obtained is made up of pure sodium chloride, with a low, almost non-existent presence of other more bitter chlorides, such as magnesium sulphate, calcium, potassium and magnesium chloride. In addition, the decision not to artificially dry or chemically bleach the salt leaves it whole and highly soluble. Cervia sweet salt retains the humidity that comes from its journey through the basins and also its typical colour, which is not white, but rather has all the pink and grey tones that come from its production and historical background. Therefore it is a sweet and whole salt, which retains the characteristics of healthiness that are fundamental for life. Indeed, Cervia sweet salt is rich in trace elements present in the salt pan “mother” water (and used in the wellness line) such as iodine, zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium.
Text from https://www.salinadicervia.it/
In 2025 DUE TO FLOOD THE CERVIA SALINA IS NOT OPERATIONAL, ONLINE SALES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL A DATE TO BE DEFINED
Seasons
December through February: Winter in the Occitanie means daytime temperatures from 0-15 C and crisp views of the Snowy Pyrénée Mountains! We often have sunny days when we sit in the sun or do yoga outside. It can also be very cold. We still attend the weekly farmers markets. We are open during the holidays. Please note that we celebrate Christmas and New Years. You are welcome to join.
March-May: Spring! This is the most beautiful season, with gorgeous green everywhere, colored grasses, and something new blooming every few days. We have daffodils in the forest, cherry blossoms in the orchard, wisteria, and beautiful wildflowers in all the meadows. Daytime temperatures vary from 5-20 C. Still great views of the snowy Pyrénées!
June-September: Summer! The pool is open and nights are warm and starry. Daytime temperatures vary from 15-40 C. By August the grass may be brown, not many flowers are still blooming, and there are no mountain views, but we are eating lots of tomatos!
October-November: Fall! Daytime temperatures vary from 5-25 and evenings are often still warm enough to eat outside. We can take day trips to the Pyrénée mountains to see the beautiful leaves changing color.
Amenities and Extra Services
- Coffee machines: filter, espresso portafilter, pour-over, French press
- Fibre internet and wifi
- External monitors (HDMI)
- External keyboards (USB)
- Laser printer
- Pilates machine (Reformer)
- Bodybuilding Gym
- Yoga mats
- E-Bikes
- Hair Dryer
- Pool with floating donuts (1.June-30.September)
- Central heating with hot water radiators (1.November-30.April)
- Dyson Fans
- Mobile masseur (on-site, extra charge)
- Argentine Tango Private Lesson (on-site, extra charge)
- Private Horse Connection Experience with Professional Trainer (off-site, extra charge)
Massage
Richard Vente is a mobile massage therapist, specializing in Ayurvedic and deep tissue massage.
He brings his extra-comfortable table right to your room and receives rave reviews from our guests.
Appointments can be made before or after arrival.
His rates are €60/hour or €90/90 minutes.
The Eau-de-Vie
As countrypeople in France we make our own alcohol. In summer and fall we gather whatever fruit is abundant in the orchard, usually small plums. We ferment them in a special barrel until winter. Then we make an appointment to bring our fruit to the distiller in Thermes-Magnoiac. He uses this wood-burning machine to distill the district’s fruit. The result is a 40% fruit brandy, which is called “water of life”.
