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In this issue . . .  Two New Members have
joined au Château Our
Featured
B&B: Château de
Rère in the Loir-et-Cher
Our Featured Rental: Château
de Saint-Maclou in Normandy News &
Offers from our Membersand More! Don't wait too long 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 Firefox browser. We welcome Moulin de Fresquet in the Lot  If you are looking for friendly hosts, superb accommodations, copious breakfasts and a lovely estate with a stream and rolling lawns for relaxing moments, then Moulin de Fresquet is the place for you. Located in the green and peaceful département of the Lot, Moulin de Fresquet is in the northern Lot just south of the border with the Dordogne, and it offers easy access to so many interesting and enjoyable attractions. The precariously-perched town of Rocamadour is a must for anyone visiting this area, but be sure to spend some time at the Gouffre de Padirac, a network of caves that can be explored with a guide by boat, the historic Medieval villages of Martel and Carennac or the very special red sandstone commune of Collonges-la-Rouge ~ the very first of France's Plus Beaux Villages. Enjoy accommodations that are warm and cozy, furnished in antiques, tapestries and really comfortable beds. Modern bathrooms with walk-in showers and quality toiletries make your stay very special. The suites have spacious sitting rooms, and every guest room comes with its own private terrace and bistro table for some enjoyable moments in the fresh air. Breakfasts can be taken in the lovely dining room or on the large terrace with a view of the gardens and stream ~ the stream that brings water to Rocamadour many kilometers away.  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. The atmosphere is rural and tranquil in this region of France, and the people are authentic and friendly.  Be sure to reserve your room at Moulin de Fresquet soon. You will be very happy you did. Just contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com. [Photos
© G. Ramelot. All Rights Reserved.]
Our Featured B&B: Château de Rère near Orléans . . . historic & welcoming  Château de Rère Château de Rère is a stately château in the Loir-et-Cher département of the Centre region of France, an easy drive from Paris and Orléans, and surrounded by forests and country roads. The nearest large town is Vierzon, and the nearby towns of Salbris and La Fertë-Imbault are both very convenient with nice restaurants for lunch or dinner.  The château has been in the same family for 22 generations and is one of the oldest family homes in France. The Counts of Orléans have a long association with America dating back to their service in the American Revolution. You will know immediately upon meeting it's owner, Albéric d'Orléans, that he loves and appreciates every inch of the château and estate. Four guest rooms and suites all have en suite bathrooms and views overlooking the park and moat. The area is very tranquil so your time here will be relaxing and pleasant. A pavillon is another building which offers two suites for families with children and a self-catering gîte with a kitchen and 2 large bedrooms. In front of the Pavillon is a very large swimming pool for all to enjoy. The parkland is vast and includes the Petite Rère river that flows by the front of the château near the forest and an imposing moat surrounding the château. Round corner towers at the front and two ancient watch towers on either side of the bridge crossing the moat complete the picture.  Château de Rère is the place to savor French château life, surrounded by history in this lovely region of France. We can personally recommend it, as we were very pleased with our time at the château. Visit the château on our site to see photos and read all about it. Think about having Château de Rère as your very special wedding venue, a short distance from the city of Orléans ~ so convenient for all your guests. Contact us by email for answers to your questions, availability or to book your stay at Château de Rère. We are sure you will enjoy your accommodations and the warm hospitality of the friendly hosts.  [Photos © A. d'Orléans. All Rights Reserved.] French Quiz 129 Where are we? Hint:
Open since 1901 and a Monument Historique since the
Please
provide the name and location of this magnificent restaurant. 2017 France Calendar with 13 of 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 Spring 2017 newsletter. [Photo
©
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.] Our Featured Rental: Château de Saint Maclou . . . a delightful Normandy destination!  Château de Saint-Maclou Château de Saint-Maclou, available as either a weekly rental or a bed and breakfast accommodation, offers four double or twin rooms, all with en suite bathrooms, for a perfect vacation getaway. Small groups of eight can rent it by the week and a 5th bedroom is possible. Only minutes away from picturesque and remarkable Honfleur and the appealing beach resort of Deauville on the Channel coast, the location is ideal. Reached either by a scenic drive from Paris or an hour and 45  minute
train trip to charming Lisieux,
guests will find it convenient while still in the heart of the Normandy
countryside. A special feature of the château, and in
keeping with 21st century attention to protecting the environment, is
that it has geothermal central heating.Bed and breakfast guests will enjoy copious French breakfasts in the elegant dining room or beautiful old kitchen. For self-catering weekly guests, a modern and completely equipped kitchen is at your disposal for preparing meals. Clothes washers and dryers are available as well as the convenience of two refrigerators, two freezers and two dishwashers! Local markets will entice you to shop for local produce and other goods as you become part of the local community. Guest rooms are spacious and well appointed with good beds and large windows giving guests views over the estate. And, the history of the château is quite dramatic with much intrigue, involvement of Prussia's Frederick the Great, Russian Empress Catherine the Great, and an owner who lost his life during the Terror. Eventually, his daughter inherited the estate which was purchased in the 19th century by the inventor of chrome. Today, it is a peaceful, inviting example of French château life at its best.  Don't miss the opportunity to spend your long French holiday at Château de Saint-Maclou. Enchanting Normandy is always a rewarding destination, and your holiday here will be filled with happy times and cherished memories. 
