Weaving Lagrasse

Creative basketry in the Corbières

Come and join us for a WONDERFUL WEEKEND OF WEAVING in the picturesque village of Lagrasse

Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 - Monday 9 June 2025

Both courses are FULL. If you would like to go onto the waiting list in the event of a cancellation, click below

THE SETTING

In one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, come and enjoy French hospitality, stunning scenery and local food and wine in the company of our expert basketry tutors

TIM JOHNSON and MONICA GUILERA

Tucked into the heart of the Corbières in southern France and bathed in sunshine for around 300 days a year, Lagrasse attracts an extraordinary variety of residents, complementing its salt-of-the-earth locals. It is a community of creators, with artists, potters and makers tucked away in its narrow, cobblestoned streets.

The tiny population of 500 people live in this medieval listed village surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, its backdrop dominated by an 8th century working Abbey and views of the distant Pyrenees. Situated in a valley surrounded by Mediterranean hillsides full of rosemary, thyme and cypress trees, the river Orbieu - in which one can swim - meanders through the village.

Lagrasse attracts thousands of visitors each year, some of whom never leave, falling in love with this picture postcard example of rural France and changing their lives to allow them to pursue their dream.

Cafes and restaurants are plentiful with all tastes and budgets catered for from pizzas to Michelin Guide cuisine. Saturday morning is market day with organic and locally produced foods and wines.

Each basketry course will run from Saturday morning until Monday afternoon, but we urge you to stay a while longer and enjoy everything that this stunning corner of France that we call home has to offer.

THE WORKSHOPS

Round Baskets in Neolithic Braiding with TIM JOHNSON
The ancient technique of Neolithic Braiding has been used all around the Mediterranean for a wide variety of basketry needs, from snail collecting baskets to olive pressing mats, shopping baskets to sardine measures. In this three day workshop you will learn a special round start using rush and esparto grass to make baskets of your own design for a wide variety of domestic uses or fashion accessories.

Since finding examples of this technique in Caithness and Orkney in 2012, Tim has been exploring and researching the Neolithic braiding family of techniques. Now based near Barcelona in Spain, Tim has had the opportunity to learn from traditional Spanish makers and will bring along a variety of traditional baskets from his collection for your study and inspiration.

The course will be taught in English.
Beginners and experienced.
Round Baskets in Nansa Technique with MONICA GUILERA
The Mediterranean is home to a beautiful and distinctive technique of weaving used by fishermen to make a variety of fishing baskets and traps. Nansa fish traps were made in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the kind of fish they wanted to catch, the traps were usually made in the winter with a very tough kind of rush (Juncus acutus) as well as split cane (Arundo donax) and olive stems.
In this three day workshop you will learn to make a round nansa basket with a handle. Combining willow with different coloured threads you will
start with a traditional nansa “grid” base attached to a willow hoop, then move on to the sidings, bundle border and handle.

The course will be taught in English, Catalan, Spanish and French.
Beginners and experienced.

The cost of each 3 day workshop is €310.

All materials are provided, as well as drinks during the course (tea, coffee etc). As an optional extra, we have organised lunch each day at a local restaurant (vegetarian choice available) for 25€ per meal, which includes a main dish, dessert, wine and coffee.

The course starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm each day.

Each participant leaves with their own creations. (For those travelling by air, we can arrange to post your creations to your home).

A deposit of €155 is payable on booking which confirms your reservation.

Any questions? Contact Beverly at weavinglagrasse@gmail.com
If not, book your place now ... there are only 10 places per workshop1

BOOK HERE

Travel to Lagrasse

We will organise a WhatsApp group for anyone who wants to make shared travel and accommodation plans.

The nearest train stations are Lézignan-Corbières, Narbonne and Carcassonne, all of which are a 20-40 minute drive from Lagrasse.
Taxis and lifts can be arranged on request.

Airports: Flights to Carcassonne and Perpignan airports are via Ryanair. Toulouse and Montpelier airports are further away, but offer a wider range of departure airports and airlines across Europe. It would be necessary to hire a car or catch a train to the above stations.

ACCOMMODATION
Lagrasse has a number of hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation, for example

Chez Shona B&B
L'Hostellerie des Corbières
La Bouquerie

Booking.com and Airbnb have several other accommodation options.

Lagrasse on Google Maps