A TASTE OF FRANCE 04 to 13 JUNE 2017
Airline Date Flight Depart Time Arrive Time Air France 04 June 2017 AF 995 Johannesburg 18h50 Paris 05h40* Air France 05 June 2017 AF7516 Paris 07h20 Toulouse 08h40 Air France 12 June 2017 AF7527 Toulouse 20h25 Paris 21h55 Air France 12 June 2017 AF 990 Paris 23h25 Johannesburg 09h55* * Indicates next day
Le Bouleau, located in the picturesque landscape of rural Aveyron, is the ideal base from which to discover the traditional and exotic tastes of the Midi-Pyrenees area of France. It is perfectly situated within easy reach of 7 of France s plus beaux villages (villages designated as the most beautiful in the country). Le Bouleau is a converted barn close to the village of Goutrens in the heart of Aveyron. Its rustic exterior offers a striking contrast to the renovated modern interior, while the wooden beams and stone walls keep a flavour of the building s original purpose. Le Bouleau has five double bedrooms - with ensuite bathrooms and all the modern comforts - all of which combine charming, rustic décor in keeping with its rural location.
05 June 2017: Arrival Toulouse airport, and meet your hostess, Lisa Cavanagh, who will take you into Toulouse to check in at the Albert 1 Hotel and to explore the city. Your first Taste of France will be lunch in the Toulouse market. Evening sundowners will be alongside the Canal du Midi. Dinner will be for your own account.
06 June 2017: Breakfast at the hotel Check out and transfer to the kitchen of Marcel Meyer for your first cooking demonstration. Lunch will consist of the dishes cooked this morning. Leave for Le Bouleau, exploring Albi and the museum of Toulouse-Lautrec along the way. Interactive cooking with a local chef at Le Bouleau. Dinner will consist of the dishes cooked and will include selected beverages.
07 June 2017: Cooking demonstration with Michel Truchon, a one-michelin-star chef, at his restaurant Le Sénéchal in the 'plus beaux village' of Sauveterre-de Rouergue. Lunch will be with Michel in his kitchen. Explore Sauveterre-de-Rouergue. Guided tour of Château du Bosc, the family summer house of the post-impressionist artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. Return to Le Bouleau for dinner, including selected beverages.
08 June 2017: Early breakfast and departure for the weekly market in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Lunch at the chef's table at Quentin Bourdy s restaurant, L'Univers, with lively interaction between yourselves and Quentin during the service. Explore Villefranche - the small streets, the cathedral and the Chartreuse St Saveur (a 15th Century Gothic masterpiece and one of the biggest cloisters in France). Aperitifs in Villeneuve. Interactive cooking session and dinner at Le Bouleau, including selected beverages.
09 June 2017: Morning excursion to the town of Conques. Move on to Rodez for a light lunch. Cooking demonstration in the kitchen of Sebastian Bras a 3-Michelin Star Chef based in Rodez. Return to Le Bouleau in the late afternoon. Dinner at Le Bouleau, including selected beverages.
10 June 2017: A morning to relax at Le Bouleau. You can explore the farm or go on a personal voyage of discovery on one of the farm s bicycles or on foot. Lunch at Le Bouleau. Late afternoon visit to the Château de Belcastel. Dinner at the one-michelin-star restaurant Le Vieux Pont in Belcastel.
11 June 2017: Full-day visit to Roquefort and surrounding area with a guided tour of the Société Caves to see how the famous Roquefort cheese is made. Visit the Millau Bridge. Voted the most extreme bridge in the world, it is also the tallest in the world, and is consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. This cable-stayed bridge spans the valley of the River Tarn. Lunch in Roquefort. Return to Le Bouleau for dinner, including selected beverages.
Your hosts Steve and Lisa Cavanagh 12 June 2017: Leisurely morning at Le Bouleau. Transfer to the airport in Toulouse and check in for your flight back to Johannesburg.