Périgord & Bordeaux Cultural & Gourmet Exclusive Tour
COOKING VACATIONS
Bordeaux & the Périgord Cultural and Gourmet Tour
$4,710.00 – $4,930.00
Join Corinne in the South West of France to enjoy the beauty of Saint-Emilion and the Périgord stunning villages and lifestyle while experiencing the delightful local cuisine.
8 days / 7 nights (Thursday – Thursday)
• Bordeaux round-trip transfer & Transportation by luxury van
• Luxury Château & Chartreuse B&B accommodation
• Daily breakfasts, Gourmet lunches and dinners
• Saint-Emilion, Margaux & Saint-Julien wine Tours
• Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion and Périgord sites cultural tours
BEFORE BOOKING THIS TOUR, PLEASE CONTACT US.
Discover Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion and the Périgord
Discover Saint-Emilion & Bordeaux…
Thanks to its location, Bordeaux was the largest port in France before the 1789 Revolution and the wine trade and the commerce contributed to make merchants fortunate. The city features an exceptional architectural heritage listed at the UNESCO: private mansions, opera house, theater and museums, tree-shaded thoroughfares and avenues that invite to walks, beautifully designed river bank overlooking classified buildings such as Place de la Bourse, Grand Pavilion and fountains. Bordeaux is the biggest region of wine growing in the world, made up of five main vineyards: Medoc, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Sauternes.
You will discover Saint-Emilion, a medieval village which is also well known for its legendary red wines. You will visit a Grand Cru classé wine estate, the occasion to learn about the classification : 1855 for the Médoc, Graves and Sauternes; Grands Crus A and B for Saint-Emilion.
Discover the Dordogne Valley…
The Dordogne Valley is a part of the Périgord drawing from its very remote history to highlight its cave paintings. At the Middle-age, the region was shaken by religious wars and conflicts that opposed the Kingdoms of France and England. This period left castles and medieval fortresses. The quietest late fifteen and sixteen centuries were more conducive to the development in urban architecture, leaving today a beautiful Gothic and Renaissance architectural heritage especially in Périgueux, Bergerac and Sarlat, the city of consuls with its 400 years of glory starting at the fourteen century.
The food, the wine, the traditions, and culture refer to centuries of history. Before the railway and road constructions, the food, the wine, the wood were transported by boat on the Dordogne River to the Atlantic coast. Fortunate families have built chateaux, manors and other prestigious houses which contributed to make the France heritage unique. The region now gains resources with tourism, ducks and geese products, truffle and walnut oil. The Périgord features vineyards around Bergerac producing full-body reds and sweet white which match perfectly with confits, duck breast and foie gras!
• You will visit Saint-Emilion, the Médoc, Bordeaux, Périgueux and the Dordogne Valley’s towns and villages including Sarlat, La Roque Gageac, Beynac and Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.
• You will visit Lascaux IV International Center of Caves Art featuring the replica of the impressive painted and engraved cave discovered in 1940 nearby Montignac. Thanks to its outstanding palaeolithic and archaeological heritage, Lascaux and Les Eyzies-de-Tayac have been listed at the UNESCO since 1979.
• You will visit Rocamadour, the UNESCO Vertiginous Citadel of Faith and a major pilgrims site in the Middle-Age. Rocamadour owes its origin to Saint-Amadour who chose the spot as a hermitage. More than 200 steps lead up the rock to the sanctuary. The churches in the sanctuary include the Romanesque basilica of Saint-Sauveur and the 12th-century crypt of Saint-Amadour.
• You will visit Collonges-La-Rouge, Curemonte and Turenne. The former Viscounty of Turenne which had been a State in the State for at least 900 years until 1738 is one of the largest fiefdoms in France and a highlight of the South-West region. Viscounts held in a simple tribute of honor to the King were exempt from tax, and act as sovereign: they organized the General Estates, raised taxes, ennoble and more. Turenne, Collonges-la-Rouge and Curemonte villages are the witness of this past.
Welcome to Maison de Prignac!
In the heart of the vineyards of Bordeaux, 30 minutes away from Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion, La Maison de Prignac boutique-hotel, surrounded by a manicured garden and tree-shaded park, is a fully renovated 19th century chartreuse to offer luxurious comfort. Its beautifully decorated air-conditioned rooms and suites are all set on the ground floor with terraces and independent access.
Welcome to Chateau de Beaulieu!
In Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, nicknamed the “Riviera Limousine”, stands the château of the same name, once owned by Baron Jean Planchard-de-Cussac. Built in the 18th century, it has been entirely renovated as its former glory. It is surrounded by a manicured tree shaded park, and its outdoor swimming pool is a delight for guests in summer.
Five spacious and luxurious rooms are set on the first floor, bearing the evocative names of the remarkable villages of the area. White walls adorned with lithographs, furnished with stylish antiques, rugs warming the wooden floor, Indian fabrics covering windows and beds, and large bathrooms offer the comfort for the guests.
The Périgord is a destination for gourmets and history lovers. The food is connected to the past and to the traditions. Before the railway and road constructions, the food, the wine, the wood… were transported by boat on the Dordogne river to the Atlantic coast. Fortunate families have built chateaux, manors and other prestigious houses which contributed to make the France heritage unique. The Périgord now gains its resources with tourism, ducks and geese products, and walnut oil. In autumn and winter, porcini mushrooms and black truffles arrive on the markets’ booths attracting gourmets from all over France and beyond. The Périgord also features vineyards around Bergerac producing very good full-body reds, dry and sweet whites which match perfectly with confits, duck breast and foie gras!
From the Médoc to Saint-Emilion, Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves and Sauternes, the vineyard of Bordeaux spreads over 295.000 acres and encompasses 65 appellations and more than 7000 individual estates.
