SHORT BREAKS COOKING : FRANCE	COOKING VACATIONS

ART DE VIVRE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS
. . . learn to cook and speak French in the Loire Valley

Less than two hours from Paris, the Loire Valley is known as France's Valley of the Kings as it was the chosen home of French royalty for centuries. It has always been a place of residence, pleasure, refinement, art and spectacular gastronomy.

Only fifteen minutes from Saumur, Fontevraud is a stunning village where its inhabitants are happy to share with you the French country life with the gentle flow of the Loire river, beautiful landscapes and still active troglodytic villages.

ABOUT PARFUM DE FRANCE

Parfum de France is a small language school offering French themed courses associating culture and art de vivre, which includes cooking holidays, run from the home of your teacher and host, Sylvie Reeves, and in the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud and surrounding area.

Sylvie, is French, multilingual and an experienced foreign language teacher. The language centre is based in the family home in Fontevraud, within walking distance of the Royal Abbey.

"I have been a language learner myself for German, Spanish and English. My professional adult training experience has involved teaching individual and company students in several schools in England and in France.

After eighteen years as the Head of the Language Centre at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saumur, I decided to set up my own home-based business in 2006.

My expertise and enthusiasm will ensure that this is a positive learning experience for you. My approach is always completely focused on helping you to improve your capacities and scope in French".

As well as the language courses there is the holiday gite which is ideally located in the historic centre of the village of Fontevraud in the Loire Valley. Only a minute's walking distance from the Royal Abbey the gite has been delightfully restored both as a holiday rental and, if available, for those on courses to stay in . . . enabling you to enjoy the summer delights of the country garden or the warmth of the fireplace in the winter.

COOKERY COURSES IN FRANCE WITH PARFUM DE FRANCE

This unique course includes two cookery workshops with the Chef from the famous La Licorne restaurant, just opposite your teacher's home and one cookery session with a chef friend Mike who will be happy to welcome you in his wonderful tuffeau house, just a few miles away from Fontevraud in a typical Loire valley village called Varennes sur Loire.

You can position this workshop on Friday mornings and move the château of Brézé visit to the afternoon. In fact the wine cave visit to Domaine des Roches Neuves can be done on the Monday evening.

Thirty-five hours of French:

Twelve hours of face to face and twenty-three hours of accompanied activities (for example the three 4-hour cookery workshops) with your teacher.

About the programme:

It has been designed for wine lovers and gourmets seeking to combine a French learning experience with the pleasures of preparing some of the most outstanding food of the region tasting luxurious wines and generally making the most of the local art de vivre in and around Fontevraud.

Chef Fabrice Bretel

The location and the Chef:

• At La Licorne restaurant in Fontevraud L’Abbaye and at Les Peupliers in Varennes-sur -Loire , luxury is at the service of simple joys.

• Master Chef Fabrice Bretel has established his exclusive cuisine in an Eighteenth century tuffeau residence in Fontevraud. He will offer you the truly special experience to learn about the endless variety of the Loire regional specialities.

The Chef's philosophy:

Their cuisine is inspired by local authentic products and dishes which warm the heart and reassure the taste buds. The refinement is in the secret of how it is prepared and how wines are carefully selected to live with the cuisine.

About the two gourmet cooking workshops:

The aim is to explore the best of French culinary traditions with all the colour and savours of terroir by taking part in creating menus with talented chefs and in learning the art of wine-tasting. Using the correct terms you will analyse the wine in your mouth and describe the aromas and flavours of some of the greatest local vintages. Your flair, imagination and your own love for food and wine will be enhanced.

Throughout the sessions you are accompanied by your language trainer whose role is to facilitate understanding and encourage you to engage in natural conversation with the chefs.
You will actually visit the farms where the chefs get the ingredients for delicious recipes.

