          
[Photo: © Cold Spring Press 2000-2008] FRANCE On Your Own © is pleased to offer this page of interesting offerings that may be of help when you are planning your next visit to France. It includes 19th Century
French Château in the Loire Region For Sale
On thirty-two beautiful, walled, park-like acres, this incredibly welcoming château bed and breakfast has, regrettably for the young owners, been offered for sale. Due to family obligations in England, they find themselves saying adieu to a property they lovingly restored in the past few years with plans to stay there forever. Great care and attention to detail was given to every facet of the restoration, and the nearly single-handed effort by the owner to renovate the château, including all new electrics and plumbing, was even the subject of a television program! This sparkling jewel in the Loire, very close to the Burgundian city of Nevers, offers warmth, comfort and luxury as a five-star establishment. The château was constructed in 1838 in the neo-classical style with perfect symmetry and enhanced with classic details. The grounds were once home to a monastery which was destroyed in the Revolution, but from which remains one ancient gate. The nearby small village, just beyond the château walls, is from a storybook, too! It has a magnificent twelfth century church with a fine painted ceiling ~ a rare example, as few can be found in twenty-first century France. Nearby is Apremont, a designated Most Beautiful Village of France, the grand châteaux of the Loire Valley, Nevers, the Loire River and the Canal Latéral. Enjoy picnics on the banks of the Loire or visits to the ceramics center at La Borne. Explore local vineyards as a pleasant daytime activity ~ Sancerre and its world-famous wines in particular. The French Formula 1 Grand Prix track at Magny Cours is only one half hour's drive from the Château.
This past year saw the installation of a fine swimming pool to enable guests a refreshing place to unwind in the warmer summer months. The guest suites are spacious, and fantastic modern bathrooms, many with freestanding footed tubs in the center of the room and large walk-in showers, offer views over the verdant landscape surrounding the château. This is the perfect bed and breakfast destination in the Loire where travelers can avail themselves of day trips to the grand châteaux, local village markets or the city of Bourges and then retreat to the château for a lovely dinner and quiet night in country silence. For the new owners of this fine château, the perfect business opportunity exists in the tranquility of the French countryside, yet near enough to major towns and cities to not be isolated or remote.     For
information please send an email to info@franceonyourown.com
and put 'Centre Château' in the subject line. Merci!
CX1231
ELEVENTH
CENTURY FRENCH CHÂTEAU FOR SALE
THE GRAND FIREPLACE AND DINING HALL The 11th century château, gîtes and B&B sit on over 5 hectares of beautiful property, complete with gardens and a heated swimming pool open from May to October. The château can accommodate up to 14 people in its five spacious guest rooms, and has a dining hall fit for a king! In fact, Kind Henri IV was a guest here in 1576!
COTTAGES AND SWIMMING POOL Guests of the château will find the area abundant in things to do and see. They will enjoy late medieval and Renaissance art and culture at the nearby Château d'Angers which is famous for its tapestries of the Apocalypse and Mille Fleurs gobelin tapestries. The amazing Abbaye de Fontevraud is not far away, nor is the wonderful Château de Saumur and nearby riding center. Wine lovers will enjoy the appellations and vineyards of Anjou as well as visiting the grand castles of the Loire.  
SUITE HENRI IV In addition to the château itself accommodating ten adults and four children in 5 guest rooms, the bed and breakfast lodges ten+ people in 4 suites and 1 double guest room; and the four holiday cottages/gîtes will accommodate up to a total of 20 people who are looking for self-catering holidays on the grounds of a magnificent château. The cottages and bed & breakfast are elegant and comfortable with parquet and stone floors, beamed ceilings and spaciousness and include underfloor heating, air conditioning, satellite television, telephones, and, upon request, Internet connections. All modern comforts are provided. Guests can come for rejuvenation and wellness treatments at the château as well. There is an infra-red sauna, a Jacuzzi, and massage showers. Currently operating to full capacity, groups can take the entire property for special celebrations, friend and family reunions or group wine tasting visits. For those interested in learning more about purchasing this property, serious inquiries should be sent to info@franceonyourown.com, please put 'Loire Château' in the subject line. We can provide further photos, more details about the property, and sale price. We look forward to hearing from you! CX1231
MAKE YOUR
RESERVATIONS ONLINE. . .
EasyToBook.com would like you to visit their web site. EasyToBook is the booking service for hotels that offers the best discounts making online hotel reservations simple, easy and secure giving the traveler access to a vast choice of carefully-selected and superb discounted hotels. The site offers thousands of discounted rooms, all of which may be booked (and canceled) instantly. No waiting!
