TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CHÂTEAU AVENSAC
Experience & Retreat Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy
Effective Date: November 1st 2026
This Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy applies to retreats, workshops, courses, artist-led experiences, culinary experiences and other multi-day programs ("Experience" or "Experiences") organized by “Château Avensac," "we," "us" or "our”.
Our Experiences are intentionally limited in size and require substantial advance planning. Château Avensac may commit to accommodations, featured artists or instructors, staff, meals, materials, transportation, entertainment and other services well in advance of an Experience.
For this reason, reservations are subject to the following payment and cancellation terms.
1. RESERVATIONS
A reservation is confirmed only when Château Avensac has:
accepted the guest's reservation;
received the required initial payment; and
provided written confirmation of the reservation.
Availability shown before confirmation does not constitute a guaranteed reservation.
Unless otherwise stated for a particular Experience, reservations are made for a specific Experience and specific dates.
2. PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Unless different terms are stated for a particular Experience, the total price will be payable as follows:
30% — At the time of booking
An initial payment equal to 30% of the total reservation price is required to confirm the reservation and secure the guest's place.
30% — 120 days before arrival
A second payment equal to 30% of the total reservation price is due 120 days before the scheduled arrival date.
40% — 60 days before arrival
The remaining balance of 40% is due 60 days before the scheduled arrival date.
Reservations made fewer than 120 days before arrival will require payment of all installments that would already have become due under the above schedule.
Reservations made 60 days or fewer before arrival require payment in full at the time of booking.
All amounts paid are credited toward the total price of the Experience.
Where applicable, payments are made as acomptes toward a firm reservation and not merely as arrhes, subject to the specific booking agreement and applicable French law.
3. FAILURE TO MAKE A SCHEDULED PAYMENT
It is the guest's responsibility to ensure that payments are made by the required dates.
If a scheduled payment is not received when due, Château Avensac may contact the guest and provide a reasonable opportunity to bring the reservation current.
If payment remains outstanding, Château Avensac reserves the right to treat the reservation as cancelled by the guest and to release the reserved place.
Any amounts already paid will then be handled according to the cancellation terms applicable on the date the reservation is cancelled.
4. CANCELLATION BY THE GUEST
All cancellations must be submitted to Château Avensac in writing.
Unless different cancellation terms are expressly stated for a particular Experience, refunds will be calculated according to the date Château Avensac receives written notice of cancellation:
More than 180 days before arrival:
Amounts paid will be refunded, less an administrative fee of €250 per guest.
121–180 days before arrival:
70% of amounts paid will be refunded.
61–120 days before arrival:
40% of amounts paid will be refunded.
60 days or fewer before arrival:
No refund will be provided.
Refunds, when due, will be returned using the original payment method whenever reasonably possible.
Any banking, currency conversion or payment-processing charges that are not recoverable by Château Avensac may be deducted from the refund to the extent permitted by applicable law.
5. TRANSFER OF A RESERVATION TO ANOTHER GUEST
We understand that circumstances can change.
Rather than cancelling, a guest may request permission to transfer their reservation to another person.
Transfer requests must normally be received at least 30 days before arrival and are subject to written approval by Château Avensac.
The replacement guest must accept the applicable booking terms and provide all information reasonably required for participation in the Experience.
Château Avensac may charge the original guest for reasonable administrative costs or actual additional costs resulting from the transfer.
A reservation may not be transferred for commercial resale or at a price greater than the amount originally paid without the written permission of Château Avensac.
6. TRAVEL AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Château Avensac strongly recommends that every guest purchase comprehensive travel insurance immediately after making a reservation.
Guests should consider insurance covering, as appropriate:
trip cancellation and interruption;
illness or injury;
family emergencies;
transportation disruption;
missed or cancelled flights or trains;
lost or delayed baggage; and
other circumstances that may prevent attendance.
The Château Avensac cancellation policy will normally apply regardless of the reason for a guest's cancellation, except where applicable law requires otherwise.
