La Fontaine | Your Private Retreat in Provence, France
One Week as Our Guests. Experience Provence Like a Local.
Imagine spending a week in Provence, not as a tourist, but as a guest in our home, discovering the places, people, and experiences that make this corner of France so special.
Welcome to La Fontaine, our home in the beautiful Provençal countryside of Velleron, near the Luberon Valley. We invite you to join us for a private, week-long retreat, personally hosted and guided by us, Raina and Denis.
You'll stay in our charming guest apartment, attached to our home but with your own private entrance, garden, and creative studio. Our one-acre property is surrounded by peaceful forest and farmland, with a large swimming pool and pétanque court to enjoy.
Come on your own, as a couple, or bring friends or family (up to four guests). This is your private retreat, created just for you. No other retreat guests, no crowded tours, and no rigid schedules.
Just a wonderful week of discovering Provence, making memories, enjoying good food and wine, exploring your creativity, and experiencing the pleasures of everyday life here.
Your Week, Your Interests, Your Provence
No two retreats at La Fontaine are the same!
Before you arrive, we'll get to know you, what you enjoy, what sparks your curiosity, and how you'd love to spend your time. Then we'll create a personalized week that balances discovery, creativity, relaxation, and a little adventure.
Here are some of the experiences we can share with you:
Charming Villages & Hidden Gems: Wander through beautiful hilltop villages, quiet backstreets, and special places most visitors never discover.
Markets, Brocantes & Antiques: Explore lively Provençal markets, hunt for treasures, and discover our favorite antique shops.
Meet Local Artists & Artisans: Step inside working studios, meet talented makers, and experience the creative spirit of Provence.
Wine & Local Flavors: Visit vineyards, meet local producers, and discover the wonderful food and wines of the region.
History & Culture: Explore historic châteaux, ancient villages, and fascinating sites throughout the Luberon and surrounding countryside.
Photography & Creative Discovery: Learn to see Provence in a new way with personalized photography guidance using your smartphone or DSLR camera. Enjoy time creating in our private studio.
The Art of Slow Living: Linger over a long lunch, enjoy a café in a village square, and discover the simple pleasures of living in Provence.
Relaxation at La Fontaine: Spend an afternoon by the pool, enjoy the garden, play pétanque, or simply relax with a good book.
Local Connections: Meet some of our friends and neighbors and experience the warmth of our local community.
And if you prefer a day with absolutely nothing planned, that's perfectly fine too!
Our hope is that you'll leave with more than beautiful photographs and wonderful memories. You'll leave feeling connected to Provence, its people, and perhaps a little more inspired by the art of slowing down.
A Private Retreat Just for You
La Fontaine is ideal for:
Friends wanting a special week together filled with laughter, discovery, and meaningful experiences.
Couples looking for a romantic, relaxed escape into the Provençal countryside.
Families and loved ones wishing to spend quality time together and create lasting memories.
Artists and creatives seeking inspiration, a peaceful working studio, and time to explore their creativity.
Curious travelers who want to experience authentic Provence through the eyes of people who live here.
Whether you want an active week of exploring or a slower pace with plenty of time to relax, we'll create an experience that feels right for you.
Dates, Pricing & What's Included
Your private retreat includes seven nights at La Fontaine, with a personalized program of experiences hosted and guided by us.
Season: Mid-April through October. Dates are arranged individually, subject to availability.
Duration: 7 nights, Saturday to Saturday
Guests: 1–4 people, exclusively your group
Price: €4,800 for one guest, with a 25% discount for each additional guest, up to four people.
Each additional guest pays €3,600
Meals: All meals included, from home-cooked meals at La Fontaine to dining at local restaurants
Transportation: All transportation during your week with us, and we will transport you to and from the train station or airport for your arrivals and departures
Activities: Admission fees for scheduled activities during the week
Airfare: Not included
Come Stay With Us at La Fontaine!
We'd love to welcome you into our home and share the Provence we know and love.
Tell us a little about yourself, who you'd like to bring, when you're thinking of visiting, and what you'd most love to experience.
From there, we'll work together to create a week filled with the things that make you happy, whether that's art, photography, food, wine, culture, exploring hidden corners, or simply slowing down and enjoying life in Provence.
Let's start planning your private Provençal retreat!
