“Yoga”
A week for “Mind & Body”, led by Laurie Amerson and Ursula Nix. A perfect combination of mindful exercise and a holiday at Chateau de Villars!
2009
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Each day will include morning yoga. Optional yoga late afternoons or evening...
A typical day: - Tea/light breakfast
- Yoga on the deck by the pool or on the Chateau’s terrace
- Outing to village, market, ruins
- Return to Chateau
- Optional Gentle Yoga with meditation time prior to
- Sundowners
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesititate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent. We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
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“Walking in the Perigord Vert”
A week for "fresh air and relaxation".
October 1 - 8, 2008 (or October 3 - 10)
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There are lots of walks from Chateau de Villars - right outside our front gate. We are on the edge of the small village of Villars.
We are on the edge of the National Forest in the Perigord Vert.
We have walking maps, of course.
You have walking paths through the grounds. Guests this morning have headed off in the sunshine to walk. It is a lovely walking area - rain or shine. Always something to see – wild orchids, birds, pretty hamlets, wildlife, vegetable gardens, …France!
Our walking week will be more focused on walking than our usual weeks. You’ll enjoy a morning or afternoon walk most days – but it will always be your choice because relaxing here at Chateau de Villars, enjoying the quiet away from the hustle & bustle, is how our holidays are here every week – and with all your dining entirely Gluten Free! So you can completely relax without any concerns about what you are eating or any cross contamination.
Walks will generally not be longer than 3 hours and generally gentle, giving time to enjoy the scenery along the way. You can walk at your own pace. You can walk individually. You can walk with the friends you will make here. You can walk in small groups. Sometimes you will be met with a picnic for lunch. If you wish to take a picnic and walk on your own, then we can provide that too!
When Kevin accompanies a walk, he will mix in some photography – tips on composing and creating more beautiful photos for your memory book. He may accompany a town walk (in Perigueux, for example) or a country walk near the Chateau de Puyghuilem and the Abbaye de Boschaud - a Cistercian ruined monastery about 2 kms away from our Chateau.
Our resident rambler, Vince Foster, will lead his favorite walk for you near St. Pardoux La Riviere and St. Front la Riviere.
And during the week, you will have three trips out with our transport - visits may include Excedeuil, Hautefort, Bordeilles, St. Jean de Cole or Brantome.. All of these offer the opportunity of other walks further away from the Chateau, so we’ll take advantage of that too!
And we’ll drive you (unless you want to walk or bicycle there) to the Grottes de Villars – magnificent stalagmite & stalactite caves with pre-historic paintings. So around the walks there will be plenty else to do!
Your week will be as full as you want it….and as simple as you want it! Come and join us!
Included in your price are the following:
- 6 full days and 7 nights in the beautiful northern Dordogne
- Small group of no more than 14 guests.
- If not arriving by car, Limoges Airport pick up & return from Ryanair’s Stansted flight to Limoges or any flight arriving around the same time (Limoges station or other flight pick up and return arranged for you at a small supplement).
- Continental Breakfast each morning during your week.
- Light lunches at the Chateau or picnic provided each day
- 4 course dinners each night at Chateau with two glasses of Bergerac house wine.
- Flexible schedule so you can “Relax” each day and take time out for personal time as you wish.
- Three outings available by Chateau transport to local villages, markets etc. for leisure exploration. The 3 “marvels” of Villars are all in walking/biking distance – Chateau de Puyguilem, Abbaye de Boschaud and the Grottes de Villars!
- All rooms have private bath or shower, with the option of different bed configurations (King, Queen, Double, Single, depending on availability) – three rooms can be configured for separate beds (two single beds or two double beds as the case may be)
- Tea and coffee available all day at no charge.
- Cash bar open to guests of the Chateau, with extensive specialty local wines from Bergerac and Bordeaux – we ask you to settle your bar tab in cash, in Euros, at week’s end.
- Parking available at Chateau.
- Pool available subject to time of year and weather, with sun deck and pool towels.
- Walking paths in Chateau’s 9 acre grounds and availability of bicycles without charge.
- Access to Chateau Spa room for Beauty treatment (manicure, pedicure, facial), reflexology and massage available with prior arrangement - we ask you to settle your charges in cash, in Euros, at week’s end.
The Chateau is your “home from home” during your visit. You are staying in a country French home. Room towels are changed and rooms ‘freshened’ mid week. The Chateau has no TV and no telephones – your cellphone may work on the premises.
Internet access is available in our screening room.
Our tariffs for our Walking Week are different from our regular Gluten Free Full Board weeks so as to allow for the extra trips and accompanied walks. We accept Visa and Mastercard. Cancellation policy available on request. We advise our guests to take out travel and cancellation insurance.
