Here's an idea of what we'll be up to in France…
There will be lots of village events in Blaison to celebrate its 1000 years. The program for these won't be released until later but rest assured I know the president of the Comité des Fêtes de Blaison-Gohier and a couple of committee members (of course I do!) so as soon as there is a program I will know about it and incorporate it into our plans, hence the couple of evenings where I've left a TBC (To Be Confirmed). I'll keep fiddling with this itinerary, but at least it gives you a good idea of what to expect.
Photos at http://www.michellewildtheplanner.com/la-boule-de-fort-2020.html
Day 1 – Wednesday 8 July
We will meet in Paris at a brasserie (TBC but probably Le Montparnasse 1900) near Gare Montparnasse early in the afternoon and catch the train (1st Class) to Angers (approximately 1.5 hours) where we will be met and driven through the French countryside for about 30 minutes to Le Château de la Giraudière. There will be a bit of time to unpack, go for a swim (yes – there is a pool!) and generally wander around oohing and aahing!
As the sun sets we will enjoy an Apéros Dînertoires (aperitif with substantial finger food but not a formal dinner as such) with our hosts Catherine and Phillipe and special invited guests – your French teacher for the week, our local village guide, the neighbours, the president of La Boule de Fort Association, and various locals who will become part of our lives in the following ten days.
Day 2 – Thursday 9 July
Breakfast will be served every day on the terrace in front of the house, with sweeping views past the chapel, across the lake and down to the village.
There will be plenty of time to lounge around or take a dip in the pool. It will be a leisurely morning to enable everyone to settle in, get over their jetlag and generally start to relax.
After breakfast this morning it’s time to go back to school! Classes will be aimed at equipping you with some basic vocab and the confidence to use it. Classes will be relaxed and fun and relate to the afternoon's activities.
Lunch will be at our Château - a casual, long-table affair under an ancient tree and with spectacular views.
In the afternoon we will wander down to the village on foot (car available if anyone needs a lift) and meet Dédé, Blaison's resident historian, who will give us a brief overview of the historical significance of the village, including the 12th century church of St Aubin and Le Château de Blaison.
Later in the afternoon we will take on the (Blaison) locals at their own game as we attempt to master the game of La Boule de Fort! Harder than it looks, it's a game of skill and strategy and is fiercely competitive. A little local Rosé and some saucisson sec and fromage should help our skill levels.
Dinner tonight is in a traditional local Guingette on the banks of the Loire where you can let your hair down and dance the night away.
Day 3 – Friday 10 July
A leisurely breakfast and another French class this morning.
This afternoon we explore some of the history of the region. This will be quite an ambitious day, so we'll pack lunch and take it with us so that we are not tied to a restaurant booking.
The Loire Valley is, of course, renowned for its many and splendid châteaux. I'm assuming many of you will already have visited the most famous (Chinon, Chenonceau, Chambord, Villandry, etc) so we won't focus on them. Instead we'll get some historical perspective at l’Abbeye de Fontevraud (final resting place of Henry 2nd, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart) and visit the inverted chateau of Brézé where most of the chateau is underground! If time permits we will also visit the Château de Montsoreau which houses an impressive collection of contemporary art.
Dinner TBC but after such a long day we will probably want to head home and have something there.
Day 4 – Saturday 11 July
Breakfast on the terrace and a French class before we head off for a day of exploring the wineries of the area. This particular area is well known for its small independent organic wine producers and we will visit two or three estates, with a tasting lunch at one.
Again dinner TBC to allow for events in the village. This will be decided closer to the time.
Day 5 – Sunday 12 July
Another easy morning, then we will head to the quaint little village of St Remy la Varenne where there is a small-but-perfect Sunday market. The energetic amongst us might like to walk there...it's about 5 kilometres and a very picturesque walk. The Priory there is also worth a look and there are some cute cafés to stop at.
We will have a late lunch at La Route du Sel before continuing along the Loire for a sunset cruise (with drinks and catering) on the Bateau Amarante.
Day 6 – Monday 13 July
Back to French classes after breakfast.
Those who want can wander over to Saint Mathurin Sur Loire (6km) to practise their French in the village square where you will find the quintessentially French boulanger, bûcher, and épicerie. A late lunch will be at the "beach" opposite at La Riviera Restaurant.
Back to the château to get ready for tonight’s festivities! Blaison’s Bastille Day event - the Bal Populaire - is not to be missed (photos here http://www.michellewildtheplanner.com/la-boule-de-fort-2020.html). A bar, food and more importantly fantastic music and a welcoming crowd. You’ll be surprised by how many people from the village you know already. We’ll try to slip in a little French “jive” dance lesson so that you can say “oui” when someone asks you to dance! It’s casual and relaxed in a gorgeous forest clearing on the edge of the village. And of course there are fireworks!
