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Winter 2017/2018 In this issue . . .  Our
Featured
B&B: Château du
Fraisse in the Limousin An Invitation to Château de Courtomer for a
Spring getaway
Our Featured Rental: Château
d'Ambrus in Gascony News &
Offers from our Membersand More! Don't wait too long to plan your château stay . . . You can still book for 2018 ~ and get ahead of the crowds for 2019.. 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. Our Featured B&B: Château du Fraisse in the Haute Vienne of the Limousin ~  Château du Fraisse Château
du Fraisse came into the family in 1220 by the
marriage of Dame Quitterie du Fraisse, last descendant of the family of
that name, to Urban Monstiers. England's Black Prince burned it
down in 1356, and it was rebuilt after the Hundred Years War by Jacques
des Monstiers. The main part, dating from the 16th century, was
built by Jean des Monstiers de Froissac, Bishop of Bayonne and
Ambassador for French Kings François I, Henri II and Charles V.
 Elegant Dining Room   The
back of the château and
the park
We have returned to this wonderful place five times over the years, not only because we have such warm feelings for the owners but also to spend time at this historic Château bed & breakfast and the many charming villages in the region. For visitors with an interest in WWII history there is the nearby Oradour s/Glane, the memorial village that suffered a brutal massacre on June 10, 1944. It has been preserved exactly as it was left that day. But, on a happier note, there is charming Mortemart with a castle dating back to 995 AD and designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its covered market and tiny lanes make it a must visit. Up the hill is the commune of Montrol-Senard, beautifully cared for and now an 'ecomuseum'. The two villages make a pleasant day out in the countryside of Monts de Blond. And don't miss a visit to Le Dorat to see the 11th century Romanesque Church of St-Pierre, the largest collegiate church in the center of France. Forty kilometers southeast of the château is the city of Limoges, capital of the Haute-Vienne département and a center for Medieval and Renaissance enamels on copper, 19th century porcelain, and oak barrels used for Cognac and Bordeaux wines ~ some are also exported to California. Be sure to view the video of Château du Fraisse.  For reservations or more information about Château du Fraisse, contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com. [Photos
© Famille des Monstiers de Mérinville. All Rights
Reserved.]
An Invitation ~
Rent Château de Courtomer for the perfect Spring Getaway  The orangerie at Château de Courtomer We
all need a rejuvenating Spring break when winter finally comes to a
close, so why not gather your friends and family for a week or longer
stay at Normandy's lovely Château de Courtomer?
Spring is a beautiful time of year to visit any region of France, but May is especially stunning as Normandy bristles with life: apple orchards are in full flower, the first foals are cantering around the fields and Normandy dairy cattle are out grazing in the lush meadows. Whether you are looking for a Spring getaway, a wedding venue or the celebration of a family event, Château de Courtomer would be happy to welcome you. First time guests will receive one night as the owners' treat and a complimentary gift.   Full-service support is now provided for guests seeking an increased level of attention during their stay. Additional services, booked in advance, now include on-site concierge, housekeeping, catering or a private chef, special event management and much more. Tailor-made packages for conferences and meetings are also offered. No requirement is too big or too small, so be sure to inquire when booking your stay.  Visit Château de Courtomer on our site today to learn all about this elegant estate only an hour and a half by train from Paris or two and a half hours by car. We look forward to assisting you with your reservations or to answer your questions. Contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com. [Photos
copyrighted by E. Bonner. All rights reserved.]
French Quiz 132 Where are we? Hint: a center of education only 6 miles from
the Mediterranean
Please
provide the name of this beautiful city. will receive our exclusive Château Note Cards. 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 newsletter. [Photo
©
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.] Our
Featured Rental: Château d' Ambrus
 Château d'Ambrus
Château d' Ambrus traces its roots to the year 1259 and its most notable visitor, King Henri IV, is best known for his Edict of Nantes giving religious freedom to Protestants and as the grandfather of King Louis XIV. The Château is self-catering and rented by the week with a maximum capacity of 30 guests. There is a large swimming pool, tennis court, a 20-hectare park and interior courtyard for dining en plein air.   Swimming Pool Medieval Entry Hall Your first impression when entering the château will be the Medieval atmosphere of the vast hall, adorned with furnishings and reminders that you are in the land of the Three Musketeers. In fact, Charles de Batz-Castelmore d'Artagnan was the real person on whom Alexandre Dumas based his novel. Charles was born in Lupiac, 68 kilometers to the south, and you can visit the Musée d'Artagnan in the village.  
Guest
suite
One of several salons
We are assisting visitors with their reservations for the summer of 2019, so why not contact us for your vacation in Gascony? You won't regret time spent in this incredible château in a very special region of France.  Please visit Château d' Ambrus on our site
to see more photos and read about all it has to offer. Contact us for answers to
your questions or to make a reservation.
