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Autumn 2019 In this issue . . .  Our
Featured
B&B: Château
de La Barre
Our Featured Rental: Château
de Détilly COMING SOON!
Destination Weddings at Château de Saint-Loup sur Thouet 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 la Barre in the serene Sarthe  Château de La Barre Authenticity and a glimpse into history can
be
found at this enchanting château in one of France's most
celebrated regions ~ not far from the royal châteaux of the Loire
Valley, Chartres Cathedral and so much more. Occupied by the
same family since the 14th century, this elegant château offers
spacious and comfortable en suite guest rooms
 and suites as well as two
self-catering cottages. A small chapel is available for intimate
wedding ceremonies, too!Take the TGV to the château from Paris to historic and charming Vendôme ~ you will arrive in only 45 minutes. You can rent a car at the railway station and drive to the château in less than a half hour. Or, you can drive directly from Paris in 2.25 hours. Arriving at the château will be most rewarding, no matter how you choose to get there.  Château de la Barre is one of the chosen places to stay for visitors and car enthusiasts who are drawn to the nearby Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe ~ the world-famous race track. The guest rooms are all spacious and comfortable with period French furnishings and views of the gardens from large windows. The château is on 100 acres, so guest can enjoy leisurely strolls to enhance their stay.  Enjoy buffet breakfasts of grand proportions and dinners at the family table. Or, experience the Grand Siècle Dinner served in the 17th century dining room with the Count and Countess de Vanssay which includes Champagne cocktails, two different wines, coffee and brandy served on selected evenings of the week. For those who would like a longer or self-catering stay at La Barre, there are two comfortable apartments in the cottage, one of which has a fully-equipped kitchen. The Countess has her own travel service, Countess Connections, which you may find very helpful as she can suggest interesting day trips in the region or even help you plan other adventures in France and Europe. We personally recommend this
château for an authentic French experience and a warm welcome
from truly charming hosts whose love of their family estate and
kindness to their guests is without exception. Visit Château de la Barre
on our site today to see photos of the guest rooms and so much more
information.
For
more information or reservations, please contact us at inquiry@au-chateau.com, and we'll be happy to help. [Photos
© Count and Countess de Vanssay. All Rights
Reserved.]
Our Featured Rental:
Château de Détilly a special place in the Loire . . .  Château de Détilly The Indre-et-Loire location of Château de Détilly could not be better ~ it is convenient to Chinon which is only ten minutes away, and guests will have easy access to the historic cities of Angers, Saumur, and Nantes. Day trips to Tours, Orléans, Fontevraud Abbey and the royal châteaux of the Loire Valley will leave you with many pleasant memories. And, the château is only an hour by train from Paris. The site dates back to the tenth century, while the château itself was built in the sixteenth century, on the site of an old fortress, following the wars of religion. The Romanesque chapel, where weddings have been held, dates back to the 13th century, and you can read more historic details on the château's au Château pages.    Château de Détilly, offers up to 27 guests comfortable accommodations in a classical setting. In addition to the nine château guest rooms plus a grenier room for a group of youngsters, the Coach House provides additional accommodations for up to seven guests. There is a kitchen and washer and dryer for the convenience of the guests. As a self-catering rental property, guests will appreciate the professional kitchen in the château [photo left]. They can provide a shopping list of provisions they would like when they arrive, and a caterer/traiteur service is available with four days notice. Guests may choose to have cooking classes or wine tastings arranged for them during their stay and only need to make the requests when booking their holiday. In addition to the lovely landscaped grounds, there is a kitchen garden (potager), a swimming pool and tennis court ~ something for everyone!   [Photos
copyrighted by Sandra
Jones. All
rights reserved.]
French Quiz 137 Where are we? Hint: 16th c. treasure of the Dordogne
Name
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
© Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.] COMING
SOON! Château de Janville in the Seine-Maritime
Château
de Janville
The
château offers 9 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, sleeping
fifteen people very comfortably. The professional kitchen is
perfect for preparing meals for your group to enjoy in the elegant
dining room. Spend
time in the heated
family pool, and a baby sitter or private chef can be made available
upon
request. Nearby is the delightful village of Veulettes sur
Mer and its fine beaches, bakeries and supermarkets, and, of course,
restaurants for your enjoyment. The Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery
is 38 kilometers away from the château and at 25 kilometers is
the ornate Palais Bénédictine in Fécamps, dating
back to 1863. It was here that the lost recipe of a Benedictine
monk was found making it possible once again for his liqueur to be
produced by Alexandre le
Grand. The museum and art gallery telling this story are well
worth a visit.