Day 7 – Tuesday 14 July
After breakfast and our French class we will head off for a day with the Troglodytes! To start with, we will be guided through the kooky world of Richard Rak, a local artist whose gallery is an extensive network of caves. Lunch will be a picnic nearby.
Just down the road is Domaine Escogriffe where we will be greeted by the young winemaker of the family, Diane, who developed her wine-making skills in Tasmania and will guide us through the various methods employed in a modern winery. Time to stock up on some favourite wines for dinner before we head down the road to her cousin Sylvie's.
We've been promised suckling pig on a spit chez Sylvie who runs a gîte nearby and entertains in her very own cave. This is a great chance to find out what it's like to be a real Troglodyte!
Day 8 – Wednesday 15 July
French class prep for market day the next day and cooking tomorrow night. In consultation with Catherine (our host and our cooking teacher) we will need to decide the menu and what needs to be bought at the market the following day.
After class we will head into Angers to visit the Château d’Angers, view the extraordinary Apocalypse Tapestry and generally enjoy a very beautiful town. This is just about your only chance for any kind of "shopping" if that's your thing. Lunch will be your choice...there are many and varied options in Angers and I can help with suggestions. During the afternoon we'll visit the home of Cointreau and learn its fascinating history, and a few cocktail-mixing tricks!
Home to our château for an evening of discovering the secret of cooking the perfect fougasses and fouées with rillons and a local band will entertain us.
Day 9 – Thursday 16 July
Today is market day at nearby Brissac le Quincé so we will head off straight after breakfast. At the market you'll get to practice your newly-acquired vocab while purchasing food for a meal that we will cook ourselves tonight at the château under the guidance of our hosts Catherine and Phillipe.
Lunch is a cheese dégustation with our friend Matthieu at the Bar au Fromages in the village square. After lunch we will visit the Château de Brissac where, if we're lucky, the Marquis de Brissac himself will show us around his family home.
We'll return to our Château in time for an aperitif and a little cooking class with Catherine. Weather permitting, dinner will be under the stars (and boy are there stars!) on the terrace.
Day 10 – Friday 17 July
Our last full day in Blaison will be a leisurely one with a farewell dinner in the evening.
Various visits are possible (La Cadre Noir in Saumur or the Observatory at Saint Sathurin for example) depending on how energy levels are going and what local events are taking place. More detail on this closer to the time.
Departure – Saturday 18 July
A leisurely departure after our last breakfast. We will be delivered to the station in Angers for the return trip to Paris or…
There will be lots of village events in Blaison to celebrate its 1000 years. The program for these won't be released until later but rest assured I know the president of the Comité des Fêtes de Blaison-Gohier and a couple of committee members (of course I do!) so as soon as there is a program I will know about it and incorporate it into our plans, hence the couple of evenings where I've left a TBC (To Be Confirmed). I'll keep fiddling with this itinerary, but at least it gives you a good idea of what to expect.
Photos at http://www.michellewildtheplanner.com/la-boule-de-fort-2020.html
Day 1 – Wednesday 8 July
We will meet in Paris at a brasserie (TBC but probably Le Montparnasse 1900) near Gare Montparnasse early in the afternoon and catch the train (1st Class) to Angers (approximately 1.5 hours) where we will be met and driven through the French countryside for about 30 minutes to Le Château de la Giraudière. There will be a bit of time to unpack, go for a swim (yes – there is a pool!) and generally wander around oohing and aahing!
As the sun sets we will enjoy an Apéros Dînertoires (aperitif with substantial finger food but not a formal dinner as such) with our hosts Catherine and Phillipe and special invited guests – your French teacher for the week, our local village guide, the neighbours, the president of La Boule de Fort Association, and various locals who will become part of our lives in the following ten days.
Day 2 – Thursday 9 July
Breakfast will be served every day on the terrace in front of the house, with sweeping views past the chapel, across the lake and down to the village.
There will be plenty of time to lounge around or take a dip in the pool. It will be a leisurely morning to enable everyone to settle in, get over their jetlag and generally start to relax.
After breakfast this morning it’s time to go back to school! Classes will be aimed at equipping you with some basic vocab and the confidence to use it. Classes will be relaxed and fun and relate to the afternoon's activities.
Lunch will be at our Château - a casual, long-table affair under an ancient tree and with spectacular views.
In the afternoon we will wander down to the village on foot (car available if anyone needs a lift) and meet Dédé, Blaison's resident historian, who will give us a brief overview of the historical significance of the village, including the 12th century church of St Aubin and Le Château de Blaison.
Later in the afternoon we will take on the (Blaison) locals at their own game as we attempt to master the game of La Boule de Fort! Harder than it looks, it's a game of skill and strategy and is fiercely competitive. A little local Rosé and some saucisson sec and fromage should help our skill levels.
Dinner tonight is in a traditional local Guingette on the banks of the Loire where you can let your hair down and dance the night away.
