BEYOND THE KITCHEN Situated just 80 minutes by train from Paris, our cookery school and farm offer easy access to iconic French destinations. Enhance your culinary adventure with curated cultural tours before or after your course, exploring the rich tapestry of Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley, and more. Choose experiences that resonate with you, and we'll handle the planning, transportation, and every detail, ensuring a seamlessly integrated journey. Leave the car behind and focus on creating lasting memories – all within easy reach of our culinary haven.
The Abbey
Mont St. Michel
The most visited site in all of France, there is a reason why this Abbey still intrigues. Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany Mont Saint-Michel is the ‘Wonder of the West’, a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force. In our minds, no visit to France is complete without a visit.
D-Day Beaches
Honor Heroes
The D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944 were nothing less than the largest and most complex combined airborne and amphibious military operation of all time. Today this epic history attracts millions of visitors to reflect on what was achieved – and why.
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Cancale
The Emerald by the Sea
Where the French go for seafood. This pretty port is a delight both for the eyes and the taste buds. Voted a remarkable site of taste, Cancale has long been famous for its oysters and shellfish. It acquired its town status by supplying the royal court (and lucky sailors) with oysters. Sit on the steps, order a glass of wine and delight in the views of this “Emerald by the Sea.”
Saint Malo
"All The Light We Cannot See"
“All the Light We Cannot See” may have made Saint Malo known to more, but for more than 500 years, Saint Malo has indeed charmed…her ramparts standing tall, keeping watch over its port and its beaches. At once a historical, seaside and port side city, Saint-Malo is a maritime cave of wonders… You’ll love its myriad atmospheres.
The Loire Valley
Wine Tasting & Chateaux Touring
Stroll through enchanting towns like Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years, or Blois, its royal castle adorned with intricate carvings. Breathe in the air sweet with roses in Villandry's breathtaking Renaissance gardens, or cycle through sun-kissed vineyards, tasting crisp Sauvignon Blancs and robust Cabernet Francs. In the Loire Valley, every day is an adventure, every castle a whispered story, and every bite a symphony of flavor.
Villeudieu les Poeles
Nestled in the heart of Normandy, France, is a village woven from copper and charm. Imagine cobbled streets echoing with the rhythmic clang of hammers against hot metal, as artisans breathe life into gleaming pots and pans, a tradition passed down for centuries. Every corner whispers tales of history, from the grand Gothic Saint-Nicolas church to the medieval ramparts guarding the town. Villedieu-les-Poêles is a place where time seems to melt away, replaced by the simple pleasures of craftsmanship, camaraderie, and delectable delights.
Dinan
In Dinan, Brittany, time slips sideways between towering ramparts and half-timbered houses with secrets tucked beneath their eaves. Imagine strolling cobbled streets that murmur stories of medieval merchants and whispered courtly intrigues, their murmurs echoing past the Renaissance splendor of the Ducal Palace. Climb ancient, vine-draped walls for panoramic views that sweep across the Rance River, mirroring the sky in its pewter gleam. Duck into cozy crêperies for buttery delights, or savor a galette-saucisse beneath the watchful gaze of the Jacobins bell tower. In Dinan, history whispers at every corner and each turn promises a new adventure.
Villa les Rhumbs
Musee Christian Dior
Christian Dior’s childhood home stands on the cliff facing the Channel Islands in Granville, Normandie, not far from Mont St Michel. Christian Dior was particularly fond of this place. He wrote in his autobiography “Christian Dior et moi”: “I have most tender and amazed memories… of my childhood home. I would even say that my life and my style owe almost everything to its site and architecture.” In 1997, the villa became the “Christian Dior Museum,” unique “Musée de France” labeled museum dedicated to a couturier.