Get in Touch — We'd Love to Hear Your Ideas and Welcome You to La Fontaine.
Raina & Denis
Your Home Away From Home in Provence
Frequently asked questions
Where is the private retreat held? At our home in Velleron, in the Vaucluse area of Provence, France, very close to the Luberon Valley. You stay in a private gîte on our property. It is about 5 minutes from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Nearby villages and towns include Goult, Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Pernes-les-Fontaines, and Avignon. The gîte is about 35 minutes from Avignon TGV station and about 1 hour from Marseille airport.
What does the property include? Your private gîte with its own garden, entrance, and working studio, on one acre of grounds with a large pool, a pool house, and a pétanque court.
Is the itinerary fixed? No. We plan your week with you, based on your interests, whether that is markets, antiques, wine, castles, artisans, or photography.
Do I need photography experience? No. If you would like, we teach simple ways to take better photographs with your mobile phone or your DSLR camera. Bring whichever you prefer. It is optional.
Can I bring friends or family? Yes. The retreat is private and welcomes up to 4 guests, so you can bring friends or loved ones.
What is a gîte? A gîte is a self-contained holiday apartment, often in the countryside. Yours has its own entrance, its own garden, and a working studio.
What is included? The retreat is all inclusive except airfare, including all meals, both home-cooked at our home and at local restaurants.
YOUR HOST
Raina Stinson is an internationally award-winning photographic artist known for her evocative storytelling through imagery. Originally from the United States, she has spent the past seven years living in Provence, France, and is a full-time resident.
With a deep passion for visual narratives, Raina’s work often explores themes of identity, resilience, and the human experience. In addition to her photographic art, she teaches week-long photography workshops and day photography tours in Provence, sharing her extensive knowledge of the region and photographic skills. She incorporates her many years as a meditation and mindfulness teacher into her courses. She loves uncovering Provence's unique and hidden treasures, sharing an intimate and authentic experience of its beauty, culture, and history with her clients.
Raina, along with her husband, Denis, run the artist-in-residence program from their private villa, providing a peaceful and inspiring retreat for creatives to immerse themselves in their work. Through her photography, teaching, and residency program, Raina fosters a space where artistry and inspiration can thrive.
There are many surrounding villages, markets, restaurants, museums, art galleries, historic chateaus, ruins, hiking and biking trails, and beautiful countryside to explore and be inspired
Here is a taste of the stunning locations in our area
Testimonials
“My time at La Fontaine Artist in Residency was so helpful for my development as an artist. As a later-in-life beginning artist, it is hard to find the time away from work and kids to slow down and see. During my time I was able to really step out of go-mode and take the time to look, sketch, paint, and learn my medium in a deeper way. Time on the property was quiet and contemplative, with loads of walking/hiking options nearby, including a couple of lovely villages. Dozens more incredibly charming villages are within a 30-minute drive, and Raina was so helpful in directing us to places we enjoyed.
The apartment (gite) itself is adorably decorated and very comfortable. Personal touches, hand-selected antiques, and Raina's beautiful photography make the space both functional and a pleasure to be in. It is a great place to disengage from a too-busy life and dig into one's art practice."
Shannon Marie, Oregon USA
I had a truly fabulous experience with Raina!! She is a very gifted photographer and instructor. Raina is very skilled at teaching the nuances that make a great photograph and has a calm, beautiful way of empowering her students.
There were many things that stood out about Raina's photography sessions. I loved the fact that Raina uses mindfulness at the root of how she teaches. By being mindful and noticing how you are seeing things creates an entirely new way to photograph. Raina is an absolute pleasure to be with! She is fun, warm, caring, and instructs in the most helpful of ways. Raina knows which environments create the best photos. To learn by walking in her footsteps was priceless. I would never have learned as much as I did or enjoyed myself as much as I did if it weren't for Raina.
My time with Raina was so inspiring and rewarding. I left transformed and uplifted and now have fabulous photos from our experience together. I can't wait for my next course and residencey with Raina!
Phyllis Brock
California, USA
I had the privilege of staying in Raina's Gite for an artist residency, and absolutely loved it. The gite is lovely. As a photographer, it was extremely helpful to have Raina's help with location suggestions and connections to models. I had a truly wonderful time in Provence, and can't wait to come back!"
Fritz Liedtke , Oregon, USA