At 6 Rue de Lorraine, behind the shop window, you can hear the hum of the lathe and catch a glimpse of the soft light from a workshop lamp. The’Atelier du Magnolia It is one of those places that owe their very existence to their artisanal character: people come here to craft, paint and decorate, and, incidentally, to buy a piece with a story behind it. Certified «Artisan du Tourisme» Run by the Chambre des Métiers, the venue serves as a workshop for courses, a production space and a small retail gallery.
Three craft trades under one roof
The heart is the ceramics : an introductory pottery wheel course for adults (one-to-one lessons), a parent-and-child workshop on Wednesdays for 4–16-year-olds, and a «pottery-making» gift voucher covering the full course over several sessions (shaping, sanding, glazing). The porcelain decoration, which is more specialised, takes place in small groups of up to eight people, on a project basis. And the’watercolour offers adult classes of 2? hours, by the session or by subscription.
An atmosphere that feels nothing like school
The approach taken is deliberately that of the’individualised support. Group sizes are deliberately kept small — a maximum of five people for the gift card workshop, and eight for the porcelain workshop — so that everyone can ask questions, start a piece again, and take the time to watch how the instructor works with the clay. That’s exactly what you’d expect from an art workshop: the opposite of a production line.
For those who come to Fontainebleau too
The «Artisan du Tourisme» label says it all: the workshop warmly welcomes passing visitors, not just regulars. Spending half a day turning your very first piece in a narrow street in Fontainebleau makes for a far more lasting memory than a photo taken in front of the château. And the piece ends up in a bag, waiting to go into the kiln.
Practice
Reservations on atelierdumagnolia.com or by telephone on 06 70 11 31 30. Watercolour sessions are sometimes suspended — please call to confirm. Personalised gift voucher, valid for one year, redeemable for artworks on display at the gallery should you never get round to taking up the hobby. Detailed price list available on the official website.
