Self catering holiday home in France · Aquitaine · Lot-et-Garonne
La Petite Galerie in Mézin
A restored stone artists' house filled with art in the heart of the medieval village of Mézin in Gascony. Guests can enjoy free drawing and painting classes, or can choose all-inclusive painting holidays.
With Gite.com since December, 2000
“Ray & Lynne have been hosting guests at La Petite Galerie for…”
About the Holiday Home
La Petite Galerie is a large fully restored 800 year old stone house, set in a private walled garden in the small hilltop village of Mézin in the heart of Gascony in sunny Southwest France.
The house has three bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. In the spacious salon, three-metre high windows flood the room with light. French doors lead onto a terrace and barbecue area in a beautiful, private garden. A fully equipped kitchen has everything an enthusiastic cook needs. Off-street parking is available for two cars.
Guests have the option of renting either two bedrooms to sleep two to six people, or three bedrooms for up to 10 people. This makes the property ideal for one, two or three couples, or for families.
Your host, Ray, is emphatic about teaching art: “Everybody, yes everybody, can learn to paint and draw.” All guests may have a free watercolour painting session, with materials included.
There are two holiday options:
- Book La Petite Galerie for one week and get an optional free watercolour session for anyone interested. Please see the weekly rates below.
- Or book a week long fully inclusive Learn to Paint and Draw holiday with your family or a group of friends. Only €1400 per person with everything included: accommodation, all transport, including airport pick up and drop off, all meals and all art materials.
All-inclusive Learn to Paint and Draw Art Holidays
Ray and his wife Lynne also offer fully inclusive 7-day Art Holidays in France for groups of 4 to 6 guests. All meals, transport, painting materials and instruction are included.“I might not be able to turn you into a Michelangelo or a Picasso,” says Ray. “But I'll will show you how to tease out your latent talent to paint a watercolour that you are sure to be pleased with.”
Your hosts pick you up at Bordeaux or Toulouse airport and drive you to La Petite Galerie. Up to six guests stay in 3 bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. A generous continental breakfast is provided every morning and a picnic lunch with wine every midday. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a nearby bistro or restaurant.
On the Learn to Paint holiday you are you are driven to a wonderful location for a morning session of watercolour painting. All materials are provided: good quality paper, pencils, erasers and watercolour palettes. At about noon a generous picnic lunch with wine is provided.
In the afternoons we can continue painting, or we can go on an excursion, exploring one of the many beautiful medieval towns and villages in the region, visiting chateaux and churches and museums, or enjoying a local wine and Armagnac tasting.
Everything is included in the price, including transport to and from the airport, daily transport, accommodation, all meals, art materials and an art session every day. If 6 people travel together, the cost is only €1400 per person.
Special features
- Bilingual assistance available on site
About the Area
Mézin is a quiet, safe, friendly hilltop village surrounded by vineyards and sunflowers.
There are several small grocery shops, bakeries, butchers, a pharmacy and several café bars providing good bistro food.
An excellent new restaurant is now open in the village.
In the morning, the smell of baguettes baking wafts through the village. Try the wonderful croissants and pastries from the boulangerie.
La Petite Galerie’s garden gate is only a few paces from a 12th century church and an arcaded square that hosts a lively market every Thursday and Sunday, selling fresh local produce.
Watch the colourful transactions while enjoying a coffee or an 'apero' on a cafe terrace while you watch the world go by.
Cycling, walking, boating, golf, horse riding and tennis are popular summer activities. The brand new open air municipal swimming pool is only a few minutes away on foot.
About the Region
Ray and Lynne Johnstone, your hosts at La Petite Galerie, are always delighted to show their guests the area. They can either act as guides or provide all the information and maps needed.
The locals are extremely friendly country people, and there is lots to see and do locally. Try wine and Armagnac tastings at any of the numerous nearby vineyards or at the cave in the village.
Canoeing is available on the Gelise River, which runs through the valley at the bottom of the hill, and canal boats can be rented at Nérac, about 15 kilometres away.
Horse riding is available on a farm nearby. Golfers have a choice of two golf courses. This is a safe, wonderful, secret part of France.
Photo Album
Guest Opinions
“My 7 year old daughter, Tess, says she doesn’t want to tell anyone about your place because she’s afraid the world will flock to it and you won’t have any openings for us in the years ahead. La Petite Galerie in Mézin was the perfect place for my family to sink our teeth into the history and culture of France and this was our third wonderful vacation with you! Next summer, two weeks won’t be enough!”
Becky B. - Kansas City, Missouri, USA
“Thank you for a fantastic week in your home at La Petite Galerie. Everything has been first class - from the house to your welcome. We’ve had a fabulous time and will certainly be back.”
Eamon C. - Lurgan, Co. Armagh, N. Ireland
“What a highlight our stay with you was. It was a special time for we four Aussies. We loved our time at La Petite Galerie in Mézin so much, and your generous hospitality and interest in sharing your local knowledge helped us to gain so much extra enjoyment from these six wonderful days.
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Margaret K. - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia