Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in France:

Wine of the Languedoc-Roussilion region of France
. . . together with the traditional regional cuisine

The Languedoc is one of the most fascinating areas of Europe, blessed with a wonderful climate, rich wildlife, a spectacular coast and beautiful scenery . . . mountains, rivers and lakes, ancient cities, towns, villages, thermal springs, abbeys, cathedrals, châteaux and castles. It is a wonderful holiday destination with its long sunny days. An area rich in history with wonderful French regional food specialities and Languedoc wines to enjoy.

The Languedoc region is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Pyrenees to the south, the region of Midi-Pyrenees to the west and the Massif Central to the north. The Mediterranean is in the south of the region and to the east is the Rhône River. Montpellier and Toulouse are the main cities. The southern portion of the region, known as Bas Languedoc, is a limestone plain where almost half of all French wine is produced.

The Languedoc is divided into two distinct areas, the plains of the Bas Languedoc and the rugged terrain of the Haute Languedoc, towards Provence and the Alps. The Haute Languedoc is a sparsly populated, mountainous area which includes the Parc National des Cévennes. The weather in the region is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers, rainy winters and pleasant springs and autumns making it an ideal wine growing area. You can expect to get three hundred days of sunshine a year in the Languedoc!

Domaine du Puits es Pratx

Situated in Ginestas, between Carcassonne and Narbonne, in the Minervois wine region of the Languedoc, is the Domaine du Puits es Pratx Chateau Hotel which provides Bed and Breakfast and self catering accommodation, as well as having its own restaurant . . . what is more, it is in these delightful surroundings that you can further develop your cooking skills and and get away from the hustle and bustle of Twenty-first century life and completely relax.

The Domaine, with its Napoleon III Chateau, family restaurant and four cottages, is situated in the medieval Occitania, land of the ill fated Cathars, slaughtered in the brutal Albigensian crusade. It is located in the beautiful wine growing region of the Minervois, between the stunning slopes of the Montagne Noire and the Mediterranean Sea with a magnificent natural back-drop of the majestic Pyrenees.

This amazing area has unrivalled rural countryside filled with many vineyards, divided by the majestic Canal du Midi and the river Aude, after which the area takes its name. It is an area with an exceptional quality of light and peacefulness. Time stands still in the mountains, yet the Domaine is within easy reach of bustling market towns and the coast, with long beaches and harbour villages. With miles of quietly ripening grapes, fields of majestic sunflowers and medieval castles, contrasts abound and so can your imagination. Surrounded by peace, spoil yourself and relax in luxury.

Goholidayfrance wine tours specialise in helping you discover only the finest wines from a little known part of southern France - the Corbiéres and Minervois wine regions of the Languedoc. The Romans originally discovered that the area was perfect for producing wine but for the last two hundred years the art of producing quality wine had been lost, until now that is.

This region is now creating some of the most exciting and delicious wine produced in France today. These superb wines are available only through visits to small, independent, family-owned producers that we have built up a special relationship with and who you would otherwise be unable to visit. Although the Languedoc-Roussilion region of Southern France still boasts the largest acreage of vineyards in the world, very few of the quality wines produced there actually reach the UK.

The wine tours are combined with cooking courses discovering the traditional regional cuisine of the area, history, sightseeing and culture. Your holiday is designed around what you want to do and how much relaxation you want and how many excursions you would like to do, we are quite flexible.

Wine tours and Wine Appreciation courses are also available, visiting some of the other most distinctive regions in the Languedoc:

• Banyuls
• Fitou
• La Clape
• St Chinian
• Limoux
• Coteau de Languedoc
• La Lavinniére
• Minervois
• Corbières.

The grape varieties include:

• Grenache
• Carignan
• Syrah
• Mourvedre
• Viognier
• Merlot

Accommodation is offered in the Chateau Hotel that includes Bed and Breakfast and self-catering. Courses include Wine tasting and tours, Food and Cooking courses, Cultural and Historic tours, Photography and Painting. In order to offer our restaurant guests the very best wine from the region we have spent considerable time researching and we have been truly amazed, particularly, by some of the younger generation of vignerons in this area, by their dedication and determination to produce the very best quality wines without compromising any of the natural process or flavours. We can hopefully pass on some of the 'personal' touch, passion and energy that has gone into the production and discovery of these wonderful wines.