Please visit Château de Saint-Maclou on our site for more information 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 Maclou on the subject line. [Photos ©Robin and Nicola Gage. 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.  Salbris and the River
Sauldre  Salbris is a simple town with the River Sauldre, an affluent of the River Cher, as it's main attraction, in addition to the beautiful Eglise de Saint-Georges, around which the village grew gradually since Medieval times. The church walls date from the 12th century, the nave is from the 14th century and the choir from the 16th century ~ presenting several architectural periods. It's original bell tower was destroyed by a ferocious wind, so it was replaced in the 20th century. The interior has a fine marble altar, a beautiful Pieta, a pulpit carved by Pieter Braecke one of the initiators of Art Nouveau in 1900, and an amazing stained glass window that offers tribute to World War II. The building is a designated Monument Historique.
Welcome to our Newest Member Château Forge du Roy . . . in the remarkable Dordogne  Château Forge du Roy is truly an exceptional property in the popular Dordogne département of southwestern France. An ancient iron forge in the time of King Louis XIV and once the source of cannons for Napoleon's army, the complete renovation of The Forge created what today is a sumptuous and elegant getaway for groups of friends or family.  The
interior is elegant and luxurious
with beautiful and comfortable en suite bedrooms, a renovated barn as
luxurious as the château, and each with its own kitchen for those
who want a self-catering experience in France. Nearby outdoor
markets provide fresh local produce so that you can create your own
wonderful meals. See their pages on our site for a schedule of
local market days.There is a lake for fishing, completely stocked with trout and carp, two boats (or fish from the bridge!), and the lovely River Manaurie gently flowing through the estate. Dine indoors or outdoors under the pergola where you can also enjoy the firepit at night under the stars. Château Forge du Roy is located conveniently close to every main attraction and historic village in the Dordogne, including Sarlat, Domme, Beynac-et-Cazenac, Les Eysies, and the prehistoric caves of Lascaux ~ especially the newest replica cave recently opened in 2016.  Please visit the château on our site today, and contact us soon for your week or two at this very special getaway. Be sure to mention Forge in your email. Click on photos to see more.  Le Clos de la Garenne In
France's Charente-Maritime département is the village of
Puyravault and the cozy and welcoming Le Clos de la Garenne. Brigitte
and
Patrick
FRANÇOIS invite you to the bed and breakfast in their pretty
residence or in the Cottage. You can also rent the apartment
Tournesol or their newly renovated and beautifully contemporary
gîte. The Cottage, Apartment and Gîte all have
disabled access.
Location is everything, and Puyravault is but a short drive from the exceptional town of Surgères offering visitors the opportunity to visit the Renaissance Gate, the 12th century Château de Surgères, and the Eglise de Surgères whose construction began in the 11th century. A drive to the coast will take you to La Rochelle ~ a city with a thousand-year history ~ where you can stroll the Old Town and visit the Old Port with its distinctive and well-known twin towers. The city of Rochefort, home base of the replica L'Hermione (the Marquis de Lafayette's ship), and the islands of Île de Ré and Île d'Oleron are all nearby as well, making a stay at Le Close de la Garenne a perfect home base for interesting day trips.  Make your reservation today with an email to inquiry@au-chateau.com. Click on the photo to learn more! [Photo copyright M/M François. All Rights Reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .  Château
d'Agel in the Hérault département of the region
now called Occitanie (formerly Languedoc) is an appealing weekly rental
property with
Medieval charm and a refreshing swimming pool. At this writing they
still have July 8
to 29 available and Madame Ecal-Besse is willing to negotiate the price
for anyone interested in booking between those dates.
