French Alps 2026 Painting Holiday with Sebastian Thommen

May 19-25, 2026

You are invited to a painting holiday in the French Alps featuring 5 art classes taught by Irish urban sketcher, Sebastian Thommen. This vacation package is equal parts cultural experience and art workshop. The medieval town of Annecy (pronounced un-see) will be our home for an exciting week of workshops and touring four castles and the French Alps! Annecy is known as “the Venice of France" because of the small canals and streams that meander through town and the many charming bridges used to cross them. Together our small group of 10-15 participants will paint the Alps, visit castles, taste local French food and wine and more! We are looking forward to making art in good company. Average temperatures for that week in May are highs of 69°F (21°C) and overnight lows of 49°F (10°C)--perfect for a lovely painting holiday!

Learn more about the Haute-Savoie region:

Meet your Instructor Sebastian Thommen

Irish urban sketcher and watercolour painter, Sebastian Thommen has been painting in watercolour since his early teens but as an adult he pursued a career as a theatre and film actor. In recent years, he took up painting professionally and, in 2023, was awarded the Silver Award and the Artists Choice Award in the Art in The Open International Plein Air Festival in Wexford.

To learn more about Sebastian watch THIS INTERVIEW.

Warm up Sketch + Welcome Reception

Tuesday May 19, 2026

We recommend that participants arrive a day or two early so that you have time to get over jetlag and to acclimatize to your new environment. Workshop participants who are on hand on Tuesday May 19, the day before the start of our workshop, are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). Sebastian will not be teaching. This is just your chance to do a warm up sketch before the first art class.

All ticket holders (workshop participants and nonPainter companions) are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.

Below is our proposed itinerary.

Day 1--Tour a Castle, Explore a Gorge + Workshop #1

Wednesday May 20, 2026

Today we will take a panoramic bus to tour Chateau Montrottier, a fairytale palace built in the 13th and 14th centuries and then we will visit the nearby Gorges du Fier, with its 252m long footbridge, suspended 25m above the river.

In the afternoon we will explore old Annecy with its many charming bridges that cross the Le Thiou River on our way to Workshop #1.

Day 2--Tour a Château + Workshop #2

Thursday May 21, 2026

Today we will tour Château d'Annecy. From its strategic position on a hill, Château d’Annecy watches over the comings and goings of this town. Originally built between the 12th and 16th centuries, it served as the residence for the Counts of Geneva. With walls measuring up to 4 meters thick in places, it is a blend of medieval defensive structures and Renaissance elegance.

Here Sebastian will teach Workshop #2.

Day 3--Full day excursion to Chamonix + Workshop #3

Friday May 22, 2026

Today we will travel by private coach to Chamonix (pronounced sha-muh-nee) high in the French Alps. In summer the sun is shining, the window boxes are overflowing and the air is crisp and clean. Here Sebastian will teach Workshop #3. After lunch we will explore the town, take lots of pictures, shop and relax.

Day 4--Visit Sleeping Beauty's Castle + Workshop #4

Saturday May 23, 2026

Today we will visit the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle. This castle has been occupied by the same family for 23 generations--almost 1000 years! After our visit, Sebastian will teach Workshop #4.

Day 5--Tour a Chateau/Ancient Prison + Workshop #4

Sunday May 24, 2026

Everywhere we look there is a story to tell in this charming medieval town that we will capture in our paintings during Workshop #4.

After lunch we will take a tour of the iconic Palais de l'Île, that is located in the middle of Le Thiou River. Its prow-shaped quadrangle splits the river into two parts. Inside the high walls prisoners once languished. It also served as a gold and silver minting workshop and a courthouse. We will wander the maze of cells ducking under the low doorframes.

In the evening we will celebrate a wonderful week with a delicious farewell dinner (included).

Departure

Monday May 25, 2026

It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday!

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Recommended Workshop Supply List

In this workshop Sebastian will be using the following materials but feel free to substitute with the materials you already have. To see the supply list click here

Pedestrian Friendly?

Annecy is pedestrian friendly and fairly flat but there is a hill that leads to the Château d'Annecy that we will need to climb. There are some cobbled and some paved streets. Participants must be able to walk up to 20 minutes and manage going uphill.

FAQs

Click HERE for answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information about the workshops content contact Sebastian at seb@sebastianthommen.com.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

A wine & cheese welcome reception
All art classes
Admission to the museums and sites mentioned
ground transportation to the sites mentioned
Full-day excursion to Chamonix
Farewell dinner

Tour Excludes

Flights to/from the area
Hotel
airport pick-up and drop-off
Meals (except those listed above)
Painting supplies
City taxes payable by guest at check out
Tips and gratuities
Porterage/luggage handling
Travel insurance
Expenses of a personal nature
Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Early Bird Prices in USD

Book now before Dec 21, 2025 and save $200USD!

USD$2099. $1899.USD Workshop Participant

USD$1499. NonPainter Companion (such as partner or travelling buddy)

Deposit deadline Dec 21, 2025.

NonPainter Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.

To reserve your spot in this workshop a $500 nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300 nonrefundable deposit is required for nonPainter Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop. The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, Jan 20, 2026.

To make a deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.

Our Refund Policy

Please read our REFUND POLICY.

How to Get There

Geneva-Cointrin International Airport is the closest international airport to Annecy. It is located 48 km away. There are train and bus connections to Annecy from the airport. From the airport you can catch a bus right outside the airport entrance 5x/day. There are several bus companies running this route (Flix Bus and BlaBlaCar Bus) with varying prices (between 9€ to 19€ one way). Choose a bus company based on it's connection to your arrival time.

The hotel in Annecy is 5 blocks from the train/bus station and a very easy 9-minute walk or you could take a taxi.

Accommodations

The Instructor and Tour Manager will be staying at 4-star hotel in Annecy, France. The room rate is 255€/night + tax including breakfast depending on room type. Information about this hotel will be sent to participants after they have registered for the workshop.

If you are travelling alone and wish to share a room, please email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com and we will try to find a roommate for you among the participants.

Workshop participants are not obliged to stay in this hotel. There are lots of hotels and Airbnbs nearby for you to choose from if you prefer.

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

Before you make a hotel reservation, click the blue BOOK NOW button below to ensure you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop, you will be sent information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations in this workshop for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing travel insurance. Click HERE for a list of US travel insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card.

Travel Tips

Please click HERE for Studio 56 Travel tips.

Your Tour Manager

Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea (lived there for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE.

For More Information

Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.

How to Register for this Workshop

To guarantee your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, participants must pay a deposit by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.