Cooking & Cultural original Tour in Provence

COOKING VACATIONS

Cooking with Corinne in Provence

$4,580.00$4,990.00

JOIN CORINNE IN PROVENCE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROVENCE CUISINE AND EXPLORE THE REGION OFF-THE-BEATEN PATHS

6 days / 5 nights (Sunday-Friday)
– Avignon station round-trip transfers & transportation by private van
– Private luxury villa accommodation
– Market tours, connection with local producers, truffle hunt
– 3 hands-on Cooking Classes & daily Gourmet experiences
– Cultural guided tours

BEFORE BOOKING THIS TOUR, PLEASE CONTACT US.

We want to be sure that this tour, the itinerary and the food offered match with your wishes, likes and expectations. Thank you.
We look forward to speaking with you and to welcoming you soon!

Welcome to Provence!

Provence is celebrated for its clear light, quaint perched villages with narrow cobbled streets, lavender fields, olive and fruits tree orchards, vineyards, historic castles and abbeys. You have chosen to discover this region of stunning beauty and warm climate; a land of tumultuous geology where colors take on a new depth and brilliance. Pastel-colored hamlets dazzle against an impossibly blue sky. Stone farmhouses are tucked into orchards and vineyards. Set off through gnarled olive trees, fields of poppies, and hillsides fragrant with wild thyme and rosemary to indulge in Provence spirit.

Provence Cooking Tour highlights
Our original and exclusive tour combines the greatest values of the South of France: arts, history, heritage, traditions & culture, gastronomy and lifestyle. Program includes historic towns and picturesque villages walking tours, markets experiences, connections with artisans and producers.
You will stroll across quaint villages and colorful markets.
You will be delighted with the flavorful and healthy local cuisine paired with delicate wines
Your home in Provence is a beautifully renovated old farm nestled in a garden planted with aromatic herbs and surrounded by lavender fields.
In a word, you will have a great time and this trip will be an experience of a lifetime.

Private Villa Accommodation

Located in the outskirts of Grignan hilltop village, Villa Monségur is the perfect place to relax, surrounded by lavender fields, and private for you.
It offers modern comfort with 3 spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms are furnished with king-size beds. The villa has a pool and a jacuzzi. Free WiFi connection. It also offers the laundry facility.

Daily breakfasts in Villa Monségur include ham, cheese, freshly baked baguette, croissants, brioches, butter, jam, honey, cereals, organic milk, fresh fruits, fruit juices, crepes, home-made cakes, tea and coffee… to start the day on the best way!

Cooking Classes & Gourmet Experiences

The south of France is the perfect destination to experience and enjoy a healthy and flavorful cuisine. During your journey, you will partake in food shopping, cooking and baking classes. Corinne’s classes are hands-on and taught in English. Each three-hour lesson offers the right timing to learn how to cook delicious and well balanced 3-course meals from scratch, including an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. Each dish is prepared with local seasonal produce from the market.

You will walk in the footsteps of the truffle hunter and his dog to see how the animal works in a total symbiosis with his owner. The noblest and most characteristic underground mushroom grows in symbiosis with oak trees.

Provence is a blessed region for delightful olive oil and fine wines. You will visit an olive oil mill and learn how the olives are pressed to provide the green nectar. You will visit top-ranked Côtes-du-Rhône wine estates in a Grand Cru village such as Gigondas or Vacqueyras.

Cultural guided Tours

Lifestyle Vacations France

You also visit Grignan and its chateau built on a rocky headland overlooking the village. Originally built in the 11th century by Adhemar de Monteil, the chateau was transformed during the Renaissance period into a prestigious “leisure residence”. It pays tribute today to Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marchioness of Sévigné. Dismantled at the Revolution, the chateau was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century in a pure Renaissance style. You will visit other quaint villages such as Vaison-La-Romaine and Gordes and Senanques in Luberon, where for the lavender museum is set.

You will visit Dieulefit, a village located 30 minutes away from Villa Monségur. Dieulefit pottery has a millennal history as the archaeological excavations from the Gallic-Roman period confirm. The clay is reputed for its qualities of refractory earth, resistant to thermal shock. From culinary to utility and from utility to decorative, ceramics has evolved according to the needs and desires of customers.

