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Summer 2019 In this issue . . .  Our
Featured
B&B: Château
de Picomtal
Our Featured Rental: Château
de Chanzé MEET OUR NEWEST
MEMBER! Château de La
Meynardie News &
Offers from our Membersand More! 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 de Picomtal in the Southern French Alps  Château de Picomtal If you are seeking a spectacular
location for your stay in France, this château is it! A
Medieval treasure that was nearly completely restored by the owners ~
from the towers to the gardens over four-year period ~ is now a
luxurious, authentic castle welcoming bed and breakfast guests from
April through October.
Perhaps you will have the opportunity to watch the video of the major construction projects that brought it back from years of neglect to make it the comfortable and authentic château that welcomes guests today. The comforts of the château's nine guest rooms include en suite bathrooms, period furnishings, and views over the lovely countryside. Enjoy wandering through the gardens or taking in the view of Lac Serre-Ponçon and the backdrop of the Southern French Alps. Take day trips Aix-en-Provence, the Parc National de Écrins, Abbaye de Boscodon, or go skiing, hiking, walking or enjoy water sports on the Durance River.  Classes
in French cuisine at Château de Picomtal
For those who wish to have a week at
the château with their children or other family members, the
Annexe offers an apartment for up to four people that can be yours for
a week or longer. Visit Château de
Picomtal on our web site to see and read more ~ especially photos
of the gardens and a view of the lake.
  Salle
a manger
Chambre Guillaume
We can personally recommend this
château for an authentic French experience and a warm welcome
from truly charming hosts whose dedication to the estate and
their guests is without exception.
For reservations or more
information contact
us at inquiry@au-chateau.com, and
we'll be happy to help. [Photos
© Jacques Peureux & Sharon Halperin. All Rights
Reserved.]
Our Featured Rental:
Château de Chanzé Medieval gem in the Loire Valley . . .  Château de Chanzé salon and dining The location of Château de Chanzé could not be better ~ it is in the lovely Loire Valley by the River Layon only 1.5 hours from Paris by train. The exceptional 11th century Medieval château sleeps up to fifteen guests, the gîtes each have all the amenities for self-catering holidays and the chambre d'hôte is the perfect short-term getaway.   Chambre Henri IV in château Swimming Pool & Château There is not only a fine heated swimming pool for the guests, but a wellness center with a spa bath, infrared sauna and massage shower. Guest rooms are decorated with period furnishings, but all modern amenities are included to make your 21st century holiday the perfect Medieval-themed escape.  
Château de Chanzé
Gîtes
The château is on the banks of the River Layon
 Visit Château de Chanzé on our site today to learn all about this historic estate to rent for your special occasion or a holiday away with family and friends. We look forward to assisting you with your reservations or to answer your questions. Contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com. [Photos
copyrighted by Michael
Stösser & Sonia Townshend. All
rights reserved.]
French Quiz 136 Where are we? Hint: beaches here are popular with surfers
Name
the town, and (if you can)
this memorable landmark. a set of our au Château Notecards. 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 next newsletter. [Photo
© Wikimedia. All Rights Reserved.] Welcome our newest member. . .
Château
de La Meynardie
This château is ideal for a
week or two exploring the Dordogne with its prehistoric caves,
perched villages and, of course, the lovely River Dordogne. The
château and Orangerie can comfortably accommodate 23 people, and
guests will enjoy the heated swimming pool, the tennis court,
pétanque (boules), badminton, croquet, and several other
activities including swings for the children.
 Guest rooms are spacious
and comfortable with large windows overlooking the parc. The
common rooms include a kitchen where guests can prepare their own meals
using the organic vegetables grown in the garden. Dining in the
elegant dining room or en plein air will
be pleasant, and gala dinners
and receptions can be organized. [Photo right Grand
Chambre in Orangerie]  Whether you want to relax in or around the heated swimming pool after a day of sightseeing or gather with your traveling companions in the spacious salon and library, you will find Château de la Meynardie the perfect choice for your time in the Dordogne. Limoges and Bergerac airports are convenient to the château where you can rent a car and drive to Château de la Meynardie in about an hour.  We have already booked a group at the château for two weeks in 2020, so if you are interested in making your reservation or want to get more information, do contact us and we will assist you and answer all your questions.
Villes et Villages de France . . . we hope to tempt you to visit these marvelous placeswhen you are roaming through the French countryside.  Mimizan Plage The Atlantic
coastal villages
of Mimizan and Mimizan Plage with its beautiful beaches are worth a
small detour from your
drive on the A63 between Bordeaux and Bayonne in the Landes département. Exit onto the D626 for about 35
kilometers, and you're
there! The wide sandy beaches are clean and the water is warm and
inviting
to both swimmers and surfers.