Holiday wine route tours through France

Goholidayfrance also offer wine tours incorporating other routes through the rest of France. One of which we start at Paris which has many hidden secrets - the pocket-sized vineyards of Montmartre are one of the most charming. From there, staying at delightful Bed and Breakfast Hotels on the way, you are guided through Champagne and onto Dijon and Bourgogne. Driving through France over five days you will also stay in Provence, eventually arriving with us in the Languedoc. All the accommodation and wine visits are organised for you, leaving you to enjoy a gentle meander through the countryside of France enjoying gastronomic experiances on the way. Please contact Goholidayfrance for more details.

Please email the owner for prices of courses and accommodation <click here>

Examples of French wine and cooking itineraries

Minervois to St Chinian Domaine Bastide de Cabezac Cébazan Roquebrun Gorges D'Heric St Chinian Assignan St Jean de Minervois Domaine. On this tour we travel from the Minervois wine region specializing in oaked, full grenache reds and complex grape combinations including Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvedre planted up to twenty years ago. We travel into the Black mountains to a completely different terroir of St Chinian that produces thick peppery reds and fruit filled gooseberry whites on limestone rocky soil. In the late afternoon we enjoy a cooking class including foods like Pintarde in red wine, dijon mustard and prunes, black fig, goats cheese and red onion tart. In the evening you enjoy a gourmet meal at the Chateau. Minervois and Minervois La Liviniere Domaine Pouzols Olonzac Trois Blaisons Minerve Siran La Liviniere Laure Minervois Domaine On this tour we travel within the Minervois wine region. It is rare to find wines from this region in wine merchants in this country. It is overshadowed by its immediate neighbour, the Corbieres, but this delightful appelation has many secrets to reveal. Within it is the minute region of Minervois La Liviniere, just a smattering of Wine Caves that have won the right to their own Appelation Controle. The Minervois specialises in grape varieties such as Maccabeu, Marsanne and Chardonney. This is followed by a late afternoon of hands-on cooking lessons, followed by a four course evening meal containing some of the food that you have prepared. Foods include Oreillettes, Rose flavoured paper-thin fritters. Corbieres and Mont D'Alaric Domaine Gasparets Boutenac Lagrasse Monze and Mont D'Alaric Lezignan Ventenac Domaine On this tour we travel into the Corbieres wine region. We enter the Chais of the Vignerons themselves, are shown the processes involved in the vinification production. In the Vendage we have the opportunity to become involved in the picking of grapes and the festivities of the harvest. The wines here are rich full blooded reds, 100% Syrah and combinations such as grenache and carignan. In the late afternoon we enjoy a cooking class including foods like clafouti poêlé aux fruits frais and we prepare fish such as dorade, sea bream and shell fish of the region, mussels, oysters and prawns. In the evening you enjoy another gourmet meal at the Chateau. Castles Domaine Tuchan Chateau D'Aguilar Embres et Castelmaure St Jean de Barrou Durban de Corbieres Thézan de Corbieres Abbey de Fontfroide Domaine On this tour we travel even deeper into the Corbieres wine region, almost as far as the Spanish border, visiting the Cathar Castles of Queribus and Perypeteuse . We are in French Catalonia now, the land of French Rugby and of Fitou. We only visit a few of the co-operative caves, but this time we visit one of the most forward thinking in the Languedoc. They have completely turned around a flagging and almost dying co-operative system into that with one of the highest qualities, exporting all over the world. In the evening relax and enjoy the gourmet food and wine. Carcasonne and Limoux Domaine Carcassonne castle Cave de Razes Limoux Rennes le Chateau Arques Chateau de Durfort Lagrasse Fabrizan Domaine On this tour we travel over to Carcassonne and visit the World Heritage Site of the medieval Carcassonne Castle, we then travel west to another region next to the Corbieres, Limoux and Carcassonne. Here we find the famous sparkling Blancquettes and Cremeau of Limoux that they claim were predecessors of Champagne. This is also an area famous for their Chardonnay, not the thick oaky variety but light and vibrant. Followed by a late afternoon of hands-on cooking lessons, and a four course evening meal containing some of the food that you have prepared. Foods include Pear and Apple Flaugnarde, This batter pudding originated from the Corrèze, a superb soufflé like cake.

