August 27, 2025

Craft Secrets in Quiet Corners of Europe

In Fayssac, France, medieval charm and centuries of copperworking heritage atop rolling hills.

Far from Europe’s most visited art capitals, some of the most transformative creative encounters happen in quiet towns off the typical tourist path. Set among vineyards, coastlines, mountains, and volcanic hills, four VAWAA master artists have made their studios a reflection of the traditions, rhythms, and landscapes around them.

Through VAWAA, they’ve opened their doors to guests seeking more than sightseeing. You can step inside their studios, touch the materials, learn the techniques, and feel how the surrounding land flows into their work.

Travel to these hidden corners and discover how copper, rope, glass, and paper become living extensions of their places.

Fayssac, France — home of master coppersmith and VAWAA artist Jonathan.

1. Fayssac, France — Coppersmithing near the Vineyards

In the red brick medieval city of Albi, just beyond the cathedral spire, VAWAA master artist Jonathan shapes copper with the same precision as generations before him. In his studio in nearby Fayssac, the heart of the Gaillacois wine region, he teaches guests the ancient dinanderie technique, hammering a single sheet of copper into sculptural forms. The rhythm of his mallet echoes traditions that have endured here for 4000 years.

Days are spent at the forge. Evenings might mean wandering hillside villages like Cordes sur Ciel, tasting wines at France’s oldest vineyard, or sharing fresh cheeses and country bread with local farmers. Joining Jonathan means immersing into the world of copper rooted in one of France’s oldest winemaking landscapes.

While You’re There: Visit Albi’s UNESCO listed old town with its striking Sainte Cécile Cathedral, explore the Toulouse Lautrec Museum, and pause on the Pont Vieux for sweeping views of the Tarn River.

Torreira, Portugal — home of macrame designer and VAWAA artist Marta.

2. Torreira, Portugal — Macrame Knots by the Sea

Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, where wild surf meets calm waters, lies the coastal haven of Torreira — a place you discover only by word of mouth. This small fishing village hums with tides and nets, where seamen listen to the sea and residents breathe in the salty air.

Here, fishermen still practice Arte Xávega, an ancient technique of casting enormous nets into the ocean, encircling fish and dragging them ashore. The heavy nets are hauled in by hand, their labor unfolding like a choreographed dance.

Just beyond this, VAWAA master artist Marta mirrors the knotted ropes, waves and sounds of her surroundings through macrame. Her language of knots is tied to the stillness of her oceanside workspace. Like Arte Xávega, each knot is intentionally placed to create strength, shape and pattern. She and the seafarers rely on the same slow and steady pace.

In her studio, mornings are spent learning the language of knots. Afternoons bring the salty air of the beach. As the sun sinks into the Atlantic, the day closes with the calm of waves and ropes intertwined. With Marta, even a simple knot becomes a way of belonging to Torreira’s maritime rhythm.

While You’re There: Explore the nearby seafood markets, try regional dishes beyond eel stew, and take in the unique ecosystem of the lagoon where migratory birds and shellfish harvesting reveal another layer of local life.

Dornbirn, Austria — home of master glass engraver and VAWAA artist Eva.

3. Dornbirn, Austria — Glass Engraving overlooking Swiss mountains

At the meeting point of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany at the edge of Lake Constance, Dornbirn is framed by alpine peaks and wildflower meadows. Once a textile capital, today it’s alive with design studios, museums, and contemporary architecture. From her studio that sits amid wildflower meadows and an ancient forest, VAWAA master artist Eva creates poetic and geometric textures in glass.

After spending the day learning engraving techniques, Dornbirn offers alpine trails, traditional cheese making farms, and villages where contemporary architecture meets history. Creating alongside Eva means immersing in creative inspiration and tranquility of the Alpine region.

While You’re There: Take the cable car up Karren Mountain for panoramic Alpine views, visit Inatura Nature Experience Museum, hike Rappenloch Gorge with its waterfalls and boardwalks, or explore the FLATZ Museum for a taste of contemporary art.

Gerolstein, Germany — home of master paper sculptor and VAWAA artist Helmut.

4. Gerolstein, Germany — Paper Luminaries near a Volcano

This volcanic Eifel region, bordering Belgium and Luxembourg, is a landscape of ancient craters, mineral springs, winding valleys, and forested hills. It serves as a gateway to the UNESCO Global Geopark Vulkaneifel, famous for crater lakes. Hiking trails nearby reveal views over valleys and volcanoes, while the Bruder Klaus Field Chapel by architect Peter Zumthor quietly anchors art in nature.

Here, VAWAA master artist Helmut transforms flax and hemp into handmade luminaries. A day in his world begins with large, handmade sheets of paper drying on wooden frames in the studio. A short stroll takes you into town, where fresh sparkling mineral water, drawn straight from volcanic rock is ready to sip and a far cry from the bottled versions, it is earthy and alive. As dusk falls, fireflies flicker like his handmade luminaries, carrying the same gentle glow of the volcanic earth. Joining Helmut means witnessing transformation born from deep time and a landscape that continues to inspire.

While You’re There: Visit Lissingen Castle, one of the best preserved moated castles in the region. Explore the Naturkundemuseum Gerolstein for exhibits on volcanic geology and minerals, or walk the Vulkangarten and Millstone Caves to see lava formations up close.

Step Into Europe's hidden corners.

In Fayssac, Torreira, Dornbirn, and Gerolstein, a studio is more than a workspace. It is a doorway into a way of life. Each VAWAA artist draws directly from the traditions, landscapes, and rhythms of their surroundings. These are not stops on a tourist trail. They are living connections between craft and place.

Meet the artists, learn their crafts, and let the rhythm of place shape your own creativity. Browse and book these VAWAAs here.