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In this issue . . .  Coming Soon: Moulin de Fresquet Our
Featured
B&B: Château de
Moulin le Comte
Our Featured Rental: Château
Robert News &
Offers from our Membersand More! It's time to plan your château stay in 2017! We hope this newsletter gives you some ideas. Highlighted links in this text will take you to the appropriate web sites. Just click on any one of them. This newsletter is best viewed with a Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer browser. Coming Soon: Moulin de Fresquet in the Lot  We recently had the pleasure of two nights at the 14th century Moulin de Fresquet, a superb bed and breakfast near Gramat in the département of the Lot. Located between the valleys of the River Lot and the River Dordogne, it is an ideal getaway destination and very easy to find. The charming owners, Gérard and Claude Ramelot, (he is the author of a very well-received book about the mill) made our all-too-brief stay very special. First, our accommodations were perfect. We had a warm and cozy sitting room with Louis XVI furnishings, a 19th century tapestry on the golden stone wall, a desk beneath a magnificent stained glass window, and a comfortable sofa. The bathroom had a walk-in shower and double basins, and the bedroom had a very comfortable queen-size bed, another grand tapestry, and fine antique furnishings. The exquisite detail, quality of workmanship and materials used are beyond compare.  The icing on the cake was the private terrace just outside our front door. Each suite has its own private terrace, so all the guests can enjoy an afternoon drink or, as we did, the fine balmy weather while admiring the Moulin's gardens. The millstream still runs beneath the house. Breakfast each morning was very generous, and we enjoyed sharing the table with other guests. Of course, breakfast is included in the room rate. Gramat is only 5 minutes away by car, but it is also a pleasant walk into the town. There you will find all services and an abundance of restaurants and shops. Spend your days visiting Rocamadour, the Gouffre de Padirac, Sarlat, Carennac, Martel, Collonges-la-Rouge or any of the many delightful little villages dotting the Lot. The atmosphere is rural and tranquil in this region of France, and the people are authentic and friendly.  Look for Moulin de Fresquet on our site in the coming weeks. There will be more photos and information about this special place. Perhaps you will be tempted to see it for yourself! If you are interested in booking now, just contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com. [Photos
© G. Ramelot. All Rights Reserved.]
Our Featured B&B: Château de Moulin le Comte . . . country charm in the Pas-de-Calais  Château de Moulin le Comte Château de Moulin le Comte is a fine château in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France, convenient to the ferry ports of Calais and Dunkerque as well as the Eurostar from London to Lille. This elegant nineteenth century mansion, constructed in 1850, was renovated only recently in 2012. The new owners were especially careful to preserve the style and character of the building which is much appreciated by its guests. The five guest rooms are en suite with shower rooms and a separate WC, and four of the five are on the first floor up a lovely winding stairway. One guest room is on the ground floor which is convenient for those who wish to avoid stairs. The bathrooms are equipped with hair dryers, fine towels, bathrobes and  quality bath
products.
Bedrooms are superbly comfortable and all the beds have new top quality
Sealy mattresses. Each has a flat screen television as well as
coffee
and tea making facilities.Enjoy 25 acres of lawns and gardens surrounding this 19th century château. A tranquil stay, while having easy access to all the area attractions, is yours. What could be more delightful than spending time along the River Lys as it winds its way through the castle gardens? It is 126 miles long and was the site of two battles in WWI and one in WWII ~ today it is nothing but peaceful and pleasant. Dinner is offered at the château with 48 hours advance notice, and breakfast is included in the room rates. Nearby, in addition to the historic cities of Lille and Dunkerque, is the Forêt de Nieppe and the city of Lens where you can visit the newly-opened Lens-Louvre Museum. The château is a one-hour drive to beaches.  Contact us by email for answers to your questions, availability or to book your stay at Château de Moulin le Comte. We are sure you will enjoy your accommodations and the warm hospitality of the friendly and helpful owners. [Photos © M. Van Der Elst. All Rights Reserved.] French Quiz 128 Where are we? Hint:
Located in French Basque country in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques,
Please
provide the name of this southwestern French town. French Château Note Cards with our artist's original drawings. 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 Winter 2016 newsletter. [Photo
©
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.] Our Featured Rental: Château Robert . . . a special place for that special gathering!
Château Robert in Aquitaine As a full-service property, your requirements for meals, catering and parties are easily arranged with your amiable and helpful hosts, Michel and Trudy Van de Hoeven. Years in the hospitality industry and their experience traveling the world have made them uniquely qualified to ensure that your stay with them will be perfect in every way.  Eight en suite guest rooms are offered at the château, but weddings of up to 150 guests are possible with additional accommodations available nearby. There is a tennis court and sparkling swimming pool for the enjoyment of guests, and professionally-taught cooking classes in their amazing new kitchen and wine tasting afternoons can be arranged. Located on a 35-acre estate in the Landes of southwestern France ~ Europe's largest forest is right next door ~ you will have easy access to Biarritz, Atlantic beaches, the Basque and Béarn regions, and, of course, vineyards producing the up-and-coming wines of Gascony. Don't miss the opportunity to spend your long French holiday at Château Robert. Our recent visit has inspired us to tell everyone about this wonderful rental property ~ it's a place where great memories will be made. 
