A Marie Antoinette Dream Come True: Our Baking Retreat with Reece Hignell

Loire Valley, May 2026

There are retreats where everything comes together so perfectly that nobody wants to leave... Our Baking Retreat with Reece Hignell aka Cakeboi was exactly that.

The Loire Valley welcomed us with its usual generosity... and its usual heatwave! At this point we're convinced the sun follows us every time we host a retreat here.

What made this retreat truly magical was the people. We welcomed guests from all over the world, including a very special returning guest, Mickey, joining us for her second Madame Voyage retreat. We had a sister duo, a husband-and-wife team, former colleagues travelling together, solo travellers and new friendships forming from day one. Within hours, it felt less like a group tour and more like a family reunion.

The château pool quickly became headquarters for afternoon swims, laughter and countless glasses of Champagne. Reece may or may not have been responsible for ensuring Champagne was flowing all week long!

Of course, there was plenty to discover beyond the château walls. We explored the breathtaking Château de Chenonceau, wandered through one of the Loire Valley's most iconic landmarks, enjoyed an in-depth wine tasting paired with local cheeses, shared incredible lunches, joined gourmet food tours, and even cruised along the river on a beautiful boat tour.

And then there was the baking! Reece's classes were everything we hoped they would be: fun, generous, educational and so much fun.

Guests baked, learned, decorated, tasted and created throughout the week while our incredible private chef Dalila spoiled us with outstanding meals that received nothing but 5 stars compliments.

There was also one very serious competition unfolding all week...Who would get to sleep with the château cats.

Yep, the cats became celebrities in their own right.

But nothing could have prepared our guests for the final evening. In what was undoubtedly the biggest surprise Madame Voyage has ever organised, we transformed the château grounds into a Marie Antoinette dream.

Guests were gifted elaborate period costumes, accessories and wigs. We sourced antique-style tea cups, glassware and table settings. A live violin and bass duo performed as guests stepped outside to discover a magnificent high tea featuring the beautiful cakes they had created throughout the week.

The reaction was unforgettable. There were gasps. There were tears. There were many cameras. And there were moments where we simply stood back and watched the magic happen.

Seeing our guests dressed as French aristocracy, surrounded by music, Champagne and cakes in the gardens of a Loire Valley château felt like stepping into another century. It was one of those evenings none of us will ever forget.

A huge thank you to Reece for bringing his incredible energy, humour and generosity throughout the week. Thank you also to Renee and Dene for their invaluable support behind the scenes. And most importantly, thank you to our wonderful guests for embracing every moment, every costume, every glass of Champagne and every bit of French fantasy we threw your way.

You didn't just attend a baking retreat. You became part of our story. Merci, and until next time.

More photos from our magnifique week