Fresco and Encaustic
in a 1000 year old French Castle
What could be more inspiring?
We will live and work in the Guard House, a 1000 year old ancient castle converted by Magdalena Groszek to a building to accommodate artists and creators set in a medieval village called Sauveterre-de-Béarn on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in the beautiful South West of France.
This storied setting provides an ideal backdrop for exploring and reimagining the possibilities of the ancient techniques of encaustic and fresco – in a brand new encaustic studio.
The village is medieval, with many remains of walls and towers, and generally the church and village are about 1000 years old. It is quite spectacular with it’s view from the village terrace to the Pyrenees Mountains, with a river down below for hikes and swimming.
Optional free day excursion to Bilbao, Spain, including visiting the Guggenheim Museum or a trip to the sea. Biarritz on the Atlantic Coast is just an hour away, and Bilbao can be reached in just two hours by car.
And last but not least – calling all foodies! We’ll be indulging in delicious French cuisine every single day. And if you’re up for it, a visit to the fabulous one-star Michelin restaurant Choko Ona in Espelette is on the menu of possible adventure
What you will learn
In this workshop, we’ll explore the rich world of surfaces and textures. Moving between highs and lows, cracked and smooth, we’ll let ourselves be guided by an intuitive and playful process.
With gentle guidance and creative experimentation, you’ll discover how textures and materials can bring surprising depth and contrast to your artwork. We’ll layer and combine Encaustic with materials like sand, ash, marble dust, plaster, collage elements to create a series of expressive pieces.
I will demonstrate techniques in a spontaneous, process-oriented wayto inspire rather than instruct. You’re welcome to follow your own path, and I will support you individually, whether you’re trying something new or building on past experience. Group and one-on-one discussions will help you shape your compositions and develop your authentic visual language.
The group has no more than 8 participants, so we’ll have the chance to work closely together one-on-one.
Your Accomodation
You’ll stay in a 1,000-year-old castle—the old guardhouse of a medieval village of Sauveterre-de-Béarn—complete with a stone spiral staircase and tower. The village of is perched on a cliff with breathtaking views, and you’ll enjoy:
- Walks along the river
- Towering trees and stunning natural surroundings
- Opportunities for wild water swimming
We will be living and working in the castle, which is very convenient.
For workshops there are 8 bedrooms available in the castle. Four of the rooms have showers and WC en suite. Three have a shower en suite, WC across the corridor, and just one room – the most beautiful and biggest one – has it’s bathroom/WC across the corridor. Each bedroom room has a desk or table and can be worked in.
Please see the Photo Gallery for pictures of the castle, the bedrooms and bathrooms.
What is included
Welcome Dinner on June 26, 2026
Six days of instruction in a fabulous newly set-up encaustic studio
Every day self service continental breakfast
- Personalized 1:1 instruction with Bettina and ample Studio Time
- Six lovely lunches that include a glass of wine, tea, or coffee
- Six three course dinners that include a glass of wine, tea, or coffee
- Daily coffee, tea, and water
Not included: Airfare, trains and taxis to/from the airport, costs of meals on day trips or restaurant outings, Material Fee ca. € 70 p.P.
To register
€ 3550 Single / double room with ensuite bathroom/shower. 4 rooms, they can be shared.
€ 3250 Single / double room with ensuite shower sink, toilet across the corridor. 3 rooms, they can be shared.
€ 3250 Single / double room, extra large bathroom, toilet across the corridor. 1 room, can be shared.
€ 2850 Price per Person in Shared bedroom.
50% of course fee is due on registration, this is not refundable. The balance is due 90 days before the course starts. Please take out all cause travel insurance so that you can be refunded should anything stop the class happening or if you can’t make it. If you cannot come, we will try to fill your space from our wait list or you can get someone to replace you.
To register please send an email to Magdalena Groszek ([email protected]) and ask to register.
About me
My passion lies in developing an abstract visual vocabulary through the exploration of natural materials and an intuitive, process-oriented approach. In my work, the ancient technique of encaustic painting merges with fresco elements and aspects of mixed media, resulting in layered, tactile surfaces that invite close observation.
Since 2019, I have taught workshops and courses in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and the United States. I’ve served as a speaker and instructor at the International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown (2023, 2024, and 2025) and at the IEA Encaustic Conference in Ireland (2024).
My work has been exhibited in Switzerland, Italy, and the U.S., and is represented in the United States by the Jeff Soderbergh for Sustainable Art Gallery in Wellfleet, MA. I am a Core Instructor for R&F Handmade Paints and a member of both the Swiss Society of Female Visual Artists (SGBK) and the International Encaustic Artists (IEA).
I live and work near Basel, Switzerland.
