Sant Hilari Sacalm · Catalonia · turning wood
Five immersive days at the lathe, in the forests of Catalonia.
An international wood turning course for beginners, makers and curious travelers. No experience needed. Every tool and material provided. Taught entirely in English.
- 5 days · 9–17h
- In English
- No experience needed
- All materials included
- Small international groups
More than a workshop
A hands-on journey of craft, travel and exchange.
This is not a one-off class. It’s a five-day learning journey that brings together making, travel, teamwork and cultural discovery — guided step by step, from your first cut to a set of finished pieces.
Craft
Real time at the lathe with professional tools and selected woods.
Travel
A working holiday in a mountain town shaped by forests and springs.
Teamwork
Small international teams where craft becomes a shared language.
Culture
Visits and references that tie the craft to a living local heritage.
Everything provided
You arrive ready to learn.
We handle the rest.
No tools to buy, nothing to ship. Walk in with curiosity — the workshop is set up and waiting.
Professional lathes
Set up and ready at your station.
Raw materials & selected woods
Timber chosen for learning and result.
Guided technical instruction
Step-by-step, in English, all five days.
Full set of turning tools
Gouges, scrapers and specialized tools.
Safety equipment
Protection provided and explained.
The craft
Real making
You work directly with the lathe, tools and wood to feel how technique, design and material behave together. Through continuous practice, you progress from fundamental control to complete projects — repeating key processes to build real confidence.
By day five, you’ll have a range of finished pieces and a solid foundation in form, material and craft precision.
What you'll learn
Setup, tool control and body positioning
Safe machine setup, correct stance at the lathe, and confident control of gouges, scrapers and specialized turning tools.
Bowls, platters and a variety of forms
Explore different depths, shapes and structural approaches, working across a wide range of forms to understand woodturning’s versatility.
Designing and executing complete projects
Plan, design and turn complete pieces from raw material to finished object, moving from roughing to finishing in a structured, repeatable workflow.
Finishing, sanding and fine detail
Surface refinement, sanding strategies and finishing methods for high-quality results, with detailing for clean transitions and sharp form.
Reading the wood
Understand grain direction and how material selection shapes both process and outcome — the heart of working with wood.
A balanced day · 9:00–4:30
Focused mornings, relaxed evenings.
A steady daily rhythm keeps you energized at the lathe — and leaves late afternoons and evenings free to rest, explore, or simply enjoy the surroundings.
09:00–12:30
Morning session
Hands-on practice, demonstrations and technique.
12:30–13:30
Lunch break
Relax, socialize, enjoy local food. Included in the price
13:30–16:30
Afternoon session
Project work and guided skill refinement.
After 16:30
Free evening
Rest, exchange or cultural exploration.
*Please note that the Wednesday schedule includes an outdoor visit for the entire day. Schedules may be subject to change
Small international teams
Craft becomes a shared language.
We keep groups small and international on purpose. Working beside people from different countries turns a workshop into something more.
More than a workshop
Where wood, water and the human hand meet.
Sant Hilari Sacalm sits among the forests of the Guilleries, a place with a documented turning tradition reaching back to the 14th century. More than a hundred natural springs run through the region — a landscape where craft and nature have always been intertwined.
Annual editions
Four editions a year.
Each edition runs the same five-day intensive format. Places are limited and assigned in order of confirmed reservations.
Winter 2027
15–19 Feb
Open
Spring 2027
3–7 May
Open
Summer 2027
12–16 Jul
Open
Autumn 2027
TBC
Registration opens June 2027
Limited launch rate
Join the first classes at the founding rate.
€1,350 €950 VAT included · per participant
This inaugural rate is reserved for the first international participants to register, while we build the program together around them— maintaining the same standard of instruction and experience.
Step 1
50% deposit secures your place at reservation.
Step 2
Remaining 50% due 45 days before the start. We’ll remind you.
Or
Pay in full upfront — whichever you prefer.
Booking confirms once payment is received. Places limited.
Who it's for
Made for curious hands.
- Beginners curious about wood turning
- Creative minds and travelers
- Craft and design enthusiasts
- Students and hobby makers
- Anyone after a meaningful, skill-based holiday
Build skills · share culture · turn wood
Learn, create and connect through a timeless craft
Good to know
Questions, answered.
Do I need any prior experience?
None at all. The course starts from the fundamentals and is built for complete beginners as well as makers exploring the lathe for the first time.
What language is the course taught in?
Entirely in English, throughout all five days.
What's included in the price?
Professional lathes, a full set of turning tools, raw materials and selected woods, safety equipment, guided instruction across the five days and lunch from Monday to Friday.
What's not included?
Travel, accommodation and meals are arranged separately. We provide a dedicated guide to help you plan — see Plan your trip.
How does payment work?
You can pay in full, or split 50% / 50%. The first 50% reserves your place; the rest is due no later than 45 calendar days before the start date. A reminder is sent. Places are assigned in order of confirmed reservations.
Can I keep the pieces I make?
Yes. At the end of the course, you can take home all the pieces you have turned yourself during the workshop. If you are travelling and prefer not to carry them, we can also arrange worldwide shipping so your work can be safely delivered to your home.
How do I get to Sant Hilari Sacalm?
It’s reachable from Barcelona (BCN) and Girona (GRO) airports by train, bus, car or transfer. Full routes are in the travel guide, sent to every participant before arrival.
Travelling from abroad?
Plan your stay with one practical guide.
Accommodation, transport, local services and the surrounding region — everything you need to turn the course into a complete trip.
Getting here
Stay
The region