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En France
offered by supplier M15964 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 10
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
France
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Food & Wine
Season: April - October
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 1450 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1450 US Dollar (USD)
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This visit will show what we must like about France, the ideal combination between a beautiful countryside, authentic and delightful regional culinary traditions & famous wine as well as century-old culture. We invite you to learn culinary art, to be able to appreciate the local food and traditions of this less-known part of France.
With the Château de L’Hoste as a base for your holiday, we propose you a mix between easy hikes and excursions, cooking lessons, or – on your ‘free’ time - to do some biking & horse riding. Located 30 min from Agen TGV train station Château de L’Hoste is in the heart of ‘Quercy Blanc’ (white Quercy) near medieval Bastides villages and the Lot River. Built in the 17th Century, Château de l’Hoste was a private ‘demeure’ before it was renovated and transformed into a charming hotel in the 1980’s.
Surrounded by a 4 hectares park it’s a perfect retreat for a quiet stay. There are hills and high plateaus divided by gorgeous valleys, but it is mainly an agricultural region, with sunflower fields, fruit plantations and vineyards as well as forested areas. The scenery also consists of typical medieval villages with Roman churches or idyllic ‘hameaux’, where we’ll have the impression that time stood still, dotted with fortified farms, manors and castles by the fortified Bastide villages, dating back to the 13th and 14th Centuries, all reminders of a rich past.
A major cultural interest in the area represents - on the way to Saint Jacques of Compostelle - the Abbey Saint Pierre of Moissac. Quercy is also considered as a garden of fruits, the famous Agen prune, the chasselas raisin and the sugar melons grow here. The vineyards of Cahors, Bergerac, Montbazillac and Bordeaux are not far away. Château de L’Hoste it is actually situated in the heart of different wine regions like: Cahors (at 30 min driving time northeast), Buzet (at 30 min driving time south), Fronton and Gaillac (at 1 h driving time southeast), Bergerac, Duras, Monbazillac and Pecharmant (at 1 h north west). The famous Bordeaux vineyards, Margaux & Saint Emilion are at 2 hrs driving time to the east (via Bergerac).
The food is also very characteristic to this area and the cooking lessons are held in three sessions per week by the Chef Guy Hérault, accompanied by several wine tasting and visits to ‘culinary sites’, like the Museum of ‘foie gras’, or demonstration of truffle production and winemaking.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday - Arrival in Paris
After your long flight journey you arrive in Paris and from the airport you take a shuttle bus (or your rent-a-car) to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Paris (2 nights)
Day 2: Friday - Paris
Full day on your own in Paris, to (re-)discover the tremendous Cultural values the French Capital has to offer.
Day 3: Saturday - Paris / Château de L’Hoste (drive or train)
You’ll drive (or take the train) today southwest from Paris and arrive late in the afternoon to Château de L’Hoste, our home for the next coming week. Here we are welcome by the chief cook and the management with a Welcome Cocktail. Later have dinner at the Chateau.
Overnight: Château de L’Hoste, Quercy (7 nights). Includes: (D)
Day 4: Sunday - Quercy
After Breakfast, the first excursion from the Hotel will take us across a romantic countryside and farmlands, through fertile valleys to Montcuq. Magnificent views of different Fortified Castles on the hills are seen on our way as we approach this medieval village. Once here we visit the beautiful, lively, local market of Montcuq, followed by a gourmet Lunch at the Grange de Marcillac (wine included) and the local truffle ‘Factory’, to observe the production. Later we return to Château de l’Hoste, via Lauzerte, known as one of the most beautiful medieval villages of France, also with a short stop on our way back at St. Jacques de Compostelle. Our Dinner & wine will be served at the Chateau. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: Monday - Quercy
Today will start again with a leisurely breakfast at the Chateau and later drive to the village of Cahors. Here we first walk through the city and see it’s famous bridge Pont Valentré, continuing to St Cirq de Lapopie, a charming village overlooking the Lot River. Here an optional visit to the Caves of Pech Merle can be included, before returning again to our ‘base’, the Chateau… Of course, our dinner & wine will be served here. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 6: Tuesday - Quercy
