In this issue . . .
Our Newest
Member: Domaine de Biar
Bidding Adieu to 3 Fine Properties
Our Featured
B&B: Château de la
Resle
Our Featured Rental: Le
Pavillon at Château de Tocqueville
News
and
Offers
from our membersand more!
Now is the perfect time to begin plans for your visit to France in 2016!
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.
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Our Newest Member:
Domaine de Biar
. . . a seductive
getaway in Languedoc
Domaine de Biar near Montpellier
The contemporary
yet classical
architecture of the fine city of Montpellier is reflected in this
beautiful château, Domaine de Biar ~ a romantic
retreat in a very special region
of France ~ and the pièce de
résistance: those amazing Camargue horses!
Luxurious guest rooms await you in this unique and comfortable bed and breakfast. Rooms from lavish to contemporary are offered, each with its own spacious modern en suite bathroom. This guest room, Chambre Henriette, offers a queen-size bed, a small desk, and an en suite bathroom with shower. Of course, all the rooms have WiFi for the convenience of their guest.
In addition to the amazing Camargue horses that live on the estate, guests will enjoy the peaceful grounds. Stroll along the banks of the River Mosson as seen in this photo or spend time relaxing by the lovely swimming pool.
We hope you will include Domaine de Biar on your next southern France itinerary. Visit their pages on our site today to read more and enjoy the photos of both the château and the gentle Camargue horses native only to France. For information or reservations contact inquiry@au-chateau.com. We're here to help you with all the details.
Luxurious guest rooms await you in this unique and comfortable bed and breakfast. Rooms from lavish to contemporary are offered, each with its own spacious modern en suite bathroom. This guest room, Chambre Henriette, offers a queen-size bed, a small desk, and an en suite bathroom with shower. Of course, all the rooms have WiFi for the convenience of their guest.
In addition to the amazing Camargue horses that live on the estate, guests will enjoy the peaceful grounds. Stroll along the banks of the River Mosson as seen in this photo or spend time relaxing by the lovely swimming pool.
We hope you will include Domaine de Biar on your next southern France itinerary. Visit their pages on our site today to read more and enjoy the photos of both the château and the gentle Camargue horses native only to France. For information or reservations contact inquiry@au-chateau.com. We're here to help you with all the details.
[Photos
© M. Bertrand Schmitt. All Rights Reserved.]
French Quiz 124
Where
are
we?
Hint: This metal 'portrait' is
in the park in
the town that bears this famous Frenchman's name.
Please provide the
person's name.
French Château Note Cards with our artist's original drawings. This quiz
may be difficult, but we hope it will encourage you to travel off the beaten path!
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 Winter 2015 newsletter.
[Photo
©
Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.]
Featured B&B:
Château de la Resle
Burgundy
Château
de la Resle
Bedrooms and suites in both the château and Gardener's Cottage are appointed with the comfort of their guests in mind. En suite bathrooms with fine toiletries are part of each guest room, and the newly renovated Farmhouse offers self-catering suites, with spacious salons and small kitchens, for those who would like a longer stay with more independence.
A spa, sauna, exercise room and new heated swimming pool are provided for a rejuvenating holiday, Copious breakfasts are served in the dining room, and dinner is occasionally offered at the château by advance reservation. Nothing is left to chance at Château de la Resle. The owners are always trying to improve upon their already excellent service, and a stay here will be very fondly remembered.
Be sure to visit Château de la Resle on our site for more details and photos. Conveniently located only a 2-hour drive from Paris, you will not be disappointed with the accommodations, amenities and friendly hosts at the château. Please contact us with questions, or to make a reservation.
[Photos © Château de la Resle. 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.
Château
d'Eau, Montpellier
The architecture in Montpellier is most assuredly one of its claims to fame. Sweeping forms of the newer buildings seamlessly combine the classical with contemporary design ~ your visit will be unforgettable. Enjoy walking along the River Lez ~ both banks offer grand buildings that are elegant and dramatic. Visit the Polygone, the city's commercial center, shown in this photo with the entrance to the Galeries Lafayette straight ahead.
