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Join us at La Manufacture Royale in le village du livre (the book village) of southwest France.

June 28th - July 6th, 2025

• 8 nights bed & breakfast 

• 5 dinners & 5 lunches

• All writing sessions, clinics, & field trips are included, with a midweek day off for play!

Week Schedule 2025

(subject to change)

Saturday (Samedi) June 28th

Afternoon arrival & tour of our lodgings Welcome Apéritif & dinner together at La Manufacture Royale

Sunday (Dimanche) June 29th

Breakfast Vide Grenier (Flea market) in nearby village Generative Writing Session Tour of the village Independent lunch in the village Trip to Abbaye de Villelongue Writing Clinic Hours Apéritif & dinner together at La Manufacture Royale

Monday (Lundi) June 29th

Breakfast Generative Writing Session Trip to La Cité in Carcassonne Cassoulet lunch together in The Old City Writing Clinic Hours Independent Dinner

Tuesday (Mardi) July 1st

Breakfast Generative Writing Session Picnic together at The Paper Mill in Brousse Writing Clinic Hours Apéritif & dinner together at La Manufacture Royale

Wednesday (Mercredi) July 2rd

Breakfast Play Day! Explore the village, write to your heart’s content, or plan a day trip... Independent Lunch Potluck Dinner

Thursday (Jeudi) July 3th

Breakfast Canal du Midi Boat Ride & Writing Lunch together at Mister H, in Carcassonne Writing Clinic Hours Independent Dinner

Friday (Vendredi) July 4th

Breakfast Generative Writing Session Trip to Fontbruno Monument Lunch together at Brasserie M, in Labruguière Writing Clinic Hours Dinner together at Chapters, in Montolieu Yankee Swap

Saturday (Samedi) July 5th

Breakfast Generative Writing Session Picnic together at St. Roch Chapel Text Preparation Dinner together at La Manufacture Royale *****Group READING*****

Sunday (Dimanche) July 6th

Breakfast & Departure

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Please write to me popahna@gmail.com with any questions!

To read more about our stay and to see more pictures, scroll down.

Newest addition at La Manufacture Royale: A meditation room...

& here's La Manufacture Royale's instagram account:

@la_manufacture_royale

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Poetry of Place: Working Holiday in France

We are running our writing workshop for the 21st year!  Come live the good life in the south of France and dedicate yourself entirely to your writing during this productive and refreshing adventure. Montolieu, the village of books, is an unusual combination of traditional, French village life and a thriving community of second-hand book sellers and artists. It’s an inspiring place to visit, particularly for a writer. Material from our workshops regularly finds its way to publication, and everyone who joins us generates new writing. This is that rare opportunity to immerse yourself entirely in your work, to share and re-shape your efforts while receiving attentive and rigorous feedback. 

We are well cared for by dear and gifted hosts and lodged in La Manufacture Royale, an immense, gorgeous, Louis XIVth building that was once the center of the village’s thriving textile industry. Our stately retreat is replete with an outdoor, salt water swimming pool, lavender covered terraces, a boutique in the Benedictine chapel, and a private film viewing room! Spots for writing abound.  We are encircled by the two rivers surrounding the perched village of Montolieu and classic French countryside for roaming and hiking.

In addition to the daily, intensive poetry classes and workshops, there will be excursions and picnics at places like the chapel on St. Roch, the paper mill in Brousse, a boat ride along the Canal du Midi, and a treasure hunt at the local French flea market.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you!

• The dates are Friday, July 6th through Saturday, July 14th, 2018

• The price is $2,450: all classes & workshops & field trips inclusive

• 8 nights bed & breakfast, 6 dinners, & 5 lunches inclusive

• Partner fee of $1,350 exclusive of writing classes & workshops

• If you would like to reserve a space, a non-refundable deposit of $450 is requested. The remainder of the balance is due by June 1st, 2018.

Please write with any questions at all.

Poet in Residence:

Barbara Helfgott Hyett

PoemWorks: The Workshop For Publishing Poets

barbara@poemworks.com

To make payments, via check or Paypal, contact:

Popahna Brandes

popahna@gmail.com

330 W. Diversey Pkwy, Apt. 505

Chicago, IL 60657

(617) 669-6612

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Where we stay, what we do.