Please feel free to contact us at our e-mail chateauvillars@aol.com.
We look forward to welcoming you to France for a week for ‘Fresh Air & Relaxation’!
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“Bridge - a Week of Skill & Cards”
Our bridge week, led by Keith Hotchkiss, a repeat of the well subscribed week of 2008! Come on your own or as a couple! Ask about our Special tariffs.
June 3 - 10, 2009
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Information forthcoming.
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“Paint & Sketch”
A week for “Oil & Watercolor”, interpreting the beauty of nature in your medium of choice. Led by Jane Smithers.
July and August 2009
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For the Third year running Chateau de Villars brings you a special week with Jane Smithers – and in 2009, Jane will be offering two weeks of ‘Sketch & Paint’ to our guests.
As always your week here is completely ‘Gluten Free’ – although non-coeliac’s will be able to enjoy French breads & bakery items without any danger of cross contamination to our coeliac guests.
Come and experience a different type of holiday – one with a sketching, watercolouring & Painting focus. Spend a relaxing vacation exploring the French countryside and villages while experimenting with a variety of drawing and painting media and styles. Participants will use the "hand" to reflect what is seen by the "eye" and felt through the senses. The guest will create a record of images to use as a source of reflection on their adventure or as an inspiration for finished or future art works. The instruction will be individualized and appropriate for all levels, true beginner to experienced artist. Emphasis will be on relaxation and enjoyment of the beautiful environment.
Join the Fun in 2009 – become one of our “Paint-A-Lots”! Discover or develop new skills – Jane welcomes beginners as well as those improving their talent or trying out palette knife painting for the first time.
The photos from our 2008 ‘Paint & Sketch’ week speak for themselves - some are on this page, others are in the ‘Photos’ section here on our website (or ask us to send some photos to you).
Included in your price are the following:
- 6 full days and 7 nights in the beautiful northern Dordogne
- Personal instruction for all levels of expertise, even beginners from Jane Smithers (see a more detailed description from Jane below)
- Small group of no more than 14 participants
- Watercolour starter set, basic oil paints, paint palettes, palette knives, artist stool & easel (all to borrow while you are here) – and two canvases for your oil paintings which you can take home (we suggest you bring your own favourite sketchbook and journal, pencils, pens & other special materials you might like to use)
- A morning with photographer Kevin Saunders – working with your ‘Lense & Eye’ to See in a different way – a perfect parallel to your working on paper & canvas
- If not arriving by car, Limoges Airport pick up & return from Ryanair’s Stansted flight to Limoges or from any flight arriving at Limoges’ Bellegarde airport within 30 minutes of the Ryanair flight (for example, at certain times of year, this includes Flybe’s Southampton flight); Limoges station or other flight pick up and return arranged for you at a small supplement of approximately 110 Euros per per trip).
- Continental Breakfast each morning during your week.
- Light lunches at the Chateau or picnic provided for days of painting, watercoloring & sketching ‘en plein air’
- 4 course dinners each night at Chateau with a glass of Bergerac house wine – with a discount per bottle for those buying wine from Chateau’s extensive cellar.
- Flexible schedule so you can “Relax” each day and take time out for personal time as you wish.
- Three outings available by Chateau transport to local villages, markets etc. for leisure exploration. The 3 “marvels”are in walking/biking distance in the village of Villars – Chateau de Puyguilem, Abbaye de Boschaud and the Grottes de Villars!
- All rooms have private bath or shower, with the option of different bed configurations (King, Queen, Double, Single, depending on availability) – three rooms can be configured for separate beds (two single beds or two double beds as the case may be)
- Tea and coffee available all day.
- Cash bar open to guests of the Chateau, with extensive specialty local wines from Bergerac and Bordeaux – your tab is settled by you in Euros cash at week’s end.
- Parking available at Chateau.
- Pool available subject to time of year and weather, with sun deck and pool towels.
- Walking paths in Chateau’s 9 acre grounds and availability of bicycles.
- Access to Chateau Spa room for Beauty treatment (manicure, pedicure, facial), reflexology and massage available with prior arrangement.
A quote from one of this year's painters..."Jane – this week has changed my life – thank you – a new passion in my life – here’s to the 2008 Paint-A-Lots! We will return…we have left our hearts here!"
Workshop Description – Jane Smithers
My Tools…Watercolor Journaling and Palette Knives
As watercolor journaling is the foundation for my paintings, I guide students in creating an awareness of surroundings, capturing the moment in water color and ink drawings. Recording impressions in this medium will place emphasis on the essence of what will later become the finished painting.