[Photos © Famille d'Arthuys family. 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.  Gargoyle ~ Moulins Cathedral Once the seat of the powerful Dukes of Bourbon, and in addition to the cathedral, it attracts visitors with its Centre National du Costume de Scène et de la Scènographie - the only of its kind in France with costumes and scenery from the Comédie-Française and the National Opéra of Paris among others.   Locals
will tell you not to miss the 1898 brasserie Le Grand Café at 49, place
d'Allier in the town centre. We enjoyed lunch there and learned
that it was known for having been frequented in 1914 by a young Maurice
Chevalier, later by Coco Chanel and was the setting for a chapter of Maigret Goes Home by Georges
Simenon. A television movie in 2008, Coco Chanel, had some scenes filmed
in this beautiful brasserie.
All the celebrity history aside, we were very impressed by the stunning Art Nouveau dining room, (with a touch of Art Déco here and there) an incredibly beautiful stained glass skylight, architecture by Italian Golfione and the ceiling frescoe by Auguste Sauroy. It is considered one of the most beautiful brasseries in France and was designated a Monument Historique in February of 1978 ~ 40 years ago this month.  Where
to stay: When in the
Allier, we highly recommend Le Vieux Murs,
an elegant château built at the beginning of the 20th century
outside the pleasant village of Souvigny.
Tour the neighboring villages on country roads to see the abundance of Romanesque architecture, and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of your hosts at Le Vieux Murs. Contact us for answers to your questions or booking information.  [Photos copyrighted Cold Spring Press. Vieux Murs photos copyrighted by M/Mme Louyot . All Rights Reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .  The Château Forge du Roy in the Dordogne sends you the following update: For
2018, our availability is now as follows (showing weeks commencing) :
April
14, 21, 28
June
9 and 30
September 1, 8,
15, 22, 29
October
13, 20, 27 June
and September are temperate and perfect for holidays. We
have
a number of games on the Estate, and there is a huge selection of
entertaining activities within easy reach.  Château Rhodes in the Ariège département of the Occitanie region, has a new owner ~ well, to be honest the 'new owners' are the past owners who first joined the au Château web site 15 years ago: David and Hiroko Sindell. They never stopped loving Château Rhodes, and when they heard it was for sale, they purchased it. Be sure to visit them on our site and, perhaps, you will see that it is a great place for your next gathering of family and friends. LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY: Château d'Agel
in
the Hérault département,
quite near Narbonne, Béziers and Carcassonne, has
had a last-minute cancellation for the week of April 21st to April
28th. Madame Ecal-Besse is offering to rent the château for
the week at a 15% discount
off the current posted rate. Six double rooms and a triple room
sleep 15 people. Contact
us if you are interested.
In February of 2018 Château de Saint-Maclou-La-Campagne will come under new ownership as well. The new owners will continue to host guests at this magnificent property, and when we have more details about them and their plans, we will let you know. FOR SALE!! The
amazing Castell Rose château near Perpignan in
'the other south of France' is for sale. This beautiful property
offers astounding views of the Pyrénées while having easy
access to Mediterranean beaches and ~ it could not be in a more
perfect
location to continue the existing profitable B&B business or make
it a family home with unlimited space and comfort.
 Although the château is for sale, guest reservations will be accepted and honored until a time when an offer to buy is in place. See for yourself what a wonderful destination Castell Rose is for that vacation getaway for winter skiing in the Pyrénées or enjoying spring, summer and fall in one of the prettiest regions of France. Contact us soon if you have questions, want to book your stay or need more details about Castell Rose. 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: French Onion Soup We have adapted this recipe from The New York Times,
updated from the original 1954 (!) recipe. You will need 3 tablespoons of
unsalted butter, 2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced. 3/4 teaspoon
salt, 2 quarts of beef stock, 1 cup dry white wine, 1 tablespoon
of dry sherry, 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon black
pepper, French bread sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces and aged
Gruyère cheese (grated).  Melt butter in a heavy Dutch
oven over medium heat. Add onions and ½ teaspoon salt, stir and
cover, letting onions soften for 5 minutes. Remove lid and let onions
caramelize until golden brown over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Adjust heat if onions are browning too quickly. The caramelization
process may take 45 to 60 minutes. Meanwhile, warm broth in a saucepan over low heat. Once onions are caramelized, add wine and sherry to the pot and allow mixture to come to boil. Stir in flour and let thicken for a minute or two. Slowly add warm broth, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper to the onion mixture and boil uncovered for 10 minutes. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Heat the broiler, and arrange individual ovenproof casseroles on a baking sheet. Ladle soup into casseroles, and cover top with bread slices. Sprinkle each casserole generously with Gruyère. Broil for a minute or two, watching carefully, until cheese melts and browns. Serve immediately. Serves
4 to 6.
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 131 - Where are we? from our Autumn 2017 issue The depiction of Joan of Arc at the stake can be found in Paris at the Panthéon. We only received one correct answer, and that was from a long-time subscriber in South Carolina. Our exclusive Château Note Cards were sent to her with our thanks. We appreciate everyone who participated.
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