About the visit of the wine cellars, the vineyards and the wine tasting sessions:

You will be invited by Thierry Germain and Michel Chevré from the Domaine des Roches Neuves to discover the art of cultivating and tasting wine in Anjou, a region renowned for the wide range of its wines, from the reds, rosés, whites and sparkling, to the prestigious appellations d'origine contrôlée. A well-marked wine-route leads you through the prettiest vineyards, with countless wine estates to stop at and many with dramatic wine cellars. Growing wine plays a fundamental part in the history of Anjou.

The Anjou vineyards are 20,000 acres of fertile land. Over 28 appellations: Savennières, Saumur Brut. You will explore the vineyards and see for yourself the important of the vigneron's nurturing and become acquainted with production techniques.

SAMPLE PROGRAMME

Day 1 (Sunday):
		Sylvie, your teacher and permanent guide for the week welcomes you in the stunning village of Fontevraud L’Abbaye. She will present you the delightful programme concocted for you around a cocktail in the Logis de France hotel down the road from her home. Dinner and evening at your leisure, enabling you to relax before your active cultural week!
Day 2 (Monay):
		In the morning, Sylvie welcomes you in her residence for a day full of discoveries about the Loire Valley’s gastronomic features. This region is often called the garden of France and is described by the writer Michelet as “a homespun dress fringed with gold”. You’ll learn about the history and culture of the local gastronomy. You’ll carry on getting to grips with French and gastronomy over lunch in the village. In the afternoon, you’ll consolidate your knowledge about regional produce and savoir-faire preparing for the cooking workshop the following day. In the latter part afternoon, a wine expert of the Domaine des Roches Neuves in Varrains, will guide you through an exploration of wine tasting and oenology (the art of wine making). His presentation takes us through the different appellations and terroirs, explaining production techniques and the wines of the region. A visit to the cellars is completed by a tasting session of a selection of wines together with the tricks of the trade to identity and fully appreciate their qualities. Your nose and palate develop as the session unfolds to interpret the different savours and aromas inherent in each wine. In the latter part afternoon, a wine expert of the Domaine des Roches Neuves in Varrains, will guide you through an exploration of wine tasting and oenology (the art of wine making). His presentation takes us through the different appellations and terroirs, explaining production techniques and the wines of the region. A visit to the cellars is completed by a tasting session of a selection of wines together with the tricks of the trade to identity and fully appreciate their qualities. Your nose and palate develop as the session unfolds to interpret the different savours and aromas inherent in each wine. This presentation is not intended to make experts of everyone, but to ensure each participant has the knowledge and techniques to fully appreciate the diverse and rich nature of this uniquely French tradition. This course is not intended to make experts of everyone, but to ensure each participant has the knowledge and techniques to fully appreciate the diverse and rich nature of this uniquely French tradition. Dinner and evening are at your leisure. You can make the most of the evening to walk around the alleyways of our serene village.
Day 3 (Tuesday):
		“From the garden to your plate” is today’s motto! You’ll spend the morning preparing for your afternoon culinary experience. You’ll start your day by selecting some of the ingredients of the recipes made in the afternoon, under the expert guidance of the chef. You will learn and practise some vocabulary through this convivial and stimulating activity. Lunch is at your convenience in the village. In the afternoon, the chef will give you a warm welcome to a wealth of flavours and textures. You’ll learn how to cook with fresh and genuine ingredients and gain confidence with your cooking. A very convivial evening awaits you in the chef’s restaurant for a gourmet meal with your teacher.
Day 4 (Wednesday):
		Make the most of this free day to enjoy the most relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere of Fontevraud and the neighbouring villages of Montsoreau and Candes St Martin. Sylvie strongly recommends to spend the whole morning in the Abbey of Fontevraud, the largest abbey complex in Europe nestled at the heart of the Unesco World Heritage. Its founder, Robert d'Arbrissel was a a pioneering monk devoted to prayers and poverty. Around 1100 he founded what was to become one of the wealthiest and most impressive monastic settlements of the Christian West. With its 45 hectares and three priories, the community was run for seven hundred years by nuns under the protection of the king. Thirty-six abbesses, half of royal blood, headed a mixed Fontevrist order from 1115 to 1792. The four youngest daughters of Louis XV were educated in the Abbey. In 1804, Napoleon decided to transform the building into a prison. It remained as such until 1963. Here is the chosen resting place of Henri II, King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his son Richard I and the wife of his other son King John, Isabella of Angoulême. Not death but life however now triumphs at Fontevraud . . . In 1975 the Cultural Centre of Western Loire was created with the intention of promoting cultural activities in the abbey Concerts are organised by the Cultural Centre for the West and listeners can hear classical music and Gregorian chants. The Abbey welcomes over two hundred thousand visitors each year. In the afternoon, why not go on a boat trip on the Loire whilst learning about the history of this majestic river. Dinner is at your convenience.
Day 5 (Thursday):
		In the morning, you’ll be captivated by the visit and demonstration of the Cadre Noir and the National Horse riding school: a unique equestrian world, Saumur being the capital of the horse. Before lunch, you’ll have an hour of free time to shop in Saumur and then will have lunch with Sylvie in the heart of town. In the afternoon, La Licorne’s chef will generously reveal his cooking tricks and techniques. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to improve your culinary skills on his hands-on workshop. In the evening, you’ll taste your beautifully made dishes in a very convivial atmosphere with your teacher.
Day 6 (Friday):
		In the morning, you’ll enjoy your third cookery workshop in Varennes Sur Loire. You’ll be visiting first Mike’s own vegetable garden before getting down to work with inspirational recipes. You’ll be able to lunch there tasting your own productions. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the outstanding Château de Brézé. The underground fortress housed up to two thousand people! An extraordinary, self-contained universe with the nobleman’s quarters, a rampart walk, bakery, cellars. The vineyard is the only wine production site in France to have been in constant use for eight hundred years. Sylvie invites you for an aperitif at her home before you spend your final evening in the exceptional setting of Fontevraud.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.PARFUMDEFRANCE-FR.COM or email info@parfumdefrance-fr.com