MONTOLIEU: This is a working holiday in one of the most beautiful spots of the Languedoc-Roussillion region in France — a week of intense writing workshops and classes based on the discussion and practice of poetics. Each morning we will begin with breakfast and the study of texts and ideas. The generative class is followed by independent hours in which to write or to hike in the fields of sunflowers, to swim in the extensive waterways feeding the 18th century Canal du Midi, to picnic at an 11th century chapel, to ride horses through fern filled forests or to browse the village filled with rare books – a bibliophile’s heaven. We come together again in the afternoons to share work and give feedback on peer writing in a workshop format. We end the day with lively and delectable meals, regional wine, and moonlit walks through the village. Montolieu, which is perched on a rocky ridge separating the gorges of two rivers, is a typically Mediterranean village with the unusual signature of an integrated and thriving secondhand book trade, boasting ten bookshops to a population of 850 people. 

Lodgings at THE MANUFACTURE ROYALE: This grand and historic house is situated on the edge of Montolieu. It is at the crossroads of various landscapes – the arid fields of wine country and the forested hills and valleys of La Montagne Noir. It is within minutes of the Canal du Midi and the medieval fortress city of Carcassonne; within an hour of Mediterranean beaches and a few hours of the Spanish border. The Royale Manufacture is found on the banks of the River Dure and is steeped in history. In 1735 it was granted a royal license by Louis XIV to make cloth, and thus it became an important manufacturer in the textile industry.  The building where guests stay was originally the Maison de Maitre (the proprietor’s mansion) and the factory was next door. The vaulted cellars date back to a 13th century Benedictine flourmill and a hidden room in the house provided refuge for the Bishop of Reims during the French revolution. The guest rooms have all been renovated and are replete with individual details and magnificent views.

HOW TO GET TO MONTOLIEU: Carcassonne is southeast of Montolieu and a 15-minute drive. It has an airport with European connections (through Ryan Air) as well as a international train and bus station. Toulouse (1 hr drive) is southwest of Montolieu and has an international airport, train and bus station. Paris is approximately 8 hrs away; Barcelona 3 hrs away.

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Le Salon at La Manufacture Royale

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Notes for our stay at La Manufacture Royale

Packing Information:

This week is usually gorgeous weather. Sunny, warm and clear. However, the weather, can vary dramatically. It may be very hot while we're there and it may be cool and rainy. Bring a hat for walks in the Mediterranean sun as well as a light jacket. There are big ponds within 20 minute drive, and beautiful river spots for bathing and reading within walking distance. And an salt-water pool on location. Pack lightly if possible as you will probably find things you would like to take home with you. There is a post office in Montolieu, a pharmacy, a small grocery, a regional wine store, le tabac-presse, which sells postcards, newspapers, phone cards and all sorts of odd things and of course, many second-hand bookstores, galleries, and a printing museum.

This article from the NY Times gives you a sense of the region we are visiting. And this website gives the history of the Canal du Midi (a world heritage site). 

Driving directions from the Toulouse Airport (Blagnac):

(Alternately, use google maps or a GPS!)

It's 97 kilometers from Toulouse airport to Montolieu and the drive takes 1 to 1.5 hrs.

As you leave the airport, follow the signs direction Carcassonne/Montpellier/Barcelona. This will put you on the highway/auto route called A61 (Toulouse-Narbonne). Auto route signs are blue and the smaller roads, Route National, are green.

At exit 22 (Bram) get off highway, follow the (green) signs for the Route National direction Carcassonne/Alzonne (Route D33) and after about 4.5 kilometers follow the signs direction Alzonne/Montolieu on(Route D8). When you come to the traffic lights in Alzonne take a right, direction Carcassonne (Route N113). Just outside the village of Alzonne take a left, direction Montolieu (Route D8). From here it is about 8 km to Montolieu. Once in Montolieu take a right at the first crossing with a stop sign (direction Carcassonne) after 300 meters, and just before the bridge, take a left onto a tiny street called Impasse de la Manufacture. La Manufacture Royale is at the end of the street on the right hand side. 

Contact information:

Phoning to and from Montolieu: You may receive brief calls on La Manufacture's main telephone line. You can also use this line to make local calls or if you have a calling card and want to make a brief long distance call, you may also use this line. There is also a public payphone in the village center (a rather romantic option, as I’ll explain when we are there), for which you can buy French, pre-paid calling cards. Alternatively, check with your provider for cell phone options (keeping in mind that you won’t necessarily have great reception at La Manufacture). And then there are all the internet options: Skype, FaceTime, G chat, etc. Skype accounts and others may also be set up so that you pay a very small fee to to make telephone calls directly to other telephones rather than the video option.

