In this issue
Welcoming Château Allure du Lac in the Pays de la Loire
Our
featured B&B: Château
de Picomtal in Provence's Hautes-Alpes
Our Featured Rental: Château de Sommesnil in
Normandy News and Offers
from our membersand more!
It's a good time to begin plans for your visit to France in 2015!
We hope this newsletter gives you some ideas.
JUST CLICK ON ANY ONE OF THEM!]
Welcoming Château Allure du Lac . . .
. . . a very special getaway in the Pays de
la Loire
Château
Allure du Lac
Château
Allure du Lac is located
in the bucolic Pays de la Loire region not
far from the ancient city of Angers and within easy access to the
attractions of the Loire Valley. It is
is rented by the week, and the owner is happy to host special occasions
such as weddings,
family celebrations and seminars.
Nineteen
people can comfortably stay in
beautiful en suite guest rooms and the adjoining Manoir, for a relaxing
holiday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be served in the dining
room or on the lovely terraces overlooking the lake. Picnic
lunches will be prepared for that special outing in the park.
Guests
are invited
to fish in the 22-acre private lake, swim in the sparkling pool, take
nature walks on the vast estate, or enjoy day trips to Loire vineyards,
the royal châteaux, or to watch Formula One racing at Le
Mans.
The château is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator, and the owner is pleased to welcome children to the château. They will enjoy the games room, ping pong and a den for teenagers.
Wedding kiss on the balcony, bride in the chapel, reception hall, horse-drawn carriage ride.
SPECIAL OFFER: A 10% discount is being offered on all 2015 bookings
made on or before December 31, 2014. CONTACT US TODAY!
[Photo © Susan Stayne. All Rights Reserved.]
French Quiz 121
Where are we?
Hint:
~ A monk born here gave his name to a famous wine
region of Bordeaux, but we are in
Brittany.
Please
provide the name of the city.
our exclusive FRANCE CALENDAR 2015
with our artist's rendering for each month.
Send
your answer
by email to newsletter@au-chateau.com
See the answer to the last issue's Quiz at the end of this newsletter.
The answer to this quiz will appear in our Spring 2015 newsletter.
[Photo
©
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.]
Featured Rental Château:
Château de Sommesnil
~ in historic Normandy ~
Château
de Sommesnil
This
château is exceptional is every way. First, those who
rent the property are able to participate in themed holidays offered by
the owner (art and painting, culinary courses, etc.) or they can design
their own themes suitable for their party. Second, transportation
in an air-conditioned coach will be provided for your group to reach
the château from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. This
added convenience ensures your time at Château
de Sommesnil is
off to a very good start!
Steeped
in history, the château grounds boast an ancient wall
and fine dependencies. Very convenient to Paris, guests will find
themselves surrounded by so many interesting and important attractions
in Normandy ~ from churches and abbeys of the middle ages to charming
seaports and riverside villages. Painters will especially find
this part of Normandy appealing, as the Impressionists did before them.
Comfortably accommodating up to 18
guests in nine en suite bedrooms, plans are underway to add several
more guest rooms. Unlike many weekly rental properties, breakfast
is included in the rental rate, and dinners can be served
Chambre Gold, the Beige
Salon and Chambre Balcon
PLUS, there are currently some
special offers:
- Five Days of Golf - golfers can enjoy five days at area golf courses, plus two additional days d visiting markets, abbeys, historic villages and WWII sites. This is a 'mix and match' package, so activities for the 7 days can be arranged any way you choose.
- Plein Air Painting - There are still two or three open spots for those who would like to join a Plein Air Painting group next July 3 to 18 and there are more opening for September 7 to 16.
- Remember that you and your group of
friends or family can design your own themed week at the château,
so do let us know what interests you.
To find out more, visit Château de Sommesnil on our site, and contact us with questions, or to make a reservation.
Villes et Villages de France
.
. . we hope to tempt you to visit these marvelous places
when
you
are roaming through the French countryside.
The
cloisters of Abbaye de St-Paul de Cormery
Auberge du Mail, Cormery
[Photos
copyrighted
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.
Photos of Auberge du Mail from their web site.]
Online French Video Immersion
Yabla French is an online video magazine for French learnerswho wish to improve their language skills.
Authentic French videos include television programs, music videos,
interviews, documentaries, and travel.
Click on the banner to sign up or learn more!
Château de Picomtal
~ in the Hautes-Alpes of Provence ~
Château de Picomtal
The classical Château de Picomtal is a holiday experience not to be missed. Not only are the comfortable en suite guest rooms tastefully appointed and furnished in accordance with the style and period of the château, but your host and hostess are interesting and friendly people whose love of their château is evident. A photo of Chambre Boniface is below.
