Sparkle Week
Unleash Your Creative Sparkle
Sparkle Week. A transformative week in beautiful Chateau de Borie, in the picturesque countryside of Agen, France.
Here, you'll give yourself the gift of creative energy, insight, laughter, and playfulness.
This retreat is designed for creatives, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and corporate warriors alike.
It’s a space of saying yes to yourself.
We are two crazy creatives who have manifested joyful and powerful creative lives that span countries and continents.
If you’re curious about how to…
Unblock your flow…
Compassionately understand your stories…
Unleash movement and energy into your lives…
Join us to learn our secrets – and meet a few of your own.
About your guides
Lavanya and Abby, Florence, April 2018
About Abby
The owner of Chateau de Borie, Abigail Carter is a published author, artist and website designer. Her memoir, The Alchemy of Loss: A Young Widow’s Transformation was published in 2008, a cathartic expression after the death of her husband, Arron in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The Alchemy of Loss was long-listed for the 2008 B.C. Award for Canadian Non-Fiction, Canada's largest Non-Fiction prize and chosen by The Globe and Mail as one of the 100 Most Notable Books of 2008. Her second book, Remember the Moon, a novel, was published in 2014 and is also based on themes of grief and loss, described by Indie Reader as “a touching and intimate look at the bonds that last beyond death, and the generosity of spirit needed to truly love another person.”
After a difficult breakup in 2017, Abby returned to painting after a thirty-year hiatus, re-discovering another creative outlet for her renewed grief and self-discovery.
During the pandemic, Abby became obsessed with the idea of owning a chateau in France that could be used as a retreat center and saw the dream come to fruition in 2022 with the purchase of Chateau de Borie. She is now hosting week-long creative retreats as she continues to redecorate and renovate the Chateau.
About Lavanya
Lavanya Sankaran is an author, arts philanthropist, speaker, and experimental storyteller across different mediums, including acting and film.
She lives between New York City and Bangalore, India.
Nine US publishers competed in a three-day auction for the rights to her first two books: The Red Carpet, and The Hope Factory. Critically acclaimed, Lavanya’s fiction has won several international awards. Her books have spent years on best-selling lists, and have been translated into French, German, Italian, Russian, and Polish and published in over 15 countries. Her writing and interviews have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Vogue magazine, Suddeutsche Zeitung, La Stampa, and the Times of India, among many other publications.
A firm believer in supporting fellow artists, Lavanya is a Trustee of Nrityagram Dance, the world-famous Odissi dance company, and Hedgebrook, the Seattle Writing Residency. Additionally, she has sponsored literary fellowships in her name at the Sangam Writers Residency for over a decade, as well as children’s education in India, amongst other philanthropies.
Meditation, music, and movement are integral to her well-being, as are puppy dogs of any description.
Instagram: @lavanyawriter
The Details
Accommodations
Below is a list of the accommodations. Make your room choice and then click the “Pay Deposit” button below and choose your selected room from the dropdown. If it doesn’t appear, it is no longer available.
Common Areas
You will have access to all amenities: a large, shared living room (Grand Salon), kitchen and dining room, garden, and terraces, with reading nooks and seating, and a wooded trail. There is WiFi throughout the Chateau, and laundry services are available.
NOTE:
The Chateau de Borie is multi-leveled, with no bedrooms on the ground floor. Good physical mobility is required for this Sparkle adventure, as the Chateau has one or two sets of stairwells depending on the room you choose, and we will be on foot on the cobbled streets around France. The physical ability to walk unassisted and stand for extended periods is necessary for this retreat.
Because of the proximity of the cliffs and the 7 springs on the property, mosquitos are an issue. Bug spray is highly recommended.
Chloe, Abby’s Boston Terrier will be in attendance. If you have any issues with small dogs, you might want to consider this before booking.
Payment
A deposit of €1000 is required to hold your spot. The balance must be paid in full by February 1, 2025.
Included in the price:
Pick up/drop off at Agen train station
Welcome champagne
All meals and wine except for lunches during excursions
Transportation to/from all excursions
Entry fees for all excursions
Market visit and cooking class
Dinner at a restaurant near the Chateau de Borie
Not included:
Airfare, train fare
Meals outside the villa except for the restaurant dinner.
Refund Policy
The €1000 deposit is non-refundable after February 1, 2025.
All rooms are to be paid for in full by February 1, 2025.
If you need to cancel between February 1st and April 1st, 2025, we will offer your spot to people on the waiting list and refund 100% of your payment if we can fill your spot. If we cannot fill your spot, we will refund 50% of your balance payment (the deposit is non-refundable) or you can transfer your paid fees to another retreat offered within 12 months.
Cancellations after April 1st, 2025 are non-refundable.
Participant expenses incurred in preparation for your trip (e.g., non-refundable purchased airline tickets and late cancelations) are not the responsibility of the retreat organizers. It is recommended that you obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance for this reason.
Travel
Arrivals: Sunday May 18th, 2025 before 4 pm
Retreat/workshops: Monday, May 19th to Saturday May 24th
Departures: Sunday May 25th before 12 pm.
Participants are responsible for their own flights and travel to Agen. The closest international airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux, France. It is an hour's train ride to Agen from both cities. You can also fly to Paris and take a 3-hour TGV train from Montparnasse station in Paris to Agen (via Bordeaux).
It is recommended that you purchase your train tickets ahead of time, as trains do fill up. We recommend using www.thetrainline.com or https://www.sncf-connect.com/ to book your connections.
You are welcome to rent a car at the airport, though we will be providing transportation for the various excursions, so unless you want to get out on your own, it is unnecessary.
We offer pick-ups and drop-offs from the Agen train station to/from Chateau de Borie.
NOTE: To arrive at the villa on Sunday, May 18th requires a flight departure from North America on Saturday, May 17th. It is recommended to arrive in France a few days early if possible to acclimate to the time change.
To secure your spot for this retreat, a €1000 deposit is required. A link to the balance payment will be emailed after the deposit has been paid. Please select your chosen room when purchasing the deposit.
More information about excursions and further details about the week will be added as they are planned. We look forward to having you join us for this very special week at Chateau de Borie!