Finally our cooking lessons will start today. Shortly after breakfast, our Chef Guy Hérault, Chef Cook at the Château de l’Hoste, will ‘roll up his sleeves’ and the lesson will commence. Today’s ‘theme’: The ‘Foie Gras’. Foie gras in French means ‘fatty liver’, it is made from the extensively enlarged livers of male ducks and geese. The exquisite taste, silky texture, and versatility of preparations that foie gras offers explains why this product has been enjoyed all over the World since ancient Egyptian times. A bite of this heavenly delicacy is a moment of pure enjoyment and culinary pleasure. We’ll add truffles to our foie gras to experience the ultimate pairing… After the lesson will enjoy Lunch (and the adequate wine). During lunch the ‘fruits’ of our work will be also served! After a short rest we’ll go for a small hike up to the nearby village of Roquecor and here we’ll visit first the ‘de Lacay farm’, a local producer of the famous ‘Agen Prune’ to taste their different prunes and prune products, before we continue to the Museum of ‘Foie Gras’ (unique in France & World). We will return to the Chateau for dinner. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 7: Wednesday - Quercy
Well, another ‘culinary art’ day ahead of us, as our Chef Cook Guy Hérault will start its preparations. Today’s theme: The Fish. Several local fish recipes will be presented and you will actually work on some of these ‘projects’, and by lunchtime (when adequate wine will be also served), you will be able to taste what you have cooked! Our short rest will be followed early in the afternoon by visits to Château de Bonaguil and Château Lamartine and to their adjacent vineyards and wine cellars for some fine wine tasting. For dinner we return the Chateau. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 8: Thursday – Quercy
After an early breakfast, we depart the Chateau and the direction is Agen area, particularly the village of Nerac and it’s famous Castle of Henri the IV, former King of France and Navarre. We visit this beautiful Castle then spend lunchtime at leisure in Nerac, exploring on our own some nice cafes’ or gourmet restaurants. From here we visit the nearby Buzet winery, or perhaps have a boat ride on the Baïse River. As usually, the dinner will be again served at the Chateau. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 9: Friday – Quercy
Another cooking lesson starts today at 9.00 am with Chef Guy Héraul and the theme is: Desserts. After some ‘heavy’ work-hours, spent under the close supervision and direct order of our chef, and after creating various unique & delicious deserts, we’ll have a well-deserved lunch (& wine), followed – of course – by the ‘self-made’ desserts. In the afternoon, we go for a guided visit to the Bastide town of Penne d’Agenais. A splendid example of the many medieval hill top villages, Penne D’Agenais dominates the Lot Valley. Once said to be an English stronghold in the Middle Ages, there is now nothing left of the original Castle. However, the modern basilica, Notre-Dame-de-Peyragude, can be seen from miles around. The old village, which was neglected for a long time, has now been fully restored. With its steep winding streets a walk up through the town is a must as the views from the top are outstanding. Artists and craftsmen have been drawn to Penne and with many restaurants and cafes the village has a rather unique atmosphere. We end our day-tour and our stay in Quercy by tasting wine from three different regions with explanations done by a pro’ at the Château de l’Hoste. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10: Quercy / Homebound
We leave today Château de l’Hoste and our hosts, as we drive back to Paris or to other further destination.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation as per the itinerary: 2 nights in Paris (no meals) and 7 nights on half board basis (B=breakfast, D=dinner) in classic double rooms at the Château de L'Hoste
- Four additional Lunches (L)
- Cooking demonstrations/lessons with ‘all inclusive’
- Entry fee to the Museum of ‘Foie gras’, to the Château d'Henri IV, the Château de Bonaguil and Château Lamartine
- Wine tasting at Château Lamartine and Château de L'Hoste
Price Excludes:
- Lunches and drinks not mentioned in the program
- All ‘En France’ transfers & transportation and guiding (we highly recommend car rental either in Paris or Toulouse)
- Optional activities (biking, horse-riding, massage, golf, etc)
- Personal expenses and bills (laundry, bar, phone, etc.)
- Tips and other such costs
- All other items not specified as included
Tour dates for 2008
Any Thursday between Apr 17, 2008 and Oct 09, 2008.
Tour highlights:
- Paris with its numerous attractions and sites
- The ‘white’ Quercy & Bordeaux Provinces
- Wine tasting & Cooking demonstrations/lessons
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices for 2008
USD / CAD: 1,450.00
Single room supplement: USD / CAD: 480.00
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Cultural Journey
Food & Wine
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