Yet Bordeaux gained international recognition thanks to the prestigious châteaux. In Médoc, Graves and Sauternes regions, you will learn about the 1855 classifications relaying to Paris Universal Exhibition. In 1855, Napoleon III asked a panel to break the region’s wines down by price (therefore, hopefully, quality as well). These 1855 classifications were never meant to be an official quality roster but remain mostly unchanged at today.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Welcome to Bordeaux!
Early afternoon private transfer from Bordeaux St Jean or Merignac airport to La Maison de Prignac.
Time free at your leisure.
Early dinner in the property.
Overnight.
Day 2 – Médoc & Bordeaux full-day Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the Medoc featuring Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe.
Morning expert-led Premium Wine Estate visit in Saint-Julien. The Symphonie Tour & Tasting features the ultimate harmony presented in a vertical of 3 mythical vintages of Léoville Poyferré (2018, 2009 and 2010 top vintages).
Lunch in a traditional restaurant nearby.
After lunch, we will drive through the legendary wine route through Margaux.
Afternoon transfer to Bordeaux. Walking or visiobus tour.
Transfer to Prignac.
Dinner in Bourg nearby town
Overnight.
Day 3 – Check-out / Transfer to the Périgord through Saint-Emilion
Check-out after breakfast.
Transfer to Saint-Emilion.
Lunch in Pomerol.
Early afternoon visit to Grand Cru classé Wine estate, followed by Saint-Emilion medieval village guided tour.
Transfer to Beaulieu s/Dordogne. Check-in.
Dinner in the chateau.
Overnight.
Day 4 – Collonges-la-Rouge / Turenne / Curemonte full-day cultural tour
After breakfast, transfer to Collonges. Walking tour through this unusual 14th century village all built with deep red iron oxide sandstone. You will stroll across narrow cobbled streets which lead to an impressive church and 15th & 16th century houses adorned with turrets and towers such as La Maison de la Sirène with period interiors and a small mermaid sculpted in a stone outside.
Lunch in Collonges.
In the afternoon you will visit the two other villages of the Visconty of Turenne.
1/ Curemonte is a medieval village with three castles, three churches and old aristocratic houses lining the narrow streets alongside the old ramparts. The French writer Colette lived there during the World War II.
2/ Turenne hilltop village overlooks the countryside in all directions recognizable with the ruins of the 13th century medieval château which served as the Viscounty of Turenne powerful dynasty. In the village below, the 17th century Church of Our Lady of Saint-Pantaleon is acclaimed for its magnificent stained glassed windows.
Transfer to Château de Beaulieu. Resting time.
Food & wine pairing dinner in the château.
Overnight.
Day 5 – Lascaux & Vézère Valley full-day Tour
After breakfast, transfer to Montignac.
At 11am, visit to Lascaux IV International Centre of Cave Art which starts at the belvedere to discover then the complete and unprecedented replica of the decorated cave. You will be guided through this masterpiece of humanity and discover the masterful cave representations. From the unicorn to the monumental aurochs, the deer and the numerous horses, you will leave the real world to rub shoulders with the dreamlike and artistic universe of Cro-Magnon 21,000 years ago.
Lunch in a traditional ferme-auberge nearby and visit to the geese farm afterwards.
Afternoon guided tour to the magnificent Gardens of Eyrignac, famous for their topiary art displayed through the clipping of the foliage and twigs of trees and shrubs which gives a variety of defined shapes, either geometric or fanciful. It features perfectly manicured hedges with wonderful perspectives. It’s a typical example of French formal gardens created by André Le Nôtre in the 17th century for King Louis XIV. The highly-influential gardens of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte and the Tuileries definitely inspired the planting plan in Eyrignac. The estate covers 200 hectares of land kept in its natural state which surrounds the manor and its celebrated garden. The formal garden is made up of all the shades of green with its yews, box-trees, hornbeams and cypresses.
Transfer to Château de Beaulieu.
Light dinner in the château.
Overnight.
Day 6 – Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne & Rocamadour full-day tour
After breakfast, walking tour through Beaulieu historic quarter starting by the original Sainte-Catherine gateways to enter the medieval fortifications and discover the old centre of the village based around the market square and well preserved medieval half-timbered and stone houses.
Transfer to Lacave to enjoy a gourmet lunch on a Michelin-star restaurant.
Afternoon Rocamadour guided walking tour.
Transfer to Beaulieu.
Light dinner in the château of Beaulieu
Overnight.
Day 7 – Sarlat-la-Caneda & Dordogne Valley tour
After breakfast, transfer to Sarlat.
A picturesque tangle of honey-colored buildings, alleyways and secret squares make up the stunning town of Sarlat-la-Canéda that you will visit by walking. Boasting some of the region’s best-preserved medieval architecture, the town is a favorite location for film directors!
You will have time free at leisure in Sarlat for shopping (Wednesday is market day!).
Michelin-starred Lunch in Sarlat.
Afternoon transfer to Beynac and Castelnaud-La-Chapelle with its medieval fortresses. Castelnaud was owned by the Cathar castellan, Bernard de Casnac and taken by Simon de Montfort in 1214 during the Albigensian Crusade against the unorthodox Christianity of the Cathars. The fortress was erected to face its rival, the Château de Beynac.
If you don’t decide to visit the fortress of Castelnaud, you can enjoy a cruise on the Dordogne river departing from La Roque Gageac.
Transfer to Beaulieu.
Light dinner in the château of Beaulieu
Overnight.
Day 8 – Transfer to Bordeaux airport or train station
Check-out after breakfast.
Bordeaux airport or train station private transfer.
End of the tour.