From the château
gardens, which took years of planning and work to create, to the
historic rooms of the château, everything about Picomtal will
fascinate you. A video taken during restoration by the current
owners is awe-inspiring ~ watch them literally raise the roof and recap
towers!The château gardens are worth exploring, and the view of Lac Serre-Ponçon below the château is spectacular. Wander into the village, a brisk and easy walk, for a light meal or just to explore. From either the château or the village you can see towns across the lake and panoramic mountain views.
Magical Views
If you haven't visited the Hautes-Alpes of Provence, you now have the perfect place to stay while discovering what this region has to offer including outdoor sports, hiking, skiing and water sport activities. Visit their pages on our site, and contact us with your questions or to make a reservation at inquiry@au-chateau.com.
News
from Our Members . . .
and several special offers
- Château Bétous in the Gers département of southwest France has closed its doors. The owners regret having to cease accepting guests at their lovely château, but unforeseen circumstances were to blame. We were very happy to have had them as members of our site for several years, and we know that the travelers who booked stays with them during that time found the Dixons perfect hosts and the château elegant and inviting. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
- Château
Coulon Laurensac still has some openings for their Bordeaux wine
tours ~ they will take participants to some of the most
exclusive château producers. Enjoy dinners in fine
restaurants, all ground transportation and Ronald Rens' in-depth wine
knowledge and expertise
for the wine tours. Small groups are their
specialty, so contact us for available tour dates and prices or
to ask questions. info@au-chateau.com
- Spend the New Year at Château de la Barre as guests of Count and Countess de Vanssay. You will enjoy a VIP welcome, cheese and vintage wine tasting supper in front of their fourteenth century fireplace, followed by visits the next day to the Loire's famous châteaux, a Festive Renaissance Feast at Leonardo da Vinci's home, and a tour of Le Mans on New Year's Day ending with a Grand Siècle Dinner at Château de La Barre. Accommodations in beautifully appointed en suite guest rooms, of course, are included. On January 2, you will be taken to the market and abbey in Vendôme, Cheverny castle, on to Château de Chambord and finally returned to Paris. This is all inclusive a very reasonable price. Contact us to learn more: info@au-chateau.com
- Champagne lovers!!! Indulge yourselves in a two-day escapade of oenological magic: Winter in Champagne.
- Château de Courtomer in Normandy invites you to its Cultural Highlights and French Art of Living tour, April 17-23, 2015.
There are limited places left, so please contact us very soon for information and availability.
- La Borde Maison d'Hôtes in Burgundy has again been has been the recipient of Condé Nast Johansen's Award for Excellence 2015 for Europe and the Mediterranean. This is the second time La Borde has won ~ in 2013 designated the Most Luxurious Guest House. The 2015 award was presented for the property's "charm, comfort, service, beauty, refinement...". La Borde has also received the designation Jardin Remarquable from the Comité des Parcs et Jardins de France. The owner's have designed and planted a series of amazing gardens over the past fourteen years, and this recognition is well deserved.
- Château Robert in the wonderful southwest of France is offering an Early Booking Discount: 15% off week-long group stays or book 3 nights for your group and get 4th night free - if reserved and confirmed before January 31, 2015. Please don't miss this opportunity by delaying. Contact us very soon for information and availability.
and we are here to answer your questions, unlike the automated online booking services.
[Contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com for availability or reservations at any property
Easy
Recipe ~ Lemon Curd
This rich, custard-like delight is easy to make and can be spread on toast or brioche for a real treat.
You will need 1-1/2 sticks of butter (diced), 1 cup of extra fine sugar, grated zest and juice of 3 lemons, and 4 egg yolks.
Put the butter, sugar, lemon
zest and juice into a heatproof
bowl. Suspend the bowl over a pan of simmering water - the bottom
of the bowl should not touch the water. The butter will begin to
melt. Whisk the mix until it is very smooth.
Add
the egg yolks and whisk vigorously (for 10 minutes) until the mixture
begins to thicken. Pour the curd into ramekins or a jar, and
cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate.
Michel Roux opened the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Britain and
a second restaurant held three Michelin stars for over twenty-five years.
Copyright 2005 and published by John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-76913-4]
We hope you have enjoyed au Château News.
If you have, please forward it to friends and
encourage them to subscribe by email to
newsletter@au-chateau.com. It's FREE!
Answer to Quiz 120 - Where Are We? from our Autumn issue
The St-Michel Fountain in Place St-Michel in Paris.
The winner is a subscriber from West Hollywood, California, and we congratulate her!
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