D O R D O G N E Paint, sketch, tour, relax on our voyage of discovery into the heart of La France Profonde. As we paint and sketch, we’ll explore a land inhabited since prehistoric times. The pleasures of the table will be ours, too, with local cuisine paired with wines of the region. Mornings, after breakfast, we'll travel to a medieval town to shop or tour or find the perfect spot to paint. Then after lunch - whether you grab a quick sandwich or enjoy a leisurely French repas (two hours at least) - you can get back to your painting or take an optional tour of a nearby chateau or garden or cloister or perhaps you would prefer to shop or just relax at your own pace. The choice will be yours to make. Non-painters welcome! Midway through our stay, we're off to one of the most magical spots in France - Saint-Cirq Lapopie - a tiny village perched high atop a mountain. The views from everywhere are breath-taking. |
TOUR PRICE INCLUDED Open to all levels of experience including those who wish to paint with fellow artists but may not wish to receive instruction. |
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| ITINERARY Independent Arrival in Bordeaux Depart U.S.A. on overnight flight to any European gateway city. Catch a connecting flight to Bordeaux. If you fly to Paris, the TGV Train is an option. Day 1 Our base in the Périgord is Petit Rousset, an 18th century stone farmhouse and grange, thoughtfully restored and renovated with your comfort in mind. Set amidst fields of sunflowers and rows of grapevines, Petit Rousset is a wonderful place to begin and conclude each day. Meeting rooms and a library; outdoor terraces and a swimming pool; eight individually decorated guest rooms with private baths, await you. Days 2-12 Eymet - Our "hometown" a 40 minute stroll from Petit Rousset, past rows of grapevines, fields of sunflowers and meadows of grazing cows. This bastide town has a perfectly intact 13th century square. Little streets radiating off the square are dotted with houses made of wattle& daub. Bergerac - The town made famous by the poet-Musketeer, Cyrano is the capitol of the wine growing region. We'll visit Old Town with its medieval houses clustered along the banks of the Dordogne River. St. Cirq Lapopie - A highlight of our program, we'll overnight in this village, suspended on a cliff with spectacular view overlooking the river. Its architecture is pure, harmonious and preserved. A short drive brings us to Grotte du Pech-Merle, one of the finest prehistoric painted caves still open to the public. Issigeac - A tiny, medieval village, sleepy every day but Market Day when meandering streets and pedestrian paths burst with activity. Beynac - We'll visit the town and the château at its summit. Built during the 100 Years' War, the Chateau de Beynac perches high atop a cliff. Now we marvel at the views of the valley below, but its imposing profile attests to its original military purpose.
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ITINERARY CONTINUED Sarlat - Founded as an Abbey Town, when Charlemagne visited, he brought a fragment of the True Cross. Nearly all of Sarlat's restored town houses were built from 1450-1500, its years of greatest prosperity, giving Sarlat a rare architectural unity. Monpazier - Hailed as the most perfectly preserved bastide in SW France, the 13th century houses. surrounding its market square are identical in size, unique in appearance. Next, the imposing Chateau de Biron, largest of all Perigordine chateaux. Molieres - An unfinished English bastide, surrounded by walnut trees. Try the walnut press for a taste of the celebrated Perigord walnut. We'll also visit |
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