Lyon and Avignon Baking Retreat 2025

October 28–November 4, 2025

Single: $9,500 (1 baker/1 hotel room)

Double: $8,000 each (2 bakers in 1 shared hotel room)

Baking participant plus non-baking guest: $11,500 (1 baker/1 non-baking guest/1 hotel room)

From the lively city of Lyon, known for its boucheries and Lyonnaise specialties, to the charming Provençal streets of Avignon, this retreat is ideal for exploring two beautiful regions of France. We’ll bake pink praline-studded brioche, Tarte aux Prâlines Roses, and profiteroles in Lyon plus a goat cheese and olive loaf, savory tarte Tatin, madeleines, and clafoutis in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. In addition to baking, we’ll shop the weekly brocantes in Villeneuve across the river from Avignon and the picturesque town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. At these famous brocantes in the south of France, we’ll help you shop for unique finds such as antique copper and ironstone.

This retreat is limited to 20 guests and features one-of-a-kind experiences for bakers who love to learn, travel, and connect with other like-minded people.

Each registered baking attendee will receive a one-year subscription to Bake from Scratch. If you’re already a subscriber, you have the option of extending your subscription or gifting it to someone who loves baking.

Single

What’s Included

7 hotel nights in five-star accommodations
4 hands-on baking and cooking classes
2 brocante shopping experiences
Welcome reception, breakfast daily, group cooking class and wine tasting, and some lunches
Transportation to and from scheduled retreat events
Transportation from Lyon to Avignon
One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items

What’s Not Included

Airfare/travel to and from Lyon and Avignon
Airport transfers
Some meals

Double

What’s Included

7 hotel nights in five-star accommodations
4 hands-on baking and cooking classes
2 brocante shopping experiences
Welcome reception, breakfast daily, group cooking class and wine tasting, and some lunches
Transportation to and from scheduled retreat events
Transportation from Lyon to Avignon
One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
Gift bag with some of our favorite baking items

What’s Not Included

Airfare/travel to and from Lyon and Avignon
Airport transfers
Some meals

Baking Participant Plus Non-Baking Guest

What’s Included

7 hotel nights in five-star accommodations
2 brocante shopping experiences
Welcome reception, breakfast daily, and group cooking class and wine tasting
Transportation from Lyon to Avignon

What’s Not Included

Airfare/travel to and from Lyon and Avignon
Airport transfers to/from hotels
Some meals
Baking classes
One-year subscription to Bake from Scratch
Gift bag with some of our favorite things

Have a question about this baking retreat? Contact us.

October 28–November 4, 2025

Tuesday, October 28

Arrive in Lyon, France, and get settled into the Boscolo Lyon Hotel & Spa, a five-star hotel located steps away from Place Bellecour, the Vieux Lyon district, and the Basilique de Fourvière. We’ll have an early evening welcome reception at the hotel so you can meet our team and your fellow bakers. Enjoy the evening on your own to rest or explore the city.

Wednesday, October 29

For the day’s activities, we’ll divide into two groups of bakers. The first group will head to Plum Lyon, where Lucy Vanel will lead a class that focuses on the Lyonnaise pink praline. Learn to hand-knead praline-studded brioche and craft a beautiful Tarte aux Prâlines Roses. The other group will visit the storied Halles de Lyon de Paul Bocuse food market with local chef Thierry Rodolphe before preparing lunch and profiteroles as a group in his lovely Old Town kitchen.

Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own.

Thursday, October 30

For the day’s activities, we’ll divide into two groups of bakers. You will participate in the baking class that you didn’t the day before.

Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own.

Friday, October 31

Enjoy the morning on your own in Lyon before departing for Avignon. Upon arrival in Avignon, we’ll check into the fabulous Hôtel La Mirande. In the evening, we’ll gather for a wine tasting and dinner cooking class at the hotel’s Le Marmiton cooking school.

Saturday, November 1

Visit Villeneuve, just across the river from Avignon, for their weekly Saturday brocante, where we’ll hunt for vintage copper and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own.

Sunday, November 2

We’ll head to the beautiful village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for their Sunday brocante and Provençal market.

For the afternoon, we’ll break into two groups. One group can continue shopping the permanent antique stalls in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or travel to the nearby town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The other group will spend the afternoon at La Cuisine Provençale, where we’ll bake a goat cheese and olive loaf, savory tarte Tatin, almond-honey madeleines, and a seasonal clafoutis. We’ll toast a fabulous day in the kitchen over a late afternoon lunch.

(Bakers can choose to bake on Sunday or Monday. Accommodations will be made on a first-come–first-serve basis according to the order in which we receive reservations.)

Enjoy the evening on your own.