Please visit Chateau Robert on our site for details and photos. You will not be disappointed with the accommodations, amenities and your friendly and helpful hosts. Please contact us with questions, or to make a reservation. Be sure to put Robert on the subject line. [Photos ©M Van de Hoeven and Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.]
Villes et Villages de France . . . we hope to tempt you to visit these marvelous placeswhen you are roaming through the French countryside.  Lovely
Marcilhac-sur-Célé  Saint-Pierre Abbaye was
destroyed several times during its long history, finally succumbing in
the French Revolution. But its immense Romanesque ruins are
nonetheless impressive and worth a visit. A Gothic church is part
of the Abbaye, and we discovered the 15th century
frescoes and ornate stained glass windows that make this small church
quite
beautiful and unique.
 Château de Saint-Martory In the Midi-Pyrénées region of south central France, you will find the elegant Château de Saint-Martory offering 10 guest rooms, a swimming pool and hot-air balloon rides if you are so inclined. Located on the banks of the River Garonne, steps from a delightful village, the Château and its Farmhouse accommodations are perfect for a week-long getaway, a very special lavish wedding or perhaps a gathering of friends and family to mark a special occasion. Click on the photo to learn more! [Photo copyright J-F Delort. All Rights Reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .  Are you
interested in owning
property in France? Perhaps, a bed and breakfast or weekly rental
property? Well, we have several in our portfolio, so just contact
us and tell us what you are looking for and your budget. At this
time, there are three châteaus, a priory, a country house near
Carcassonne,
and a small château with new cottage gîtes not far from the
Spanish border. They are in a wide range of prices, and we would
be happy to provide details. Please contact us with your questions at inquiry@au-chateau.com.
Many
of our members are open all year 'round, so think about a
winter visit to
France when airfares are a bargain and most owners offer low- or
off-season rates. Several properties on our site are near the
Pyrénées or French Alpes, so for you skiers, a winter
vacation may be just what you will enjoy most. Visit our site,
find a place or two of interest to you, and check their pages to see if
they are open off season. Then contact us for your
reservations.
 Château de Challain, in the Pays de la Loire, is a wedding destination for couples around the world. But, they are also happy to welcome family groups celebrating a special occasion, a group of friends who want a week in France in a luxury château, or corporate retreats with meeting facilities. With a capacity for 50 guests, Château de Challain is perfect for every occasion. And, if you book through au Château, you will get a 10% discount off the total rental rate. Contact us today at inquiry@au-chateau.com and specify Challain. The newly renovated Musée Rodin in Paris is again open for visitors. Always a pleasure ~ see the collection of the artist's work, the work of Camille Claudel, a sample of his studio, and, of course, the wonderful gardens. It is one of the easiest Paris museums to visit, and you should expect to spend about two hours there. It is located at 79 rue de Varenne, in the 7th arrondissement. The museum is open every day except Monday from 10 AM to 5:45 PM. It is closed January 1, May 1 and December 25, and closes early on December 24 and 31.
Be sure
to visit our Special
Offers page
often to see
what properties are discounting their rates or offering guests a special bonus for booking with them.  Rememberau Château gives every inquiry personal, prompt attention ~ 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 on our site or mentioned in this issue. Please be sure to put the property name in the subject line.] Easy Recipe: Provençal Vegetable Casserole This easy recipe can be served simply with a
crusty baguette. It can also be enjoyed by vegetarians and vegans!
[Photo credit:
www.vegan-magazine.com]You will need 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 large onions sliced thinly, 3 red bell peppers seeded and thinly sliced, 2 medium eggplants peeled and diagonally sliced, 3 medium zucchinis peeled and thinly sliced diagonally, 3 thinly sliced medium tomatoes, 6 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped basil and  1/2
teaspoon sea salt and freshly ground pepper.Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet on moderate heat and cook onions until soft. Add the peppers, and reduce the heat to low, cooking until vegetables are soft ~ about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 400°F. Layer a 9x13-inch ovenproof baking dish with 3/4 of the onion mixture. Follow with a layer of the eggplant slices, then layer on half the zucchini and the remaining onion mixture. The next layer is the remaining eggplant, then the remaining zucchini and finally the tomato slices. In a small bowl, mix together the rest of the olive oil, garlic, basil, salt and pepper and sprinkle over the top. Bake for an hour and let it rest for 5 minutes. Pour off any excess olive oil. Cut into serving pieces and serve hot. Serves six. Bon appétit! 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 127 - Where are we? from our Summer 2016 issue The town is Foix in the Ariège département of the Midi-Pyrénées, and the photo showed the 10th century Castle de Foix The first correct response was received from one of our long-time readers and Francophile friend in Lafayette, Louisiana. We sent her our congratulations along with the Château Note Cards. Our thanks to everyone who participated.
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