Cooking and Wellbeing Provence™
This exclusive program combines hands-on cooking classes celebrating the organic Mediterranean cuisine, yoga, massage, walks, and cultural visits

6 days / 5 nights (Sunday-Friday) $3050 per / pers

WELCOME TO NORTHERN PROVENCE !

Provence is like a magnet… it attracts you, captured your mind, and when you get back home, you already think about coming back. In this blessed sunny southern region of France, the time has stopped... You will be captured by the beauty of perched villages and landscapes between hills, lavender fields and vineyards, the magnificent golden light at sunsets, the smells of fresh air delicately perfumed by wild herbs and flowers, the abundance of (organic) produces at the markets, farms and gardens, and much more.

Provence is the most visited site in France after Paris which is good and bad as you can also find towns and villages (ie : Aix, Saint Remy, Les Baux, Gordes in Luberon, etc) where you hear more English than French. In fact we prefer to guide you through a more “authentic Provence” where you indulge in the traditions and culture, where you meet local people too. Our “headquarters” is 45 minutes distance north of Avignon, nestled in a peaceful awesome countryside nearby the Dentelles-de-Montmirail and Mont-Ventoux....

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Cooking and Wellbeing ProvenceTM is a Lifestyle Vacations exclusive educational and cultural tour, designed for individuals and small groups limited to 6 people. The tour is escorted by Corinne A. Preteur personally. Corinne has designed the itinerary in considering considers our clients remarks and wishes to eat well for feeling good. The four cooking lessons scheduled are taught in English, and run by expert cooks who have simplified master chefs recipes for home cooks. No cooking skills are required except that you must know how to peel vegetables and fruits ! All recipes that you will experience include ingredients that you will be able to find in your country.

Aside to your cooking lessons, you will partake a yoga lesson and be granted a relaxing massage. Market tour, easy guided walks along back roads and paths, visits to local producers, excursions to hilltop villages will be also a highlight of the tour. Avignon and Chateauneuf-du-Pape sightseeing is planned on the first day (if you are not too tired). All lunches and dinners are included in the program, as well as train station transfers and ground transportation by private car or minibus for visits and excursions.

La Villa des Dentelles luxury guesthouse welcomes you for the six days and five nights. This privately owned property is a gem, nestled in a lovely village surrounded by a sumptuous natural environment with a breathtaking view on the mountains and vineyards.

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The story of Marie and François makes wonderful reading. François is an architect, and Marie a home designer. Some years ago, they followed their dream and left the commotion of Paris for the peace and beauty of Provence, with the idea of setting up a vineyard. Finally, they built a contemporary villa surrounded by majestic pine trees, fruits trees, and saffron culture.

La Villa des Dentelles is a luxury guesthouse, offering 5 bedrooms and suites beautifully decorated in earthy pastel colors. Each room has its private en-suite bathroom with shower and all modern amenities. It’s furnished with double queen or king-size beds (or two single beds), stylish antiques and countryside-style furnitures. One guestroom and one suite have a private terrace. The property has a pool and a summer kitchen where the guests can prepare and enjoy a light lunch or dinner at the warm season, or just having a drink.

You will stay 5 nights in this beautiful property. You will enjoy all morning continental breakfasts prepare with organic produces only. Breakfasts include tea or coffee, fruits juices, fruits salad, home-made yogurt, freshly baked cake, bread, cheese, butter, jam, and more. Welcome aperitif and dinner accompanied by wine will be served at La Villa des Dentelles on Sunday. Yoga class and massage are offered at the property. Two cooking classes followed by tasting dinners are taught by Chef Marie at La Villa des Dentelles.

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Chef Marie is a very talented cook (trained with master chefs) and she produces also the saffron at La Villa des Dentelles. All produces you will prepare and cook under her direction are organic, grown in the kitchen garden or bought at the local producers.
Chef Madelaine welcomes you in her beautiful restored typical village house located 15mn by car from Saint Véran. You will cook in a home kitchen in using the same equipments that you have at home.

Tasting lunches and dinners accompanied by wine follow our cooking classes, served in elegant dining room when the mistral wind blows, or outside at the warm season.

Sample menus can include fenouil à la Niçoise (fennel bulbs cooked with olives and white wine), artichauts à la barrigoule (stew of artichoke hearts cooked in a tomatoe sauce), saffron flavored melon soup, saffron spelt wheat risotto, grilled tuna and green olives pesto, tian d’agneau (lamb and vegetables are baked in earthware gratin dish), cherry or apricots clafoutis, icecream nougat, chocolate sorbet and its delicate saffron biscuits, and more.