  To reach La Manufacture’s main line:

When calling from the states dial: 011 33 4 68 24 89 67

When calling from inside France dial: 04 68 24 89 67

  Mailing address:

c/o de Jonge

La Manufacture Royale

16, Impasse de la Manufacture

11170  MONTOLIEU, AUDE 

FRANCE

    Money:

Please note carefully: There are no ATM machine in the village itself! There are always ATM machines at the airport, so when you arrive, it’s a good idea to get cash. There are also banks and ATMS in Carcassonne center, which is a 20 minute car drive from Montolieu, or at the large supermarket, which is a 15 minute car ride (closed on Sundays). Aside from purchasing your own sundries/ gifts you will need cash for one restaurant dinner (apprx. €25-40 per meal, but of course this is entirely up to you) and two lunches on your own, which might be as simple as a baguette and cheese or you may want to try out the local eateries...

  Class & Workshop Notes:

Classes will begin at assigned times each morning. If there are changes to the set time, they will be written on the blackboard. There is one shared and slow printer, which we also use as a copier. If you plan to be printing a lot of pages each day, consider bringing your own travel printer. Generally, we have no problems with our simple system, as long as everyone has a little patience. 

General notes on our lodging: 

While you will be entirely taken care of at La Manufacture Royale, I remind everyone that it is not a hotel. Fortunately, the rooms we stay in are set up to be self-catering apartments and we therefore have a few shared kitchens and living rooms in addition to our rooms. There is a lot of space and every apartment/room is gorgeous and different. The towels are changed once during the week. There are washing machines available. Please ask for a demo if you’re not sure how to use. There are no dryers. Clothes are hung and line-dried. Hair dryers, by the way, often seem to blow out when brought over here, though not always. Most electronics these days only need plug adapters (which change the prong) for the western European outlet. Some electronics still require transformers (which actually downgrade the the amount of electricity being given to the device). Consult an electronics person if you are not sure. You don't want to lug transformers around if you only need an adapter. If you have questions/desires during the week, please feel free to ask me.  I am the liason between the group and our gracious hosts, Bart & Marieke, and their two charming daughters, Micky and Merel.   

  Meals:  

Meals are served at a set time and if you are unable to be there at the set time, please let someone know so that we can put aside your meal if necessary. Breakfast times will be announced the night before. On the days that we are taking a picnic somewhere, I will ask for your sandwich orders ahead of time. We often have an apéritif before our meal and someone will let you know where/when this is taking place each evening. The bell indicates as well. 

If you find yourself hungry or thirsty outside of meal times, you have several options: stocking up from the little grocery store in the village or the massive grocery store on the edge of Carcassonne (a 15 minute drive), or buying drinks/light snacks from La Manufacture's designated fridge. You can also order tea/coffee from our hosts. Every guest will have their own tab for extra purchases. Three lunches are on your own. You may wish to go to a restaurant (there are a few options in the village) or you may wish to buy yourself goods at the grocery. Whatever suits your fancy.

  Restaurants:

In the village there are several places to eat. There is a restaurant on the main square of Montolieu across from the Church called Cassette et Chapeau. This is good place to sit if there is a game of pétanque taking place and the food is solid. Another restaurant is Les Anges au Plafond, situated in a lovely building across from the Marie and of historical importance to the writing group with Barbara,  (ask for the story one night at dinner), we have heard good things about its recent menu. Current posted hours are: Lunch 12:00 - 2:30pm. Closed Wednesdays. Dinner Friday and Saturday from 7:30pm. Salon de thé:  3:30pm to 6:00pm. Closed Wednesdays. 

  Village Shops:

Grocery Store (Chez Nelly): 8am -12:30pm and 4pm-7:30pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays except during July & August when it is open Sun & Mon Mornings only. 

Post Office: Monday, Thursday, Friday, 9am-12pm; Tuesday & Wednesday, 1:30pm -4:30pm; Saturday, 10am-12pm. Closed Sundays. 

Bakery:... (Has complicated hours that even the tourist office doesn’t know. Ah, village life!)

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A day in the life of an American poet in Southern France

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The dish room

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Dining Room & Library with their views

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At La Manufacture Royale                                Rooms and a view

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Classes & picnics