With a Mediterranean climate, the vast Place de Comedie (a gathering place for tourists and the students who attend its three highly-rated universities), and the lovely River Lez, time spent in unique and interesting Montpellier will be like no other experience you have enjoyed in France. We hope that you will visit Montpellier on your next visit. You will find it friendly, fascinating and fun!
[Photos copyrighted Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.]
It is with great sadness
that we bid adieu . . .
We know that some of you have had the great pleasure of staying at Château de la Motte d'Usseau near Châtellerault, at the amazing Le Prieuré du Château de Biron, or at the lovely rental property deep in Roussillon, Tournou le Haut. It has been our pleasure as well, and we will miss the opportunity to revisit them in the future as all three have either been sold or are currently on the market ~ their owners are retiring or have moved to other parts of France after having spent many years greeting guests at these fine properties.
- We will miss the charming Jean-Marie Bardin and his fantastic wife (and superbe chef) Marie-Andrée. . . the elegant dinners shared with them and their other guests, the eloquent storytelling by our host, and the fairytale Château de la Motte perched high on a hill to be seen from miles away.
- Who didn't enjoy staying at Le Prieuré in Biron, steps away from that enormous, historic castle? Spacious, beautiful en suite guest rooms, delightful dinners in the large but still cozy dining room, endless views of the Dordogne countryside, and Elisabeth Vedier, one of France's finest hostesses ~ all that will be missed but never forgotten.
- Tournou le Haut, an amazing getaway in Roussillon, offered guests everything they could want, from beautiful accommodations to several delightful dining areas, and from a fine historic fortress château to spectacular gardens and views. Alison and Duncan made everyone welcome.
We wish these 'friends' much happiness in their future endeavors, and we hope that the new owners of all three properties realize what treasures they have acquired. And, if the new owners decide to continue welcoming guests, we will certainly try to make them available to you again.
Poolside at Château de Détilly
Rent the amazing Château de Détilly in the Western Loire for yourweekend wedding or a week or longer getaway with family and friends.
The château and gatehouse can accommodate up to 25 people in 12 guest rooms.
A professional kitchen, spacious dining room, sparkling swimming pool and tennis courts
provide everything you will need for a relaxing and memorable holiday in France.
Click on the banner to read more,
and contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com for your reservations!
Featured
Rental:
Le Pavillon at Château de Tocqueville
~ near Normandy's Channel coast ~
The
Pavillon at Château de TocquevilleLe Pavillon at Château de Tocqueville
~ near Normandy's Channel coast ~
There is so much charm in this guest wing of the grand Château de Tocqueville, that we don't know where to begin. Whether it is the elegant yet inviting salon, the spacious tastefully appointed guest rooms or the stunning modern kitchen, it is difficult to say what impressed us most. The grounds with a large lake and beautiful gardens are breathtaking, and the history behind the château is fascinating.
Chambre Barrett is one of five en suite guest rooms for your family and friends when renting Le Pavillon. This room overlooks the lake where swans drift by. When the property is not being rented by the week, bed and breakfast accommodations may be offered, so don't hesitate to inquire.
This sophisticated room has an original beamed ceiling, French paneling, wood floors, a king-size bed, antique writing desk and a magnificent English Soho tapestry on the wall. The en suite bathroom has both a tub and a shower, double basins, a towel warmer and plush bathrobes.
Some guest rooms have canopied four-poster beds, and can be either king-size or twins. Every amenity to guarantee comfort of the guests is provided.
Your group will have the use of a large salon that offers ample comfortable seating and a large fireplace for those chilly nights. At the other end is a dining room with a table that will seat up to twelve people. WiFi, satellite TV, DVD player and Internet are available. Outdoors, guests will enjoy the newly-renovated tennis court.
For all your self-catering needs, this modern kitchen is at your disposal. There is a large American-style refrigerator, professional stove, a dishwasher, microwave and a washing machine. This photo doesn't show the entire kitchen, so there is plenty of work and counter space to prepare meals.