This is a marvelous Medieval château from the 12th century, which today is a comfortable getaway in the popular Minervois wine region. They also host small weddings. Charming and friendly hosts are waiting to welcome you, so contact us with questions or to reserve your week. And please specify Agel. FOR
SALE: Also in
this region of France is a lovely property that has been a member of au Château for the past 9
years. The owners are now interested in selling Castell Rose, a lovely
B&B, along with three air conditioned, almost-new gîtes that
are rented by the week. The property is 2.5 hectares (6 acres)
with spectacular views of the Pyrénées, less than an hour
to Spain and about 2 hours to Andorra. The beach at St-Cyprien
Plage is also under an hour.
If you would like to know more, including the asking price, please contact us and put Rose in the subject line. We will be happy to help you. Click on the photo below to see more.  View of Pyrénées from Castel Rose [Photo copyrighted M/M Waldvogel. All rights reserved.]
 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
a corporate retreat with meeting facilities. With a sleeping
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.
When you are next in Burgundy, a wonderful place to stay is La Borde Maison d'Hôtes luxury bed and breakfast offering beautiful, spacious en suite guest rooms, great meals and a very warm welcome from your hosts Rik and Marieke.  If you want exclusive use of the
property, a wide range of activities are organized including prestige
half day wine tasting with the former sommelier of the Elysée,
lunch and/or dinner at the domaine or restaurant of your choice, wine
tour and tasting in Chablis (half day), chocolate workshop and much
more. The privatization of the domaine is for up to 15 people for
family gatherings or business meetings. There is a fully-equipped
conference room (air conditioned) with welcome coffee, break and lunch.Visit La Borde on our site today to see photos and read more. This award-winning property (with award-winning gardens) will become a return destination year after year! We sadly bid adieu to three of our members this season. First, La Terrasse de Lautrec, a delightful village manoir in Lautrec with amazing French gardens and a view over the Tarn countryside. The owners have sold it, and the new owner will no longer offer guest accommodations. We had the pleasure of staying there on two occasions and enjoyed the history and uniqueness of this very special place. Le Prieuré in Biron is for sale and is no longer accepting guests. Do contact us if you are interested in purchasing this wonderful, fully-restored bed and breakfast in a hamlet that is home to the Château de Biron, a museum open to the public. Le Prieuré welcomed us on several occasions, and we will miss the opportunity to stay there again. Perhaps the new owners will re-open it to guests. If you are interested in the prospect of becoming its next proprietor, please contact us. We also must say good-bye to Château de Gauville in Normandy. The American owners have decided to no longer to offer it as a weekly rental and only use it for themselves, their family and friends. Of course, we wish them the best.
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: Salmon with Tarragon
Cream & Mushrooms This
delicious recipe is simple and quite French.
[Recipe adapted from
Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library FISH cookbook.You will need four salmon fillets, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 pound of fresh thinly sliced mushrooms, 1-1/2 to 2 cups of dry vermouth, 1 cup of heavy cream 2 tablespoons of fresh tarragon finely chopped, and salt and pepper to taste. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat, and add the mushrooms and cook until tender. Transfer all to a shallow bowl. Pour about one inch of vermouth into the sauté pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the salmon fillets. Cover and poach the fish for about 8 minutes or until opaque throughout when tested with a fork. Transfer the fillets to a platter and cover to keep them warm.  With high heat reduce the juices in the sauté pan until they thicken slightly, perhaps for 6 to 7 minutes. Lower to medium heat and gently stir in mushrooms, cream and tarragon and cook for 2 minutes to reduce the juices further. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Plate the salmon and distribute the mushroom sauce over and serve immediately. This recipe will serve four, and a green vegetable such as asparagus is a nice complement. Bon appétit! Cover photo does not represent this recipe.] 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 128 - Where are we? from our Autumn 2016 issue The village is Salies de Béarn in Basque country. The first correct response was received from one of our long-time subscribers, an American expat living in the Dordogne of southwest France. We sent her our congratulations along with the Château Note Cards. Our thanks to everyone who participated.
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