Day 3 – Friday 10 July
A leisurely breakfast and another French class this morning.
This afternoon we explore some of the history of the region. This will be quite an ambitious day, so we'll pack lunch and take it with us so that we are not tied to a restaurant booking.
The Loire Valley is, of course, renowned for its many and splendid châteaux. I'm assuming many of you will already have visited the most famous (Chinon, Chenonceau, Chambord, Villandry, etc) so we won't focus on them. Instead we'll get some historical perspective at l’Abbeye de Fontevraud (final resting place of Henry 2nd, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart) and visit the inverted chateau of Brézé where most of the chateau is underground! If time permits we will also visit the Château de Montsoreau which houses an impressive collection of contemporary art.
Dinner TBC but after such a long day we will probably want to head home and have something there.
Day 4 – Saturday 11 July
Breakfast on the terrace and a French class before we head off for a day of exploring the wineries of the area. This particular area is well known for its small independent organic wine producers and we will visit two or three estates, with a tasting lunch at one.
Again dinner TBC to allow for events in the village. This will be decided closer to the time.
Day 5 – Sunday 12 July
Another easy morning, then we will head to the quaint little village of St Remy la Varenne where there is a small-but-perfect Sunday market. The energetic amongst us might like to walk there...it's about 5 kilometres and a very picturesque walk. The Priory there is also worth a look and there are some cute cafés to stop at.
We will have a late lunch at La Route du Sel before continuing along the Loire for a sunset cruise (with drinks and catering) on the Bateau Amarante.
Day 6 – Monday 13 July
Back to French classes after breakfast.
Those who want can wander over to Saint Mathurin Sur Loire (6km) to practise their French in the village square where you will find the quintessentially French boulanger, bûcher, and épicerie. A late lunch will be at the "beach" opposite at La Riviera Restaurant.
Back to the château to get ready for tonight’s festivities! Blaison’s Bastille Day event - the Bal Populaire - is not to be missed (photos here http://www.michellewildtheplanner.com/la-boule-de-fort-2020.html). A bar, food and more importantly fantastic music and a welcoming crowd. You’ll be surprised by how many people from the village you know already. We’ll try to slip in a little French “jive” dance lesson so that you can say “oui” when someone asks you to dance! It’s casual and relaxed in a gorgeous forest clearing on the edge of the village. And of course there are fireworks!
Day 7 – Tuesday 14 July
After breakfast and our French class we will head off for a day with the Troglodytes! To start with, we will be guided through the kooky world of Richard Rak, a local artist whose gallery is an extensive network of caves. Lunch will be a picnic nearby.
Just down the road is Domaine Escogriffe where we will be greeted by the young winemaker of the family, Diane, who developed her wine-making skills in Tasmania and will guide us through the various methods employed in a modern winery. Time to stock up on some favourite wines for dinner before we head down the road to her cousin Sylvie's.
We've been promised suckling pig on a spit chez Sylvie who runs a gîte nearby and entertains in her very own cave. This is a great chance to find out what it's like to be a real Troglodyte!
Day 8 – Wednesday 15 July
French class prep for market day the next day and cooking tomorrow night. In consultation with Catherine (our host and our cooking teacher) we will need to decide the menu and what needs to be bought at the market the following day.
After class we will head into Angers to visit the Château d’Angers, view the extraordinary Apocalypse Tapestry and generally enjoy a very beautiful town. This is just about your only chance for any kind of "shopping" if that's your thing. Lunch will be your choice...there are many and varied options in Angers and I can help with suggestions. During the afternoon we'll visit the home of Cointreau and learn its fascinating history, and a few cocktail-mixing tricks!
Home to our château for an evening of discovering the secret of cooking the perfect fougasses and fouées with rillons and a local band will entertain us.
Day 9 – Thursday 16 July
Today is market day at nearby Brissac le Quincé so we will head off straight after breakfast. At the market you'll get to practice your newly-acquired vocab while purchasing food for a meal that we will cook ourselves tonight at the château under the guidance of our hosts Catherine and Phillipe.
Lunch is a cheese dégustation with our friend Matthieu at the Bar au Fromages in the village square. After lunch we will visit the Château de Brissac where, if we're lucky, the Marquis de Brissac himself will show us around his family home.
We'll return to our Château in time for an aperitif and a little cooking class with Catherine. Weather permitting, dinner will be under the stars (and boy are there stars!) on the terrace.
Day 10 – Friday 17 July
Our last full day in Blaison will be a leisurely one with a farewell dinner in the evening.
Various visits are possible (La Cadre Noir in Saumur or the Observatory at Saint Sathurin for example) depending on how energy levels are going and what local events are taking place. More detail on this closer to the time.
Departure – Saturday 18 July
A leisurely departure after our last breakfast. We will be delivered to the station in Angers for the return trip to Paris or…