Please email the owner for prices of courses and accommodation <click here>

Chateau Accommodation

The Domaine provides Bed and Breakfast accommodation with five bedrooms in the Chateau. Self-catering rentals are available in five cottages and the Chateau garden apartment suite. The accommodation is set within four acres of peaceful gardens, with a large heated swimming pool, in the sunny Languedoc region of the South of France. All the bedrooms have extremely comfortable, large beds and charming decor. Delicious gourmet food is served in the family run restaurant that is only open to guests. he restaurant cater for all dietary needs and has a child-friendly menu as well. Dining is in the elegant dining room or by candlelight on the terrace, under the magnificent trees in the garden.

Large heated pool - covered in the low season Trampoline Table tennis Netball Badminton . Children's videos available Bicycles for adults and children Barbecue facilities Televisions Hairdryers Air conditioning units in bedrooms Internet access and computer available Laundry facilities Bath and Swimming towels provided Bedrooms cleaned daily Picnic hampers available Large living room with Sky television Cots and highchairs available Babysitting available Drinks and bar service available Family Restaurant available to all guests Airport transfers organized for you at cost Welcome drinks

The Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the Chateau sleeps twelve and the house hasa main dining room which can seat eighteen and a smaller dining room opposite, which can seat ten. There is a comfortable and stylish living room for relaxation with Sky television and sterio music. The accommodation in the Chateau is made up of one self-catering apartment and five bedrooms.

Self-Catering Rental Accommodation

Self-catering facilities include:

Large heated pool - covered in the low season Trampoline Table tennis Netball Badminton Children's videos available Bicycles for adults and children Barbecue facilities Televisions Laundry facilities All bed linen and kitchen towels All bath towels provided Cots and highchairs available Family Restaurant available to all guests Airport transfers organized for you at cost Welcome pack

.

The Courtyard Cottages - the cottages sleep from two to twelve people, together or cater for a couple in a small cottage or big families or groups in larger cottages .They are within an enclosed historic courtyard belonging to the Chateau's old wine Domaine. All have sun-patios and barbecue facilities and lead to the orchard, vineyard, gardens and swimming pool beyond.

Creative courses in gourmet cooking and dining, wine appreciation, photography and painting are available, balancing tuition with tours discovering the lovely countryside, tragic history, village fetes, markets and the French way of life.

Wine tours and Wine Appreciation courses are available, visiting the some of the most distinctive regions in France.

Combination courses are held regularly, which combine a variety of activities along side Sightseeing and Wine tours from the Domaine discovering Carcassonne, Montpellier, charming fishing villages, the Black Mountains, Minérve, Abbaye de Fontfroide, Lagrasse and more. The Combination courses can be tailor made for you to encompass all of the activities and sightseeing that you are interested in taking part in and allowing enough time for relaxation as well.

Have fun learning undiscovered skills, capture your imagination
and return home refreshed and invigorated

Walking or biking and guided tours are organized for tours along the Vermillion coast, beside the sea etangs and through the Pyrenees and Corbiéres Mountains, climbing to Cathar castles and visiting medieval villages.

The Pyrenees and the Black Mountains are ideal locations for both the experienced and the novice in Mountaineering and Rock climbing. In the winter the Mountains are ideal for Snow Shoeing, Skiing and off-piste guiding. There is also Kayaking and White River Rafting in the mountain gorges, canoeing and Swimming in the Mountain Rivers and Horse Riding in the hills.

For more relaxation, daily Canal boat trips are included in combination courses, which gently cruise along the Canal du Midi stopping for wine degustasions and a buffet lunch on the way. The long, hot, sandy beaches of the Mediterranean are only twenty minutes away offering perfect wind-surfing and Para-gliding. There are also many water sports on the many inland lakes in the area. There is swimming in the sea, golf on the coast and plenty of relaxation as well, in four acres of private gardens with a large heated swimming pool; there are extensive children's activities on site as well and a baby-sitting service is available.

Discover new places and greater challenges; enjoy a combination outdoor activity holiday individually designed for you.

Airport and rail transfers can be organised, for more information and help with travel, please contact the owner.