Guests are therefore encouraged to obtain insurance sufficient to cover the full value of their reservation, travel arrangements and other non-refundable expenses.
7. FAILURE TO ATTEND, LATE ARRIVAL, EARLY DEPARTURE
No refund will normally be provided for:
failure to attend the Experience;
late arrival;
early departure;
missed activities;
voluntary non-participation in activities;
transportation delays affecting a guest's arrival; or
unused accommodations, meals or services included in the Experience.
This provision does not limit any rights the guest may have under mandatory applicable law.
8. FEATURED GUEST ARTISTS, INSTRUCTORS & PRESENTERS
Certain Château Avensac Experiences are organized around a featured artist, instructor, chef, designer, lecturer or other presenter ("Featured Guest Artist").
The identity of the Featured Guest Artist may be an important element of the Experience.
If a Featured Artist becomes unable to participate because of illness, injury, travel disruption, personal emergency, force majeure or another circumstance outside Château Avensac's reasonable control, Château Avensac will make reasonable efforts to determine an appropriate solution.
Depending upon the circumstances, Château Avensac may:
appoint a substitute artist, instructor or presenter of reasonably comparable experience or standing;
modify the program;
reschedule the Experience;
provide an appropriate credit; or
cancel the Experience and provide the refund required under Section 10 below and applicable law.
Where the identity of a particular Featured Artist has been expressly presented as an essential characteristic of the Experience, Château Avensac will take this into account when determining whether substitution is appropriate.
Minor changes to the program, schedule or individual activities do not ordinarily constitute cancellation of the Experience.
9. CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM
The nature of a château Experience sometimes requires flexibility.
Château Avensac therefore reserves the right to make reasonable changes to schedules, meals, activities, excursions, instructors, transportation arrangements, locations within the property and other elements of an Experience when reasonably necessary.
Such changes may be made because of weather, availability, safety, operational requirements, historic-building restrictions, requirements imposed by public authorities or other circumstances.
Château Avensac will endeavor to preserve the overall character, quality and value of the Experience.
A minor or reasonable program change does not entitle a guest to cancel without charge or receive a refund.
10. CANCELLATION BY CHÂTEAU AVENSAC
In the unusual event that Château Avensac cancels an entire Experience and does not provide an appropriate replacement or rescheduled Experience, guests will receive a refund of amounts paid to Château Avensac for the cancelled Experience, subject to applicable law.
Unless required by applicable law, Château Avensac is not responsible for independently purchased airfare, rail tickets, rental vehicles, hotels, insurance, visas or other expenses incurred by a guest outside the amounts paid directly to Château Avensac.
This is another reason we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance.
11. MINIMUM PARTICIPATION
Certain Experiences may require a minimum number of paying participants in order to proceed.
Where a minimum participation requirement applies, it will be stated in the description or booking materials for the Experience.
If the minimum participation requirement is not reached, Château Avensac may cancel the Experience within the time permitted by applicable law.
If Château Avensac cancels for this reason, guests will receive a full refund of amounts paid to Château Avensac for the Experience.
Guests should therefore avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until any applicable minimum participation requirement has been satisfied or should ensure that such arrangements are adequately insured.
12. FORCE MAJEURE & EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
Events may occasionally occur that are outside the reasonable control of Château Avensac.
These may include, where applicable, natural disasters, severe weather, fire, flood, epidemic or pandemic restrictions, war, terrorism, civil disturbance, government action, transportation disruption, utility failure or other extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances.
The rights and obligations of Château Avensac and the guest in such circumstances will be determined in accordance with the booking agreement and applicable French and European law.
Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude or restrict rights that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.
13. ACCOMMODATION
Where accommodation at Château Avensac is included in the Experience price, accommodation is provided for the dates specified in the reservation.
Room assignments may be made by Château Avensac according to availability, accessibility requirements, occupancy, operational considerations and the nature of the Experience.
Unless a particular room has been expressly guaranteed in writing, photographs or descriptions of rooms are illustrative and do not guarantee assignment to a particular bedroom.
14. DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY
Château Avensac is a historic property containing antique furniture, artwork, architectural features and other fragile or irreplaceable objects.
Guests are expected to treat the château, its grounds, furnishings and contents with appropriate care.
A routine security deposit is not normally required for guests attending a Château Avensac Experience.
However, guests may be held responsible, to the extent permitted by law, for significant damage or loss caused intentionally, through negligence, or through inappropriate conduct by the guest or a person for whom the guest is responsible.
Normal wear and tear, accidental minor breakage and the ordinary consequences of reasonable use will not normally result in a charge.
15. INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED SERVICES
Each Experience will have its own description identifying what is included in the price.
Unless expressly included in the Experience description, the price does not normally include transportation to or from Château Avensac, airfare, rail travel, personal purchases, travel insurance, medical expenses or other personal expenses.
Guests should review the specific Experience description before booking.
If there is a conflict between this general policy and written terms specifically issued for a particular Experience, the specific terms will prevail to the extent of that conflict, subject to applicable law.
16. PAYMENT METHODS AND CURRENCY
Prices will normally be stated and charged in euros (€).
Château Avensac may accept payment by credit or debit card, bank transfer or other payment methods indicated during the booking process.
Guests making payments from accounts denominated in another currency are responsible for any currency conversion charges or foreign transaction fees imposed by their bank, card issuer or payment provider.
17. CONDUCT AND SAFETY
Guests are expected to behave in a manner respectful of other guests, Château Avensac personnel, Featured Guest Artists, neighboring residents and the historic property.
Château Avensac reserves the right to require a guest to leave an Experience where the guest's conduct presents a serious safety concern, causes substantial disruption, threatens or harasses another person, or creates a serious risk of damage to the property.
Where a guest is required to leave for such serious misconduct, no refund will normally be provided for the unused portion of the Experience, subject to applicable law.
18. ACCESSIBILITY & PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Château Avensac is a historic property and some portions of the buildings, grounds or activities may have physical-access limitations.
Guests with accessibility requirements, dietary requirements or other needs that may affect participation are encouraged to contact Château Avensac before booking or as early as reasonably possible.
We will make reasonable efforts to explain the nature of the Experience and accommodate reasonable requirements where possible.
19. CONSUMER RIGHTS
Nothing in this policy is intended to waive or limit any mandatory consumer rights available under French or European Union law.
Where an Experience constitutes a forfait touristique, prestation de voyage liée or another regulated travel service under the French Code du tourisme, any mandatory statutory provisions applicable to that Experience will take precedence over inconsistent provisions of this policy.
Likewise, any statutory cancellation, information, reimbursement or other consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded remain unaffected.
20. ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS
By completing a reservation and making the required initial payment, the guest confirms that they have been provided with and accept:
the description and price of the Experience;
the applicable payment schedule;
this Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy;
any specific conditions applicable to the Experience; and
any additional booking terms provided before confirmation.
Guests should retain a copy of these documents for their records.
21. GOVERNING LAW
Reservations and this policy are governed by French law.
Any mandatory rights concerning jurisdiction, mediation or dispute resolution available to consumers under French or European Union law remain unaffected.
22. CONTACT
Questions, payment notices, cancellation requests and transfer requests should be submitted in writing to:
Château Avensac
2 rue du Château
32120, Avensac France
In France +33 7 49 61 45 05, from the US (707) 494-7039
Email: mark@chateauavensac.com
Website: www.atthechateau.com
SUMMARY OF STANDARD PAYMENT TERMS
30% at booking — Reservation confirmed
30% 120 days before arrival
40% 60 days before arrival — Final balance
STANDARD CANCELLATION SCHEDULE
More than 180 days: Full Refund of funds paid less €250 administrative fee
121–180 days: 70% refund of funds paid
61–120 days: 40% refund of funds paid
60 days or fewer: Non-refundable
Reservation transfer: Normally permitted, with Château Avensac's approval, until 30 days before arrival
Travel insurance: Strongly recommended