SOME FACTS ABOUT FONTEVRAUD

Fontevraud boasts the largest abbey complex in Europe nestled at the heart of the Unesco World Heritage.

Its founder, Robert d'Arbrissel was a a pioneering monk devoted to prayers and poverty.

Around 1100 he founded what was to become one of the wealthiest and most impressive monastic settlements of the Christian West. With its 45 hectares and three priories, the community was run for seven hyndred years by nuns under the protection of the king.

Thirty-six abbesses, half of royal blood, headed a mixed Fontevrist order from 1115 to 1792. The four youngest daughters of Louis XV were educated in the Abbey. In 1804, Napoleon decided to transform the building into a prison. It remained as such until 1963.

In 1975 the Cultural Centre of Western Loire was created with the intention of promoting cultural activities in the abbey. The Abbey welcomes over two hundred thousand visitors each year.

The Abbey church is the final resting place of Henri II Plantagenet, King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his son Richard I and the wife of his other son King John, Isabella of Angoulême.

Fontevraud is also a friendly, relaxed village Its inhabitants are happy to share with you the French country life with the gentle flow of the Loire river, beautiful landscapes and still active troglodytic villages.

COOKERY HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

For the Art de Vivre and Culinary Delights holiday, arrangements have been made for you to stay in the Hostellerie la Croix Blanche (but if there is room in Sylvie's gîte, you are more than welcome to stay there).

The Hostellerie La Croix Blanche is located opposite the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. It is a historic coaching inn which dates back to 1696.

The Hostellerie provides a warm welcome in a delightful setting with 23 comfortable bedrooms and suites. The hotel has authentic features throughout - slate roofs, tufa walls, decorative chimneys, beamed ceilings and a well-chosen combination of modern comforts in a historic setting.

Alternative choice of accommodation

Luxury bed & breakfast accommodation at Les Peupliersin the heart of the Loire Valley. Lovingly restored and renovated, Les Peupliers provides five luxurious guest bedrooms, each with private facilities.

Five individual and beautifully furnished rooms, all with ensuites and each designed with a touch of indulgence in mind - and a generous farmhouse breakfast is included in the price.

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