Come
back soon to our site to visit Château de Janville and, perhaps,
book your stay! And, be sure to contact
us with your questions or to make a reservation.
Château de Courcy in Normandy
This six bedroom château and two
bedroom cottage is perfect for a group of up to fourteen people.
Guest rooms are spacious, beautifully appointed and all en suite.
The château's location on the east facing coast of Normandy's Cotentin Peninsula allows guests to reach the beaches in five minutes, the D-Day beaches in fifteen minutes and only 90 minutes to Le Mont St Michel.  Two kitchens, a games room [shown at left] salons, a swimming pool and a tennis court provide something for everyone to pass the time, whether trying your hand at French cuisine, relaxing after a day of sightseeing or taking advantage of outdoor activities. In addition to the pool and tennis court, there is carp fishing in the moat, bicycles, badminton, ping pong and croquet. Day trips can also include a visit to the Bayeux tapestry or the Caen Memorial Museum dedicated to the history of the 20th century and focused on the fragility of peace.  The
cottage and moat
 Do return to our site soon to see Château de Courcy's pages, complete with detailed information and many photos to give you a better idea of what a fine vacation destination it will be for your friends and family. In the meantime, if you are interested in finding availability for a week or two next year or in 2021, simply contact us, and we will be happy to 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.  Carennac The
commune of Carennac is picture-postcard pretty. Quercy
architecture is most sought after in France, and this village is rich
in its limestone walls and distinctive tile roofs. Charm exudes
at every turn in the lanes, and your time spent there will be serene
and relaxing. Carennac
boasts an 11th century
church and cloister and a 16th century castle, along with a medieval
priory. All of this lies in the lush Dordogne River valley
beneath the
plateau called 'le Causse'.
The Lot département is one of our favorite destinations, sparsely populated, authentic and never overrun with tourists.  We hope you will visit the Lot in the near future to enjoy all it has to offer, and include in that visit a few hours or a day in charming Carennac. [Photos copyrighted Cold Spring Press unless otherwise indicated. All Rights Reserved.]
News
from Our Members . . .  We have to bid adieu to the lovely Isabelle Bretton whose Domaine des Castelles has been a member of our site since 2002. She has sold her estate to retire to Madeira, and we will miss her, as will all the guests she hosted over the years. Don't miss this opportunity!
 The magnificent
Prieuré du Château
de Biron is once again open to guests and anyone who plans to be in
the Dordogne in the near future should be sure to book some nights
there! You won't forget the views or the luxurious accommodations!Elisabeth, the perfect hostess, is eager to welcome new and returning guests. Only minutes away from the historic market town of Monpazier, the village of Biron is perched high on a hill that it shares with the Château de Biron ~ a museum open to the public.  To discover this wonderful getaway for yourself send us an email at inquiry@au-chateau.com , and mention Biron in the subject line. Destination
Weddings at Château de
Saint-Loup sur
Thouet
Destination
weddings have become very popular in recent years, and France certainly
has more desirable venues for these weddings than anywhere in the
world. Château de
Saint-Loup in the Deux-Sèvres
département of Nouvelle-Aquitaine is one such perfect
venue. With a temperate
climate not far from the Atlantic coast, celebrating a wedding here is
suitable at almost anytime of year.
 We have just booked a wedding at this château for late next summer, and are waiting to hear from more engaged couples to schedule their wedding dates before 2020 is fully booked!  The recently renovated Keep is comfortable and inviting with four double rooms and two suites, all with private baths, providing modern conveniences while maintaining a medieval atmosphere. The château itself has nine beautifully appointed guest rooms, each just waiting for the arrival of its next occupant. A library music room with piano and sitting rooms are at your disposal when you stay at the château. Cocktails are served in these rooms prior to enjoying a delicious dinner in the grand dining room. Up to 50 guests can be seated in the dining room or 80 in the music room. Of course, for even larger weddings, a marquee can be rented for guests to enjoy a garden reception.   Luxurious Bedrooms
 Contact us about the wedding you wish for, to find availability at the château or to arrange a visit. Your host says that anything you can
dream of can come true at
Saint-Loup!
[Photos
copyrighted by Comte Charles-Henri de Bartillat. All rights
reserved.]
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: Tarragon Butter 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 136 - Where are we? from our Summer issue Biarritz and the iconic Villa Belza on the Bay of Biscay is the answer, and we received one correct response from a reader in San Diego, California who remembered it from her visit to Biarritz many years ago. Congratulations, and thank you to all others who participated in our quiz.
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