Please visit Le Pavillon on our site
today to read the history of Alexis de Tocqueville, the well-respected
historian and 19th century author of Democracy in America and his life in this ancestral home.
Read, too, about the history of the region from 1120 through World War
II and how fortunate the château was to escape damage in that war
and earlier during the Revolution. Then contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com with
your questions or to make your reservations for an enjoyable and
memorable French château experience. We recommend
it! [Photos ©
copyrighted by Cold
Spring Press. All
rights reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .
& other travel information
- Did you know? France
has passed a law making rooftop solar or gardens mandatory on all new
commercial buildings. Environmentalists wanted this law to apply
to all new buildings, but the government believed it would be more
easily approved by Parliament if the scope was limited to commercial
buildings only.
If you are planning a 'destination' wedding and are looking for a venue in France, don't look any farther than our web site. au Château has 28 member châteaux offering their facilities for either indoor or outdoor weddings at a wide range of prices. Various amenities are offered as well, as some will arrange hot air balloon rides, others fireworks, and so much more.
Contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com with your requirements and questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Château
de Courtomer's and Château de la Vigne's owners have
Paris apartments available for rent. Very soon all the details
will appear on our site, but for now if you are interested in more
information, contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com
Handicap access is available at
both La Borde Maison d'Hôtes in Burgundy
and Le Clos de la Garenne in the
Poitou-Charentes of western France. For those who would
just appreciate an elevator to upper floors when carrying their
baggage, the following châteaus have elevators: Picomtal, Tesnières,
Allure du Lac, Tocqueville,
Grand-Lucé, Foltière, Monthairons,
Reignac and Breuil.
We are emphasizing this once again: Travel insurance is
something we rely on each time we travel. We won't travel without
it. Strikes are commonplace in France, so you will want to be
protected if your train or plane is canceled or delayed. For
peace of mind knowing you are covered for delayed or
canceled flights, lost luggage, coordination of medical care, physician
referrals, prescription replacement insurance, passport & ticket
replacement assistance, translation help, and more, visit their web
site to see how easy it is to learn all about it and buy your coverage
online at www.travelguard.com.
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.
what properties are discounting their rates or
offering guests a special bonus for booking with them.
Remember that au 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: Peach Sorbet
This quick and easy recipe comes
from one of our favorite little cookbooks, The Best of France - A
Cookbook edited by Evie Righter. Your guests will love
this light dessert with a homemade touch.
You will
need an ice cream machine,
1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water, 3 cups of peeled and diced peaches, 2
or 3 tablespoons of lemon juice or to taste.
In a saucepan over medium heat
combine the sugar and water. Bring the liquid to a simmer and
cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool, then
cover and chill for 30 minutes.
In a food processor purée the
peaches until smooth. Transfer the purée to a large bowl
and stir in the chilled sugar syrup and lemon juice. Transfer the
mixture to an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the
manufacturer's directions.
Makes about one
quart of sorbet. Bon appétit!
[Published by
Collins Publishers San Francisco, a Division of Harper Collins,
in
1992. ISBN 0-00-255086-5 Hardcover]
Order
one of the few copies left of The
Best of France
by clicking on the above banner.
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 123 - Where Are We? from our Spring 2015 issue
The photo was taken of the Château de Châteauneuf in
Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
A correct answer was received from a reader in North Carolina.
Our thanks to everyone who participated.
Département maps courtesy of Wikipédia, FranceDisclaimer: Cold Spring Press, au Château© and/or any persons associated with either organization do not take any responsibility for errors and/or omissions in any edition of au Château News© and no guarantees are given or implied with regard to the contents of any au Château News©. The disclaimer on the au Château© web site at http://www.au-chateau.com, applies in its entirety to all au Château News© editions. Cold Spring Press and au Château© take no responsibility for the contents of any web sites to which links are provided on our site or in any editions of au Château News. Subscribers receive this newsletter because they have requested to be on our Opt-In mailing list. To have your email address removed, simply send an email with 'Unsubscribe' in the Subject line to newsletter@au-chateau.com.
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