EPICURIAN ADVENTURE IN THE QUERCY
SOUTHWEST FRANCE

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What does the Southwest France mean to you ?
Great wines, rich and quintessentially French cuisine, strikingly beautiful landscapes and villages… maybe ? You’re right ! But France’s southwest is wide, including Bordeaux, Cognac, Perigord & Dordogne, the Quercy, the Atlantic coast, Toulouse & the Pyrenees, and the region has to be discovered in several time and trips.
For now it’s the Quercy that we bring to your attention, a land whose light, colours, warmth and accent have the flavour of the south… but different of with Provence, its lavender and Mediterranean markets.
The Quercy is about 2 hours driving from Toulouse with its capitale, Cahors. This medieval city boasts prestigious monuments like the Pont Valentré, a 14th century bridge with its two medieval towers spanning the Lot river.
And Cahors ? I’m sure you have heard about this name if you’re a wine connoisseur ! The Cahors red wine, one of the French’s oldiest, is said to have been Rabelais' favourite ! The wines are produced in the Lot’s valley, few miles north from the medieval city of Cahors, a sublime corner that will be your “base camp” as it’s the best !

You will be hosted in a a beautifully restored 17th century property, located in the village of Mercuès, famous for its castle on the hill overlooking the Lot valley). The luxurious villa has six adorable rooms furnished with antiques and decorated with a very good taste. It’s a quite place, surrounded by vineyards, fields of sunflowers and meticulous gardens with a private pool. Here, you will not only relax but also share the secrets of Sabine, the chef and owner, in hands-on cooking lessons, featuring the Quercy’s cuisine with duck, lamb, truffles, saffron, cheese and/or organic fresh products from the market. The wines are the expertise of Claude (Sabine’s husband). In a friendly atmosphere, you will enjoy blind-tastings at the property, wine-tastings in the chateaux and domaines nearby. Our English-speaking guide will be by your side when you visit the market, the local producers and discover the wonderful medieval villages of Luzech, Albas, Puy-L'Eveque, Bouzies, Saint-Cirq Lapopie that take part of the cultural heritage… without forgetting Lalebenque and its famous truffles market at the winter season.
In choosing this destination and program you will find a cultural approach while enjoying the pleasures of a unique gourmet adventure.

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SAMPLE ITINERARY

> DAY 1 (Sunday)
Private transfer from Toulouse airport to Mercues. After relaxing, you will enjoy a welcome drink followed by a dinner. Night at the property.

> DAY 2 (Monday) : Cooking Class + Valley of Vineyards
After breakfast, three-hours cooking class followed by lunch.
Afternoon tour in a Valley of Vineyards, sightseeing of the beautiful local villages of Luzech, Albas, Puy L'eveque. Visit of vineyards and wine tasting. Return to Mercues. Dinner and night at the property.

> DAY 3 (Tuesday) : Cahors + Cooking Class
After breakfast, morning visit of the famous market of Cahors. Lunch in a typical auberge followed by a tour of the town.
Return to Mercues in the afternoon. Around 4pm, you will experience your second cooking class followed by a wine tasting dinner.
Night at the property.

> DAY 4 (Wednesday) : Bread workshop + Cooking Class
After breakfast, drive to the village of Salviac for enjoying a workshop about the French art of bread and learn how to make the classic breads of the region in a traditional wood oven, followed by lunch. Return to Mercues in the afternoon and relax. Dinner and night at the property.

> DAY 5 (Thursday) : Cooking Class + Saint-Cirq Lapopie
After breakfast, morning cooking class at the property followed by lunch. Afternoon tour of the mediaeval villages of Bouzies and Saint-Cirq Lapopie. Dinner and night at the property.

> DAY 6 (Friday) : Cooking Class + Lalebenque “capitale of black truffles”
After breakfast, morning cooking class followed by lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Lalebenque, capital of truffles. Discovery of the “black diamond”, with a demonstration of truffle-searching (called cavage). Return to Mercues at night.
Farewell dinner at the property.

> DAY 7 (Saturday)
After the breakfast, private transfer to Toulouse airport.

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PRICES PER PERSON

$ 3,350.00 (based on double occupancy)
Single supplement : $ 430.00
Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates.

Our price includes :
• 6 nights accomodation (double occupancy)
• 4 hands-on cooking classes
• French bread workshop in the village of Salviac
• All dinners, beverages included (including one with a special wine tasting)
• All breakfasts and lunches, drinks included
• Tour of the Cahors’ market with the chef
• English-speaking guided tours of the Cahors medieval city and villages as detailed in the itinerary
• Tour of local vineyards with wine tastings
• Transportation to and from Toulouse, and for all desired outings and tours
Are not included: airfare from/to the USA and in France, personal expenses, personal insurance and everything which is not mentioned in “our price includes”.

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TOUR DATES

2007
April 15-21
April 22-28
October 7-13
November 4-10
December 9-15 (Truffles Special)

2008
March 16-22
April 13-19
April 20-26
October 5-11
November 2-8
December 7-13 (Truffles Special)

A minimum of 6 participants is required for the cooking classes.

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