From foraging to swimming and stargazing, women are free to organize their own vacation at this unique Quercy camp.
One afternoon last summer, Philippa Girling was walking through the gardens of her french castle and she was relieved to hear the sound of laughter. Specifically, they were women’s laughter. This was precisely the objective that the general director of Camp Château had set for herself when co-founding a women-only summer camp.
Now in its second year, there is no doubt that the camp in the southwestern region of Quercy is a success. In autumn, 500 people will have passed through the gates of the old Béduer castle. The waiting list for summer 2025 is 11,000 visitors.
A 20-year waiting list
“I went from being excited toI feel bad for the people on the waiting listwhich will never be able to come because it will take 20 years to clear,” he explains to ‘Euronews Travel’.
Just two years old, Girling and her co-founders are thinking about how expand the camp so that more women can enjoy the rest and relaxation they deserve.
What’s so special about a women-only summer camp?
Camp Château’s raison d’être is refreshingly simple: to offer women a joyful, all-inclusive summer experience. After 30 years working in “a very masculine sector,” banking, Girling was tired of the way women are pressured and to minorities to fit in.
“We created Camp Château with the idea that you can come and work on yourself,” he says. “Can relax, organize your experience, do what brings you joytranquility and a time of rest”.
Each session lasts six days and visitors can choose between numerous activitiessuch as foraging, candle making, cheese tasting, horseback riding, yoga classes and silent disco.
Some they prefer to pass most of the time lying by the pool. “Women, when they’re together, are amazing,” says Girling, who grew up in southern Englandand he often spent his holidays in Quercy. He now lives in California.
The 50-person camp is sociable of course, with shared bunk beds in the castle or camping tents for two. Every night there is a mass dinner in the Great Hall, with an hour of aperitif for those who want have a drink and chat.
But the emphasis is on self-determination. In this French idyll you don’t have to worry about breaking the ice or organizing the fun.
“The entire design of Camp Château is designed so that, if you want, meet people naturally” says Girling. But there’s also room to be alone: ”We try to have plenty of time to do what you need, but be kind to others.”
Almost as soon as he arrives, Girling sees people’s shoulders droop. “It’s an instant feeling of relief because most women, Even when they are on vacation, they are organizing everything“he says. In Campamento Châteauthe only thing you have to decide is whether it’s time to rest or play.
Who is Camp Château for?
Women of all professions and social conditions. No wonder she is popular with the Americans, attracted by the historical environmenteither. However, when we spoke in early August, the camp was hosting an eclectic mix of visitors from Andorra, Canada, Egypt, England and Nigeria.
The ages range between 19 and 70 years (with a lower limit of 21 for unaccompanied guests). Many of those who arrive are women who travel alone, veterans and newbies who see the Château camp a safe environment to test your wanderlust.
Small groups and mothers and daughters also attend. Girling especially likes these duos because “one of them has thought about the other.”
ADVERTISINGGirling’s own daughter, Leah Lykins, is co-founder and contributes his teaching experience. This triptych of ‘leading ladies’ is completed by Lynda Coleman, whose background is in event planning.
Surprisingly, 100% of Camp Château is owned by 140 women and/or founding members with gender diversity. They have special access to two exclusive sessions for female founders at the beginning of the summer.
For the rest of the women in the world, The price is 2,178 euros for a stay of six days and five nights, which includes everything except transportationfrom the airport Toulouse and on-site massages. Pick-up at Figeac station is free.
Evidently, It’s prohibitively expensive for some people.but Girling says they’ve tried to make it affordable. “We didn’t want to create something exclusive that they could only go to people with high income“he explains.
ADVERTISINGThat’s why they have shared rooms and experiences of camping instead of a luxury spa. With demand so high, some people have even wondered why they don’t raise the price. But Girling says that’s not going to happen.
Just take a look at the Instagram from Camp Château, with 250,000 followers, to realize how much it means to people.
“The first thing I will do when I have income again and my loans are paid,” says Camilla. “I want this for my trip after cancer treatment!”, Wendy writes, “Is there rosé?”
“How can we make sure that women who want to come can do so?” Girling wonders, faced with that enormous waiting list. One of the avenues they are exploring is extend the season to fallpreparing the castle for winter. They are also considering the possibility of opening a second headquarters.
ADVERTISINGWhere is Camp Château?
It is located in the Lot department, just south of the popular Dordoña“Quercy is a kind of secret corner of France“says Girling, only known to French tourists.
The Château de Béduer enjoys green views over the Célé river valley (formerly called Paradise Valley), with the town of Figeauc just 9 kilometers away, popular for its markets.
The area with the least light pollution
The strip of sky between the Célé valley and Rocamadour, to the north, is known as the ‘black triangle’ because it is the area with the least light pollution from France. Guests can contemplate the Milky Way from the castle terrace.
Inside, the castle 800 years old It has a rich history to explore, with some especially fascinating chapters starring women in the last century.
ADVERTISINGWhat is the history of the castle?
In 1939, the Béduer castle was acquired by Jeanne Loviton, journalist and novelist also famous for her numerous love affairs, some of them in high places.
Jewish-French film criticism Lotte Eisner He also spent some time here during the World War IIarchiving and hiding french films from the nazis. There is a plaque in his name outside the castle dungeon, where he carried out this task in freezing conditions.
Girling tells the stories of these women in a weekly historical talk during aperitif time.
You are also surprised by the “many beautiful stories” that women today bring. Last year, Girling found a woman in the yard, staring at the walls. “Are you trying to soak in the experience?” she asked. “Yeah, I’m just trying to soak in one last time before leave so I can remember“he responded.
ADVERTISINGGirling shared an idea about why the camp is doing so well: “My theory is that all the women who are here this year are brave because they all came to something that didn’t really exist yet.
But the woman thought otherwise: “We all hoped it was real. So we all had hope,” she said.
“That was really beautiful and absolutely right,” Girling says. “All the women who come do it hoping to have a nice time. And then, of course, they make it a lovely moment. And as you bring together 50 women who come with that positive and lovely hope… it’s a beautiful week.”