Monday, November 3

For the day’s activities, we’ll split into two groups. The group that didn’t bake on Sunday will bake today. Those who don’t bake can enjoy the day in Avignon or Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own.

Tuesday, November 4

Departures on your own.

Details

Where We’ll Stay

The Boscolo Lyon Hotel & Spa is a five-star hotel located steps away from Place Bellecour, the Vieux Lyon district, and the Basilique de Fourvière.

Hôtel La Mirande is located within the walled city of Avignon, has views of the Papal Palace, and was originally the palace of a 14th-century cardinal. This historic property has only 26 rooms and suites and is filled with stunning antiques and French textiles.

Travel to and from Lyon and Avignon

The retreat will begin in Lyon and finish in Avignon, France. We recommend booking a multicity flight that arrives into Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) and departs from Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). You can also book a roundtrip flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and train to Lyon and back to Paris from Avignon.

Guests are responsible for getting themselves to Lyon and to the Boscolo Lyon Hotel & Spa when the retreat commences. Upon the close of the retreat in Avignon, guests are responsible for getting themselves from Avignon to the airport, train station, or their next destination.

The Bake from Scratch team is at your disposal to help you navigate travel. Email events@bakefromscratch.com for assistance.

Booking

Half of the retreat cost (50%) is due within 48 hours along with a signed travel waiver and cancellation policy acknowledgment to secure your reservation. The second half of the retreat cost (50%) is due May 15, 2025. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Costs

The price of the trip includes all hotel accommodations, all baking classes, some meals, all scheduled retreat activities, transit from Lyon to Avignon, and transit to/from scheduled retreat activities. Single-occupancy, double-occupancy, and baking participant plus non-baking guest rates are available.

Your credit card will be charged by Hoffman Media, the parent company of Bake from Scratch.

Cancellation

Since the trip is nonrefundable, we suggest buying trip insurance.

If you don’t purchase travel insurance, you agree to indemnify us against any charges that might otherwise be covered by your insurance. You further agree that we are not responsible for any costs of cancellation or costs related to travel interruptions or COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, there may be limitations relating to activities. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result of changing circumstances. Please know that we are working closely with our partners to plan and execute a safe baking retreat for our guests, but there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 when traveling. By booking this baking retreat, you acknowledge and assume these risks associated with travel.

We reserve the right to cancel this retreat if fewer than 20 participants have signed up by September 1, 2025. We will send an email confirmation to all participants when this number has been met. If Bake from Scratch initiates the cancellation, we will refund all payments.

Have a question about this baking retreat? Email events@bakefromscratch.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What airport do I fly into?

We recommend booking a multicity flight that arrives into Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) and departs from Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). Marseilles airport is an hour drive from Avignon. The hotel can book a taxi or car transfer for you. You can also book a roundtrip flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and train to Lyon and back to Paris from Avignon.

Can I extend my stay at the hotels?

If you’d like to inquire about additional nights in Lyon or Avignon, email events@bakefromscratch.com. Some guests like to book a room for the night before their arrival, so it is ready after all-night flights from the US. We can make requests for early check-ins but cannot guarantee your room will be ready before the official hotel check-in time.

Is breakfast included?

Daily breakfast is included.

Are children able to attend this retreat?

All participants must be 18 years old or older to attend this baking retreat.

What should I plan to wear during baking classes and on the retreat?

For baking classes, activities, and travel, the dress is smart casual. Sneakers are recommended for standing in baking classes and walking on cobblestone streets. In France and around Europe, athletic wear is not frequently worn.

Are the baking classes hands-on?

Yes, all baking classes are hands-on.

If I book a double-occupancy package, will the hotel room have two beds?

Due to the uniqueness and European charm of the hotels, double-occupancy rooms do not have two beds. If you are traveling with a friend or adult child, you can request two sets of linens on one bed.

Is this retreat better suited for professionals or home bakers?

Our retreats are geared toward passionate home bakers, but professionals are always welcome. Whether you’re a beginning baker or someone who’s been baking for years, our baking classes and culinary experiences offer immersion into local baking cultures, so there’s always something everyone can learn.

Will we have any free time?

You will have some free time in Lyon and Avignon to explore on your own. We will equip you with our list of favorite restaurants and activities.

I want to bring my travel companion, but they don’t want to participate in the baking classes. What can they do?

We offer a baking participant plus non-baking guest package for this very reason! This package allows you to bake and participate in all retreat activities while your travel companion explores on their own. As a part of this package, hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, welcome reception, group cooking class and wine tasting, and transportation to Avignon from Lyon is included for your non-baking companion.

To reserve your space, email events@bakefromscratch.com. You will be required to pay your deposit within 48 hours and sign a travel waiver and acknowledgement of cancellation policy via Adobe Sign. Reservations will be taken in the order in which we receive emails.