You will visit a lavender distillery including a sensory test, walk through the plantation to discover the history of lavender varieties. You will discover how the plants are harvested and distilled and you will follow the essential oil extraction process.


ITINERARY

Day 1 (Sunday) ∼ Welcome to Avignon, Provence
Early afternoon transfer to the villa through Avignon (to visit the historic quarter and to see the Popes Palace) and Châteauneuf-du-Pape then.
Check-in at Villa Monségur around 6pm. Relaxing time with an aperitif.
Food & wine pairing dinner in the villa.
Overnight.

Day 2 (Monday) ∼ Château of Grignan ∼ Truffle hunt & visit to a wine estate ∼ Cooking Class
Breakfast in the Villa.
Transfer to Grignan. Walking tour through the hilltop village followed by a visit to the Chateau.
Lunch in Richerenches.
Early afternoon truffle hunt. You will see how the dog works with the farmer.
Visit a family-run wine estate in La Baume-de-Transit or Visan. You will learn about the white, rosé and red wine methods. You will visit the caves and enjoy the wines tasting.
Back to the villa to partake in the cooking class celebrating the Provence cuisine.
Food & wine pairing tasting dinner in the villa.
Overnight.

Day 3 (Tuesday) ∼ Market and walking tour in Vaison ∼ Artisans ∼ Cooking class
Breakfast in the Villa.
Transfer to Vaison. Market tour and shopping and walking tour through the medieval hilltop village.
Lunch in Vaison. Visit to La Scourtinerie family-run weaving factory. A scourtin is a coconut fibber weaved cercle placed in the press to extract the olive oil. If synthetic fibber replaces the natural fibber, you will see that authentic scourtins have a second life for decoration.
Transfer to Villa Monségur.
Hands-on cooking class celebrating the Provence cuisine starting at 5pm.
Food & wine pairing tasting dinner in the villa.
Overnight.

Day 4 (Wednesday) ∼ Luberon full-day guided tour
Breakfast in the Villa.
Early transfer to Coustellet. Farmer’s market visit and food shopping.
Visit to Gordes’ olive oil mill. Lunch break.
Gordes and Roussillon (well known for its ochre quarries) quaint villages walking tour.
On the way back, your visit a wine estate in Gigondas or Vaqueyras.
Transfer to Villa Monségur. Relaxing time.
Food & wine pairing dinner in the villa.
Overnight.

Day 5 (Thursday) ∼ Lavender cosmetic lesson ∼ Dieulefit ∼ Cooking class
After breakfast, transfer to Le Poët-Laval.
Morning visit to a lavender distillery including lavender and Lavandin sensory test, walk through the plantation to discover the history of lavender varieties. You will discover how the plants are harvested and distilled and see the essential oil extraction process. Picnic lunch.
Dieulefit afternoon guided tour including the visit to the ceramicist museum and connection with artisans.
Transfer to Villa Monségur at 4pm.
Hands-on cooking class celebrating the Provence cuisine starting at 5pm.
Food & wine pairing dinner in the villa.
Overnight.

Day 6 (Friday) ∼ Check-out ∼ Transfer to Avignon TGV station ∼ End of the tour
After breakfast, resting time. Check-out at noon or earlier at your convenience.
Private transfer to Avignon TGV train station.
End of the tour.

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PROGRAM PRICES

$4,580 per person (DBL occupancy)
Single occupancy supplement: $410

VAT and all taxes included.

Price includes:
♦ Avignon TGV station round-trip private transfer and daily transportation for visits and tours
♦ 5-night private Villa**** accommodation
♦ 3 hands-on cooking classes
♦ Daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners
♦ Marketplace tour and visits to local artisans and producers
♦ Truffle hunting experience
♦ Quaint villages and historic sites guided tours.

Not included: airfare from your country, wine in restaurants, personal expenses, personal insurance and all which is not listed in “price includes”.


2024 TOUR DATES

September 15-20 (6 spots left)
Other dates can be offered upon request in May, June and September.

This tour is confirmed with 4 people and it is limited to 6 participants.
Considering the high demand for Provence, an early reservation is strongly recommended. Thank you.

Lifestyle Vacations France