The Witches Coven - A Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat with Ida von Aves : €5,150 - €6,150

The Lady of the Château Workshops & Retreats

THE DARK ROMANTIC | Room Rates & Occupancy

ROOM RATES (SINGLE OCCUPANCY)

Rates vary depending on bedroom selection. Please refer to the individual room listings for pricing.

A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking.

Sharing a Room | Additional €4,000 for a Second Participant

Would you like to experience The Dark Romantic alongside a friend?

For an additional €4,000, a second participant may share an eligible bedroom. This additional fee covers their full participation in the retreat, including photography sessions, meals, scheduled transportation, and all included experiences.

If you would like to share a room, please contact us before booking. We will adjust the reservation so that the total room package can be divided evenly between both participants.

Please note that double occupancy is available only in designated bedrooms with suitable sleeping arrangements and bathroom access.

To request a shared booking, please email [email protected].

Included with All Rooms

Three Fine Art Fantasy Photoshoots with Vanessa Bussoletti

Step into a world inspired by Gothic literature, mythology, romantic longing, and the beauty of the mysterious and unexplained.

Throughout the retreat, photographer Vanessa Bussoletti will guide you through three carefully conceived photographic experiences, each offering a different exploration of desire, transformation, and the romantic imagination.

From Persephone's descent into the underworld to a nocturnal world of velvet, candlelight, and decadence, and finally into the wild, windswept autumn landscape, each photographic world invites you to inhabit a character, explore your imagination, and tell a story through the art of portraiture.

Vanessa's deeply romantic photographic style brings an extraordinary sensitivity to atmosphere, emotion, and the beauty of the individual, creating portraits that feel as though they belong within the pages of a Gothic novel.

No previous modeling or photography experience is necessary.

Seven Nights at Château de Puy Vidal

Enjoy seven nights in your selected private or shared bedroom within our 700-year-old medieval château, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of southwestern France.

All Meals & Beverages

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks are included throughout your stay.

Our shared meals are an essential part of life at Puy Vidal, from leisurely breakfasts and seasonal lunches to atmospheric candlelit dinners and celebratory gatherings.

Included beverages feature coffee, tea, aperitif cocktails, French wines, and 24-hour access to our coffee and snack station.

A Self-Styling Adventure | Your Imagination, Your Vision

The Dark Romantic is a self-styling fantasy retreat, inviting each participant to become the creative director of their own photographic looks.

Rather than relying on a provided costume wardrobe or professional styling team, you will curate your own outfits, accessories, hairstyles, and makeup for each of the three photographic worlds.

This is an integral part of the creative journey.

In the weeks leading up to the retreat, we will share detailed creative direction, visual inspiration, and styling recommendations to help you imagine and assemble your looks.

Whether you choose to source a dramatic period-inspired gown, experiment with vintage clothing, commission a special piece, or transform garments already in your wardrobe, the intention is to create something that feels both imaginative and uniquely yours.

There is no single correct interpretation of any of our photographic themes. We encourage you to follow your own aesthetic instincts, explore the more mysterious and romantic corners of your imagination, and enjoy the process of bringing a character from your inner world into being.

All outfits, costumes, footwear, accessories, hair, and makeup are the responsibility of each participant.

Our team will provide guidance and inspiration in advance, but the final creative interpretation belongs to you.

Personal Hair & Makeup

As part of this self-styling experience, participants will prepare their own hair and makeup for all three fantasy photoshoots.

You are welcome to explore anything from soft, ethereal beauty to dramatic, theatrical interpretations inspired by Gothic romance, mythology, and historical portraiture.

We encourage you to experiment with your looks before arriving and to bring the cosmetics, hair products, tools, and accessories you will need throughout the week.

Professional hair and makeup services are not included in this retreat.

Archetypal Exploration & Creative Experiences

Beyond the photographic sessions, The Dark Romantic is an invitation to explore the stories, characters, and desires that inhabit our imaginations.

Through guided conversations, archetypal exploration, storytelling, symbolic rituals, dance, and immersive creative experiences, we will reflect on the many dimensions of ourselves, including those that are not always easily understood or expressed in everyday life.

These experiences are designed to enrich the photographic journey, bringing greater intention, imagination, and personal meaning to the characters and worlds we explore.

Styling Tools & Creative Supplies

We provide a selection of tools and accessories to support your photoshoot preparations, including curling irons, hot rollers, hairpins, decorative hair accessories, garment steamers, and illuminated makeup mirrors.

Participants are responsible for bringing their own cosmetics, preferred styling products, costumes, and personal accessories.

Access to the Château & Grounds

Enjoy access to the shared spaces of Château de Puy Vidal, including its historic salons, common rooms, art studio, formal French gardens, and hot tub.

Swimming pool access is seasonal and weather-dependent.

Complimentary Train Station Transfers

Complimentary scheduled pick-up and drop-off at Angoulême Train Station, approximately 18 minutes from Château de Puy Vidal.

Angoulême is accessible from Paris in approximately two hours by high-speed train.

An Intimate & Supportive Creative Environment

At the heart of The Dark Romantic is the pleasure of stepping into a world of shared imagination, creativity, and connection.

You will be surrounded by fellow dreamers, romantics, and curious souls who share a fascination with beauty, mystery, storytelling, and the extraordinary.

Whether you arrive with years of experience in costuming and fantasy photography or are exploring these interests for the very first time, you will find an encouraging environment in which to experiment, play, and express yourself.

No previous modeling, costume design, or fantasy photography experience is necessary.

Not Included

• Flights: Participants are responsible for arranging their own air travel.

• Train Travel: Train tickets to and from Angoulême are not included.

• Travel & Health Insurance: We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel and medical insurance before departure.

• Personal Wardrobe & Costumes: All clothing, costumes, gowns, footwear, accessories, and other wardrobe elements for the three photoshoots must be sourced and brought by participants.

• Professional Hair & Makeup: This is a self-styling retreat. Professional hair and makeup services are not included, and participants are responsible for creating their own looks.

• Personal Beauty & Styling Products: Participants should bring their preferred cosmetics, hair products, and any additional styling tools required for their looks.

Flexible Payment Options

We understand that joining us for a week at Château de Puy Vidal is a meaningful investment, and we aim to make the booking process as manageable as possible.

The total retreat package is divided into installments, beginning with a 20% non-refundable deposit required to confirm your reservation.

For guests who prefer greater flexibility, we also offer a chip-away payment option, allowing smaller incremental payments toward the remaining balance.

The final balance is due 10 weeks before the retreat begins. All payments are made in euros (€).

If you have a particular payment request or would like to discuss your options, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Non-Refundable Deposit Policy

To uphold the integrity of The Dark Romantic and honor the significant planning, preparation, and investment made by The Lady of the Château and our collaborating artists, a 20% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place.

Our retreats are intimate experiences with a limited number of participants. Each reservation represents a significant commitment of resources, accommodations, artistic services, and advance preparations.

Because of this, cancellations can have a substantial impact on our ability to deliver the retreat as planned.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we therefore strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes appropriate trip cancellation coverage.

Providers such as World Nomads may offer suitable options, depending on your country of residence and the terms of your chosen policy.

For questions about payment arrangements, cancellations, or reservations, please contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you into the world of The Dark Romantic.