Camp Chateau reinvents summer camp for women of all ages and identities

Inside a rich, tranquil, transformative summer camp created by and for women.

We all know that summer camp is an exciting and fun-filled time for children that offers recreational and social activities and adventures during the summer months. It is a formative time where kids make friends, develop new skills, recharge, and excel in a safe environment. We all agree that it’s entertaining and enriching and offers abundant opportunities to make wonderful lifelong memories. Wouldn’t it be great if such a camp existed for grownups? Especially for women — traditionally the gender that devotes much of their time and energy to nurturing others.

Well, such a camp now exists, and it’s a reinvention of the best of summer camp — with several sophisticated additions. It’s called Camp Château, and it’s an all-inclusive adult camp experience in the South of France that is designed exclusively for women to rest, relax, and rejuvenate — in the company of like-minded women.

This past August, I was delighted to experience Camp Château for myself after the concept, which is now in its second year, went viral (the last time I checked, it was booked to capacity). Here’s what I experienced during my stay and why I think Camp Château is a perfect seasonal adventure for queer women and their friends.   

Camp location

Camp Château takes place at Château de Béduer (pronounced bed-a-way) in southwest France in the picturesque and historic Quercy region — one of the last remaining unspoiled areas of France. The majestic Château de Béduer sits high on a hill overlooking the Lot Valley and the River Célé. This premiere location offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and farmland, which is so underdeveloped that you feel transported to a distant and less complicated moment in time. From this dress circle vantage point, the world below seems serene and green, and a spectacular sunrise greets you each day. It’s impossible not to feel on top of the world in such a location. 

The Château is a feudal castle built on a grand scale and acreage and filled to the brim with gorgeous antiques. Construction of the Château began in the 13th Century in the Romanesque style and continued through the 17th Century. Since this is a defensive structure that later became a grand residence, the front of the building has a beautiful embossed entrance with slots that carried chains to let down the drawbridge over a dry moat. The façade was classified as a monument historique in 1973, and you will love the two gorgeous stone lions that greet you upon arrival. 

The keep (the 25-meter-high rectangular tower) dates back to 1204, and the main building, with its two-meter-thick outer walls, displays clear medieval origins. Inside, the castle boasts three main rooms furnished with antiques, plus the Grande Salle, a large kitchen, several smaller private rooms, nine bedrooms, and seven bathrooms. La Grande Salle, which is the main hall, has a 15th-century chimney, a 17th-century painted ceiling, and a huge 19th-century Venetian chandelier. This is where campers enjoy dinner, announcements, and select activities. The nine bedrooms have been furnished to accommodate several campers at once in a dormitory environment — and a luxe, historic version at that! 

The Château features a large courtyard and terrace with stunning views, and this is where you will enjoy your breakfasts, perhaps some yoga, and pre-dinner drinks. Off the courtyard are spaces where classes are held. The castle itself sits within a walled, partly wooded park with a lawn, acres of meadows, rose gardens, fruit trees, and a large swimming pool. It is on the edge of the meadowland that glamping tents sit as an alternate form of accommodation to the Château Bunk bedrooms.

Who runs Camp Château

The Camp is the brainchild of Philippa Girling (who has a background in global finance) and two other co-founders, Lynda Coleman and Leah Lykins. Over 100 female founding members, whose stories you can read about here, make the venture viable.

Onsite, Philippa is joined by her hardworking and brilliant offspring, author/writing instructor Holly Girling, and nonbinary artist/Camp Director Tegwen Evans. Together, these three provide a visible and warm presence during your stay and approach all tasks with intelligence, commitment, good humor, and joy. They are joined by a team of camp counselors and instructors—shoutouts to Assistant Camp Director Angie and Resident Assistant Valerie, who are both rays of sunshine. 

Camp activities

While at Camp, you can do as much or as little as you like. But even if you are feeling lazy, you’ll likely want to stack your schedule to take in the abundance of offerings — all of them fun, engaging, and educational. At Camp Château, you can challenge yourself by kayaking on the River Célé, horseback riding in the hills, hiking, creative writing, making ceramics, aromatherapy, or using key watercolor techniques. But even if you choose more languorous activities such as wine tasting, lavender picking, or lazing by the pool, the odds are that you will experience moments of reflection, transcendence, or deep conversations with a stranger, acquaintance, or friend. Best of all, for every activity you take up, you receive a beautifully designed Summer Camp patch to remind you of your activity, whether it be accomplished or indolent. 

During my Camp session, I enjoyed spontaneous and surprising activities, such as meditative walking (without speaking or taking photos), dancing like no one was watching, more dancing and beer drinking at a local summer festival, plus pool parties, picnic lunches in the Hall of Trees, and conversations with women from all around the US and Europe about everything under the sun.  

Who attends Camp Château

A Camp in a historic château in southwest France has very little chance of not attracting interesting and discerning people. What really made my week away special was the women themselves. They had come from all over North America and Europe, introverts, extroverts, and in-between.

I met and mingled with women ranging in age from their twenties to their seventies. They were straight, queer, and bi. They were married or single, mothers and even grandmothers.