  The boardwalk and the
seating and stage for musical performances
Mimizan is a pleasant village that offers visitors a casino, an abbey museum, an adventure park with activities for all ages, salt water fishing, and the spectacular La Promenade Fleurie ~ a beautiful garden open for wandering 24 hours a day. There are a many small hotels from which to choose as well as restaurants in town and on the boardwalk facing the sea.   
La Promenade
Fleurie
Landes Adventure
Park
The beautiful Côte d'Argent
We always return to Mimizan and
Mimizan Plage when we are in the southwest for the peaceful, relaxing
atmosphere we find there. We hope you will spend a day or more
here to unwind and enjoy the salt air.
 [Photos copyrighted Cold Spring Press unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .  We regret to bid adieu to several of our members who either decided to sell their properties or close their lodgings for various reasons. We will truly miss Albéric and Maria d'Orléans at Château de Rère in the beautiful Sologne. Over the years it was one of our most popular château destinations and one we enjoyed so much when we were their guests. Château des Tesnières in Brittany was another favorite of ours and travelers alike. The charming owners Siebren and John decided to retire from the hospitality business, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We want to congratulate our friend, Isabelle Grassé, on the recent sale of her beautiful Château de Rouffillac high on a hill overlooking the lovely River Dordogne. Also no longer with us are Domaine de Biar and Château de Castelmerle. We will miss them all, as we know that so many travelers will, too.  Château
de Courtomer, a very elegant property in Normandy,
will be running a special
Fall promotion:  Clients
will receive a 10% discount on a château stay / and or Farmhouse
booking for reservations made before
August 31 for dates between
October 21 and December 3, 2019. Stays must be a minimum of 3
nights and a maximum of 7 nights. Autumn is an ideal time of year to visit France to enjoy good weather and the absence of crowds. For information, please contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com and mention Courtomer in the subject line. We will quote prices and check availability. Wonderful news!
 The magnificent Prieuré du Château de Biron is once again open to guests and has returned to our web site. The French owner, Elisabeth Vedier, has decided not to  sell
it after all, to the great relief of so many of her faithful and
returning guests. To discover this wonderful getaway for yourself ~ in the village it shares with the massive Château de Biron museum ~ only a few kilometers from the market town of Monpazier, send us an email at inquiry@au-chateau.com and mention Biron in the subject line.  Château de la Ballue in Brittany regularly hosts classical music concerts for the public and its guests. Bed and breakfast guests are warmly welcomed and  will experience authentic
château life in
wonderful accommodations. A highlight of your stay here will be the magnificent gardens for which the château is famous. Please watch this video for a closer look and then visit them on our site. Contact us with questions or to make your reservation. AND DON'T FORGET . . .   FOR SALE: A fine Domaine near the Canal du Midi and the walled city of Carcassonne is for sale. Set on two and a half beautiful acres of parkland, this much-loved home offers 3 guest rooms/suites and a self-catering gîte ~ perfect for continuing its successful bed and breakfast business. To learn more, contact us for details, photos and asking price. 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 through au Château.  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: Pear, Brie & Thyme Tartine We are going to review a new book, Cook Like a Local in
France, in our upcoming newsletter, FRANCE On Your Own, and this recipe is
among the many luscious offerings by authors Lynne Martin and Deborah
Scarborough.
Bon appétit! This beautiful book filled with fine color photographs was just published on June 4th. You can buy it in bookstores or order online from Amazon with a click below:  Published in 2019 by The Countryman Press, a division of W.W. Norton Co. New York, New York. ISBN 978-1-68268-327-9 And, subscribe to the online newsletter, FRANCE On Your Own from our sister web site of the same name. Published since 1997, our newsletter offers regional reviews, expat experiences, and lots of travel information to explore FRANCE On Your Own. And, it's Free! Click here to subscribe. Please put Subscribe in the subject line. 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 135- Where are we? from our Spring issue We were looking at the façade of the Chancellerie of the Université de Paris, Sorbonne - typically known as La Sorbonne. Founded in 1150 it is considered the second oldest university in Europe, the oldest being the University of Bologna, Italy. La Sorbonne has three distinct schools: Science, Arts & Humanities and Medicine. There were NO correct answers, so we will try to make future quizzes a bit easier! We appreciate everyone's participation.
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