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Our authentic Provence covers a territory located north to Avignon at the border of the Drôme department. Here local people welcome you as a guest and a friend not as a tourist. Corinne will guide you through historical perched villages nestled in the awesome sites of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux. As you will “land” in Avignon, a visit to the Popes palace cannot be missed, as well as a visit to Chateauneuf du Pape and its prestigious wineries. We will do it the first day.


Tiny villages are haven for artists, artisans, and producers who offer “la crème de la crème”... meaning the best food. Along your tour, you will visit a goat cheese farm at the milking time and discuss with the farmer, you will visit an olive oil mill including the demonstration of the first cold pressed process. Aside to Chateauneuf du Pape and its big wineries, you will also visit a family-run wine property in Beaumes de Venise. Guided easy walks are also a part of this program.

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Provence features amazing landscapes, a unique light that attracts painters from all over the world, many villages of great beauty. Provence is also the smells, noises, and silence which invites to relaxation and meditation.


At La Villa des Dentelles natural environment where the cicadas song balances with the wind noise… all invites to wellbeing and relaxation. Nathalie is a professional yoga teacher and amazing massage practice. Monday morning, before your delightful home-made breakfast, you will give the priority to your body and mind.

At the pool, Nathalie will run a 45 minutes soft yoga class in which you will learn the secrets of the breathe, the awareness of the flexibility of your body, and the awakening of senses. No yoga experience is required to join the class.

The one-hour massage scheduled is a full-body one. It is a relaxing massage (not a deep body one) that will eliminate your tiredness, especially after your long trip to France.

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Day 1 (Sunday) : Welcome to Provence !
Visit to Avignon and to Chateauneuf du Pape.

Pick up at Avignon “Gare TGV” train station at 2:30pm.
Visit to the Popes palace for one hour followed by a guided tour of Chateauneuf du Pape. Visit to the wine museum and to a winery.
Transfer to Saint-Véran. Check-in at La Villa des Dentelles.
Welcome aperitif and dinner accompanied by wine.
Overnight at the property.

Day 2 (Monday) :  Morning Yoga and Massage
Lunch
Guided walk to the olive oil mill and saffron farm (visits and tasting)
Cooking class at Chef Marie followed by dinner.

Morning yoga at the pool for 45mn. Breakfast. Massage for one hour. Relaxing time.
Lunch at a casual restaurant in Beaumes de Venise.
Afternoon guided walk in the “Trias” to the olive oil mill. The miller will provide all information about the oil making process from the olives harvest to the oil bottling.
Back to the property. François will explain the different steps of the saffron production from the bulbs plantation to the harvest and drying process.
Hands-on Cooking Class, followed by a 3-course tasting dinner accompanied by wine.
Overnight at the property.

Day 3 (Tuesday) :  Visit to the largest open-air market
Lunch
Hilltop villages excursion Cooking class at Chef Marie followed by dinner.

Breakfast at the property.
Morning visit to the largest open-air food market in Northern Provence. Lunch at a casual restaurant celebrating organic food.
Afternoon guided tour of picturesque hilltop villages from Beaumes de Venise to Lafare and to La Roque-Alric by car or minibus.  Back to Beaumes. Visit to a wine property followed by tastings. Transfer to Saint-Véran.
Hands-on Cooking Class, followed by a 3-course tasting dinner accompanied by wine.
Overnight at the property.

Day 4 (Wednesday)  : Cooking class at Chef Madelaine followed by lunch *
Rhone Valley wine route excursion * Gourmet dinner in Cairanne

Breakfast at the property.
Transfer to Chef Madelaine’s cooking school by car or minibus.
Morning cooking class followed by lunch. Back to the guesthouse for relaxing (nap is a Mediterranean tradition)
Afternoon excursion to the Rhône Valley wine route by car or minibus, featuring Vacqueyras, Gigondas, and Rasteau.
Gourmet dinner at a Michelin restaurant in Cairanne.
Overnight at the property.

Day 5 (Thursday) :  Cooking class at Chef Madelaine followed by lunch
Guided walk to Le Barroux including the visit to a goat cheese farm
Gourmet farewell dinner in Pernes les Fontaines.

Breakfast at the property.
Transfer to Chef Madelaine’s cooking school by car.
Morning cooking class followed by lunch.
Afternoon guided walk to Le Barroux including a visit to a goat cheese farm.
Back to the property around 6:00pm. Relaxing time.
Gourmet farewell dinner at a Michelin restaurant in Pernes les Fontaines.
Overnight at the property.

Day 6 (Friday) : Check-out and transfer to Avignon
Breakfast at the property. Check-out not later than 11:00am.
Transfer to Avignon TGV train station.

End of the tour

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TOUR DATES

Other dates can be added upon request. Please contact us.
This tour is confirmed with 3 participants, and it’s limited to 6 people.