It also maintains a freedom and looseness that makes each work a unique product of that individual.
In keeping with my style of painting, palette knife in oils on canvas, I continue instruction with this medium. We work from journals and on site painting to apply the principals learned and finalize the creative process boldly applying layer upon layer of richly textured oil paints.
Each day will include demonstrations and discussions, individual critiques and problem solving, a group critique, much painting time and interaction with other painters.
This workshop is designed to take you “out of the box”!
Jane Smithers’ paintings can be found at the following galleries: Flanders Art Gallery, Left Bank Art Gallery, Carol Saunder's Gallery and at the Summit One Gallery
The Chateau is your “home from home” during your visit. You are staying in a country French home. Room towels are changed and rooms ‘freshened’ mid week. The Chateau has no TV and no telephones – your cellphone may work on the premises.
Internet access is available in our screening room.
50% deposit, non-refundable at time of booking. The balance is due 10 weeks before your holiday. Cancellation policy available on request. We advise our guests to take out travel and cancellation insurance.
Please contact us at our e-mail chateauvillars@aol.com for further information and be sure to visit Jane Smithers’ website at www.janesmithers.com
We look forward to welcoming you to France for a week for Paint & Sketch, Rest and Relaxation.
Your holiday is provided by SARL Chateau de Villars, a company incorporated in France
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“The Chateau de Villars ‘Hands On’ Gluten Free Cooking Weekend”
Finally what you’ve all been waiting for – and asking for - a chance to cook with Bill Davies in the Chateau’s kitchen!
August 8 - August 10, 2009
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Bill’s ‘Gluten Free’ French Cuisine – and Your Assistance in the Kitchen under his direction!
You’ll each be involved in preparing an Entrée, Plat and Dessert while you are here at Chateau de Villars – and, of course, you’ll enjoy the ‘fruits’ of your labors when you sit down to eat. And we’ll be pairing the daily menu with local Bergerac wines.
We will include a special session on bread & pastry making, because so many guests have asked ‘How does Bill do it?’
So with JUVELA’s Gluten Free products, you’ll learn how to get the best mouth watering results!
Then as an added bonus – and an added challenge - you’ll be off in the markets in Brantome and Thiviers with Bill & Kevin, shopping for the fresh ingredients for the day – and that will mean having fun practicing your French!
We’ll be cooking out of the Chateau’s Cookbook. And you’ll have your own Chateau apron and a copy of the recipes to take home with you.
As always here at Chateau de Villars, all your Gluten Free meals are included, and we’ll arrange airport or train station pick up to get you here.
Come and join the Cooking Fun - and leave with more confidence that you can host your Gluten Free dinner party at home, knowing that your non-celiac friends will not know the difference - as we do every night here!
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‘Ooooh La La’ – a Week of French Language & Culture
A week of “Oh La La!” with friendly conversational French, market visits and history talks.
September 27 - October 4, 2009
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Finally what you’ve all been waiting for – and asking for – the opportunity to have a wonderful weeklong Gluten Free holiday here at Chateau de Villars – and learn some French while on holiday!
No matter your level of French – whether you speak none or have the smatterings of school French still left somewhere in your memory, this is one week of Fun with French!
You’ll have group discussions in French with a French friend of the Chateau and everyone will have a personal hour of French conversation. In addition, there is the opportunity to book for yourself extra private hours of ‘one on one’ French conversation. And two meals (one lunch and one dinner) will be all in French – and we don’t just mean French wine! And each time we eat together or walk together or market together or drink together or take trips together - we’ll use and expand our French.
On our trips out, you’ll have the opportunity to shop in the markets. Using the French you’ve learned and with some assistance if you need it, you’ll buy and bring back some of the days ingredients for the kitchen. And everyone will have a special task to make sure you have to use your French!
We’ll learn basic words & phrases to help you get by in France, improve your accent and give you more confidence.
And there’ll be the opportunity to learn a little more of the French history of the Perigord and the Aquitaine – an ancient history, so intertwined with the English, from the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine (the wife of Henry II) who brought the dowry of the Aquitaine to the English Crown, to her crusading son Richard the Lion Heart (Richard Coeur de Lion) who died in nearby Chalus, to the events of the 100 Years War.
Amongst all of this will be the typical relaxing Chateau de Villars holiday. All your meals included – and all Gluten Free. Day trips and a picnic too!!!
And each of you will have the opportunity to observe - and sous chef – in the kitchen for a Gluten Free Entrée or Dessert while you are here – from Poireaux Vinaigrette and Soupe a l’Oignon to Tarte Tatine and Crème Brulee, . And remember those food words may be in French!