They were women of science, faith, education, medicine, and commerce. Some were marking milestones such as birthdays, breakups, a career change, or their friend group. I met a young woman celebrating the completion of her Masters degree. I met an older woman marking the beginning of cancer treatment and another who was getting over the death of her spouse. I met a mother-daughter duo spending their first quality time together since Covid. I met twins rekindling their bond after living in separate states. I befriended a lesbian couple who wanted to be with each other — around other women. At least one woman was taking precious ‘me’ time after a year of nurturing others. Most women had taken time out from their families, friends, and partners to attend Camp solo. Everyone had their reasons for booking, and I was pleased to learn that this reason was almost always theirs. When you think about summer, it’s the season to take a break from the quotidian routine and rejuvenate. When you think about camp, it’s a program that encourages you to be more like yourself with others — rather than being less like yourself for the sake of others, which is a gender trap. From the minute I met a handful of fascinating and accepting women onboard my shuttle from Toulouse to Béduer, I knew I’d be in for the time of my life.

In addition to the guests themselves, the Camp instructors are terrific: talented, sensitive, encouraging, and most of all, fun. You’ll find Camp Director Tegwen keeping everything on track, communicating clearly and with care, and doing double duty as an inspiring art teacher.

Is it LGBTQ+ friendly?

Yes. Since its inception, Camp Château has welcomed founders, campers, counselors, and staff from our community and is inviting more. Camp Château was founded by women who openly support the LGBTQIA+ community. The charter states that trans women are women. Management is also planning additional camps focused on full gender inclusivity. As mentioned in this article, Camp Director Tegwen is nonbinary, and so is sous-chef, Chef Six. While there is no rainbow flag flying from the tower, you will very likely be chatting to staff of any gender or sector of the LGBTQ+ community; or to a camper who is queer, bisexual, or polyamorous. And you may be chatting to that mom from the Midwest, and she’ll tell you that one of her kids is queer or transgender. I experienced all of these scenarios during my stay. Acceptance is a two-way street, and it’s important to remember that, as with any type of sleepaway camp, you will be in close quarters in the evenings while having 20 acres to roam freely throughout the day.

Should I bring someone?

I traveled solo, which had its benefits for an experience that I wished to be restorative and reorienting. Alone, in the group, I was free to do as I pleased and to connect with people without deferring to a friend, relative, or partner. It would have been a different experience if I had brought someone, and arguably, I wouldn’t have felt as spontaneous and indulgent if I had. However, it’s an experience that, next time round, I’d love to share with someone close to me.

Food and drink 

Summer camp food is often considered less than stellar because it is made on a budget and is repetitive, sometimes unhealthy, and designed for a group. But Camp Château is very different — as you might expect for a venture by and for women. The Chateau has its own dedicated chefs and a menu that changes daily and draws its fresh produce from the abundant local providores and market. On Saturday mornings, as per European tradition, the nearby picturesque river town of Figeac wakes up to a colorful market teeming with fresh fruit and vegetables, quiches, spices, breads, seafood, olives, cheeses and more! A local institution, Figeac Market Day is offered as one of your activities, and its products may just end up in your daily picnic basket.

Of all our meals, lunch was probably my favorite. It’s hard to beat gathering your group of gals, grabbing your picnic baskets loaded with bottles of Rosé, housemade lemonade, baguette, salad, meats and cheeses, quiche and cookies, sprawling on the lawn beneath the trees, and chatting and chewing through a perfect summer déjeuner. All the meals at Camp Château are delightful, from the fresh croissants and espresso at breakfast to the pre-dinner cocktails in the courtyard and le dîner’s European classics, such as coq au vin and paella. Specific diets can be catered to, but you are asked to mention your requirements ahead of time.

Things to bring

Pack clothes that range from outdoorsy to something nice to wear to dinner. There are plenty of opportunities for exercise, adventure, socializing, swimming — and dressing for aperitifs and dinner. There will be photo opportunities with new friends in a casual environment, but you are in a Chateau after all, so bring a mix of outfits you feel comfortable in and express your style. If you’re staying in the glamping tents, where you will have one other bunkmate, be sure to bring an eye mask and earplugs if you are bothered by things like reading lights or snoring. It’s summer, so bring bug spray, sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a good book to read poolside. But most of all, bring an open heart, a willing ear, curiosity, and some good cheer. 

Remember summer camp when you were a kid? Remember those moments when you pressed flowers and kept them forever; when you had a conversation that changed your life; when you were told a secret and you kept it; when you discovered something you were good at; when you joined a group and learned a little more about who you were. Well, Camp Château is like that. Except this time, it’s in the French countryside with good food, good wine, adult conversation, and the precious reclaiming of a part of you. It makes sense that all this happens against the backdrop of a grand country residence. There’s a metaphor in that. After all, look how far you’ve come. You deserve to be the queen of your castle at this moment in your life. If only for a week next summer.   

Book your 6-day, 5-night summer camp experience here. All your questions, such as how much, how to get there, and what’s included, are answered here.