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Our “Relax & Learn” Activity Holidays in the Perigord Vert, Dordogne
If you are looking for a holiday with a difference, then why not consider one of our ‘Relax & Learn’ activity holidays int he beautiful and calm environment of the northern Dordogne. During each year we offer special weekend, weeklong or 10 day holidays with the option of full board dining. That way you have “Rest, Relaxation & Rejuvenation”, while indulging yourself in a “Relax & Learn” holiday at the Chateau which matches your interests!
Click below for more information on our 2012 Activity Holidays: Paint & Sketch, Market Tours & Cooking, and Walking, Strolling & Photography.
A holiday with a theme, when you can choose to learn as much as you like …….or “Just be at the Chateau”. It won’t all be learning though!
There is plenty of time to take each day at your own pace, to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Chateau and the French countryside around it, to immerse yourself in French culture and the beautiful landscape of the Perigord Vert. It’s your holiday – come and have fun!
When you join us for one of these special holidays at the Chateau, your tariff includes all of your dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and two glasses of wine at dinner, all instruction and activities, including three trips out to local sites of interest (see Trips on our website).
Tea and coffee are available all day long, and we have a fully licensed “honor” bar and wine cellar for your imbibing pleasure.
Our Bergerac region wines have been specially selected to allow you the opportunity to try some excellent regional wines.
The Chateau’s heated pool and beautiful nine acre grounds are “home from home” for you during your stay!
You will leave having had a special time, as well as rested, relaxed, refreshed and re-invigorated!
“Walking in the Perigord Vert”A week for “fresh air and relaxation”.
October 2012
There are lots of walks from Chateau de Villars – from right outside our front gate. We are on the edge of the small village of Villars and close to the National Forest in the Perigord Vert.
You have walking paths through the grounds. 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. We have walking maps, of course. 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, away from the cars, 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.
- 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 (where necessary 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.
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 media room in the Chateau’s Carriage House.
Our 2012 tariff starts at 1195 euros for the week, all dining included. 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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“Paint the Perigord”Sketch & Paint with Christine Juson.
Wednesday August 15 to Wednesday August 22, 2012
Beginners welcome, as well as those improving their artistic talent!
For the sixth year running Chateau de Villars brings you its special Sketch & Paint holiday – in 2012, Chris Juson will be joining us to lead the week. You can visit her website at www.chrisjuson.co.uk.
Chris has been painting for many years now. She is self-taught. She explores new techniques and ideas constantly. She holds workshops both in England and in Portugal. She has been on several painting holidays herself and knows that it is important to have a good teacher, one who will give positive, critical advice and guidance.
Her paintings are mostly in acrylic. But she also sketches and paints in oils and watercolours. She has a love of collage, mixed media and inks and encourages others to experiment with various media. She finds it very satisfying to watch students move into a more expressive way of painting.
Although she has her own style of painting, her main aim when she teaches is to bring out each person’s individual talent and encourage and inspire them to develop and progress in their own way. This can involve looking at subjects in a different way and maybe developing a more abstract style although she is a firm believer in explaining the basics of composition, tone, colour, perspective etc.
She encourages guests to compile a sketchbook whilst painting in the different locations and to use this information to work on more major pieces of work. As she primarily paints in acrylics, she very much likes to demonstrate this technique, and it will be emphasised during the weeklong holiday – but there will also be the opportunity to use as well as oils, watercolours and charcoal.
As for personal details, she is married and is ‘a very young 65’. She lives in Wiltshire but also spends time in Portugal where she and her husband have a house. She speaks French and a little Portuguese.
During your week here, Chris intends to concentrate on each individual’s requirements and will tailor the tuition individually. The first day you will get to know each other, do some basic drawing and painting for assessment purposes and find out what each person is looking to achieve from the week. Different elements of drawing and painting will be introduced each day, such as composition, perspective, tonal values, colour and using coloured backgrounds, and abstract methods of paitning, with a demonstration before each session. When you are out and about, you will have your sketch books and watercolour materials in hand and when in the Chateau’s grounds you will be concentrating on acrylics or watercolours.
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 2012! Discover or develop new skills – Chris welcomes beginners as well as those improving their talent or trying out palette knife painting for the first time.
The photos from our previous ‘Sketch & Paint’ holiday speak for themselves – some are on this page, others are in the ‘Photos’ section here on our website.
- Included in your tariff for the week (starting at 1300 euros) are the following:
- 6 full days and 7 nights in the beautiful Perigord Vert of the northern Dordogne
- Personal instruction for all levels of expertise, even beginners
- Small group of no more than 12 participants
- Watercolour starter set, basic paints, paint palettes, drawing boards, palette knives, artist stool & easel (all to borrow while you are here) – and two canvases which you can take home (we suggest you bring your own favourite sketchbook and journal, paint brushes, pencils, pens & other special materials you might like to use – but we can get supplies from our local art shop for you while you are here)
- 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.
- Flexible schedule so you can “Relax” each day and take time out for personal time as you wish.
- Three outings (where necessary 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.
- Bar open to guests of the Chateau, with extensive specialty local wines from Bergerac and Bordeaux.
- 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 a previous guest painter…
“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!”
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.
Our 2012 tariff starts at 1300 euros for the week, all included as detailed above. 50% deposit, non-refundable at time of booking. The balance is due 8 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. 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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Markets & Cooking WeekWith Bill Davies and Richard Wells: Mouth-watering! In late September 2012
Finally what you’ve all been waiting for – and asking for – a chance to cook with Bill Davies and Richard Wells - and to experience the unique location of the teaching kitchen at ‘La Maison des Sabots’ – an 18th century house adjoining the Chateau. And at other times, depending upon what is being prepared, to cook in the Chateau’s commercial kitchen.
The day often begins with an outing to one of our local French markets. We will stroll among the stalls, selecting the best seasonal ingredients for our feast!
Afterwards, we’ll relax at a cafe, talk about cooking and watch the French world go by! Then we’ll head back to home.
Starting the preparation, we’ll review our menu and recipes in detail and then begin chopping, cutting, dicing, laughing, baking, tasting…and, of course, all with a glass of local wine in hand!
Afterwards, we’ll all sit down together - joined by the other Chateau guests who are not cooking – to enjoy and experience the fruits of our labour, with pairings of Bergerac wines.
On the first day, you’ll be given your own Chateau apron (yours to take away when you leave) and, during the week, print outs of all of the recipes we’ll use.
As well as your cooking experiences, you will also have the chance to relax, unwind and to sight see.
We’re limiting the numbers of those cooking to 6 – but of course if your partner is not cooking, he or she will always be eating with us and will join us on all our trips out to the markets and on other visits!
As always here at Chateau de Villars, all your dining is included, and, at a small supplement, we’ll arrange airport or train station pick up to get you here.
Come and join the Cooking Fun!
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“‘Ooooh La La’ – a Week of French Language & Culture”A week of “Ooooh La La!” with friendly conversational French, market visits and history talks. For beginners who want to try out a little French now and then!
2013
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 with all of your dining 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.
2013Bergerac 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! We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
Our Chateau Wine Cellar is filled with many wines selected by Helen Savage. More about Helen Savage, including her tasting notes, is available from her website at www.helensavage.com
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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.
By arrangement
“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 www.kevinsaundersphotography.com. You will improve your travel photographs and take home some memorable images as a “Carnet de Voyage” for you, your family and friends.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chateau de Villars for this exciting week!
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