So it will be a full and fun filled week!
Come and join us here at Chateau de Villars!
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“Bergerac Wineries”
A week for “Nose & Palate” with winery visits (including organic vineyards), tastings and talks.
2009
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Bergerac has been a source of fine wine for centuries. The best still rivals almost anything from Bordeaux made in family-owned vineyards set in the delightfully intimate scenery of the rolling green hills of the Dordogne Valley. Red wines are very much like those of Bordeaux but can be fuller and richer. Most are made, like St. Emilion, from the Merlot grape. 
The warm soils of Pécharmant are a good source, but there are many wonderful surprises. Remarkable dry whites, based on Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are either fresh and fruity or rich, oaky and surprisingly age-worthy. The region makes delicious rosé too, but its real glory is the stunning, truly world-class dessert wines of Saussignac and Monbazillac. Many of the leading winemakers in Saussignac are enthusiastic advocates of organic viticulture – and this will form a special theme for our week.
From your Introductory wine tasting evening at the Chateau, you’ll travel out to vineyards, Bergerac Chateaux and Domaines, explore the local villages, bastides and the markets, lunch in village restaurants, visiting Perigueux and Bergerac itself, finishing with a celebratory last evening tasting appellations of south west France. Along with the beautiful Chateau location, we are convinced that this “Winery” week will fascinate your mind and your tastebuds. We hope you join us and we look forward to an amazing week of wine and fun in France!
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. 
The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Our Chateau Wine Cellar is filled with wines selected by Helen Savage. More about Helen Savage, including her tasting notes, is available from her website at www.helensavage.com, and wines selected by her for the Chateau’s wine list are available through her company, NH Wines, Ltd. (www.nhwines.co.uk)
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“Creative Photography”
A week for "Lens & Eye" with camera, whether film or digital, on location in the countryside and villages of the Dordogne, creativity combined with the creation of a 'carnet de voyage', your own special photographic journal of the Perigord Vert in the manner of the "Grand Tour' traveler of the 19th century, led by Kevin Saunders.
2010
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“A Lens on the Perigord Vert”. You’ll enjoy a holiday in France with six days of “hands on” photography in the idyllic countryside of the Perigord Vert in the Northern Dordogne, while you also enjoy our usual hospitality, trips to local beauty sites and markets (which just happen to also be photographically inspiring). If you are accompanying a photographer or a beginner, you’ll have a marvelous time exploring with us and improving your travel photos, finding out of the way places for those perfect images to take home. We’ll utilize the light’s “magic” hours for our photographic expeditions and still have ample time in the day to rest, relax, discuss, walk, read – and work on your images.
Just bring your cameras, your lenses, your tripod and your imagination and creativity! We can have film waiting for you at the Chateau so you won’t have to be concerned with airport scans – just let us know. We’ll have to charge you for the film but not for any time we spend working on digital images with Kevin's profocient instruction.
You’ll learn from Kevin and from each other. We’ll critique the day’s images. We’ll chat about subjects from time to time – composition, exposure, tonality, technique, equipment – simple and advanced techniques to make your photographs more powerful – and still ultimately in your own style. And we’ll talk and learn about producing and printing the final image for your portfolio, gallery or wall at home! We’ll look at images of the photographic masters of our own time and earlier, while we enjoy a glass of local wine at the end of the day.
You’ll stay in an incredible 19th century Louis Philippe Chateau where images to tempt the eye are everywhere –whether you enjoy landscape or architectural photography, documentary, portrait or macro work.
The Chateau itself and its 9 acre grounds, the 15th century Chateau Puyghuilem and the ruins of Boschaud Abbey just up the road, the local villages we visit, the open air markets and the countryside... A Feast for the Lens & Eye.
The week is led by Chateau owner Kevin Saunders. His “architectural” photographs, with their distinctive style, whether gelatin silver prints or color pigment prints, are in American and European collections and museums. You can find out more about him on his website KJSImages.com. You will improve your travel photographs and take home some memorable images as a "Carnet de Voyage" for you, your family and friends.
Reservations can be made with the Chateau at chateauvillars@aol.com. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. The artist(s) leading the week can also give you more information. Please see the main introduction to our “Relax & Learn” weeks for how the weeks are run, what is included in your price, as well as how to book. All bookings can be made in either dollar or sterling equivalent.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Kevin Saunders photography can be seen at the following galleries:
www.thomasdeans.com, www.raifordgallery.com and www.summitonegallery.com
You can also visit his own website: www.kevinsaundersphotography.com as well as view his images here at Chateau de Villars.
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