Save money because every hotel room offered is guaranteed to have the best rate available on the Internet; you pay no reservation fee and have a wide choice of fine hotels in Paris as well as throughout France and elsewhere in Europe and the world ~ at all price levels from 1 to 5 stars! And, because there are no 3rd and 4th parties involved in your reservation, the hotels can provide the lowest rates through EasyToBook.com. What makes EasyToBook.com your best choice for online booking? One thing might be the Dutch approach of high quality customer service. Your satisfaction is their goal. They designed their web site to be easy to find on the Internet, easy to use and to contain accurate information about hotels, their surroundings and local tourist attractions. For example, EasyToBook was one of the first companies to use Google Maps and provides customers with 360 degree pictures to give a total view of the hotel and the room. This avoids customer disappointment later. Since the founding of the company in 2004, it has expanded yearly, moved the head office to Switzerland in 2006, and it has plans to cover the world very soon. Just because you can receive the best discounted rate doesn't mean the hotels on EasyToBook.com aren't high quality accommodations. Here are two examples: The Millennium Hôtel Opéra Paris on boulevard Haussmann is a 4-star hotel:
The Hôtel Château Les Crayères just east of Paris in the Marne is a 5-star property:
Please be sure to visit EasyToBook's France hotels pages using the following links: and tell them FRANCE On Your Own sent you! P-100228
FRENCH CHÂTEAU
NOTE CARDS These luxurious,
ivory-colored classical note cards present our exclusive pen and ink drawings
of magnificent château chambres d'hôtes in France.
An assortment of twelve with matching envelopes will provide you with a
unique and elegant
Three of the
twelve cards (châteaus Canisy, Motte and Foulon) are
shown above.
$15.50 to
the United States / packet of 12 assorted cards includes first class
postage and handling.
Check payments: Mail your check payable to Cold Spring Press with a note providing your full mailing address to the Post Office Box indicated at the bottom of this page. For payments by non-US dollar check, please add 5% to the total amount. Credit card payments: click on the PayPal icon below. Please provide your full mailing address. "Make payments with PayPal. It's fast, easy and secure!" Currently, please allow for 2 weeks to receive your cards from the date your order is received by FRANCE On Your Own. If you need the cards in less time, please contact us at watercolors@franceonyourown.com for availability and express shipping costs. If your complete mailing address is not provided and we do not receive an email address to contact you, we will not be able to ship your cards. Thank you in advance for remembering! CSP1231
XIX CENTURY FRENCH CHÂTEAU FOR SALE
The château not only provides private accommodations for its resident owners, but it offers two double guest rooms, one twin guest room and two suites, all with en suite bathrooms, for guests, as well as a formal dining room, finely-detailed classical French interiors, exquisite stained glass and other unique attributes. The château is in excellent, move-in condition. The total capacity of the château, cottages and longère is 40 persons.   
STAINED GLASS, HEATED POOL, CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE Nearby are many tourist attractions, including the historic city of Nantes (a half hour drive from the Château and two hours from Paris via TGV), Le Logis de la Chabotterie (historic castle of the Vendéen War) fishing, hunting, museums, son et lumière spectacle at Puy de Fou, the seaside resort of St Jean-de-Monts, La Roche-sur-Yon, the Île de Noirmoutier, and the Marais de Challans.
AERIAL VIW
OF CHÂTEAU AND DEPENDENCIES
The château and its dependencies generate a very substantial annual income for its owners, while maintenance costs and taxes are very low. Those with a serious interest in the possible purchase of this château can contact us at info@franceonyourown.com, (please indicate Vendée Château in the subject line) and we will be happy to provide more details, photos and price information. We promise a prompt response to all inquiries. CX1231
PARIS FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP &
Glenn Cooper of Rentals in Paris can help you find the perfect Paris apartment. Glenn has lived in Paris for 18 years and worked with many clients to buy their own Paris pied-a-terre worry free. His inside knowledge of Paris real estate and how one gets things done in Paris has helped him to grow his apartment hunting service over a number of years. Fractional Ownership
Glenn is now offering buyers the opportunity to own a fixed yearly period of one of his beautiful ideally-located Paris apartments. His Fractional Ownership properties are located on the Île de la Cité and in the Marais. You can view his web site which presents his fractional ownership properties at: http://www.paris-fractional-ownership.com . PLEASE MENTION FRANCE On Your Own WHEN CONTACTING GLENN. For a small fraction of what a Paris apartment would cost if you purchased the entire property outright, you can own a lifetime share of a beautiful, perfectly-located Paris apartment with complete maintenance in place so that you will enjoy the property in a truly care-free manner. This new concept is perfect for first time buyers in Paris who really want to go ahead but don't want to be bothered with all of the day-to-day concerns that property ownership requires. Apartment Rentals
His long running Paris rental business, Rentals in Paris, offers guests beautiful Paris apartments in perfect Parisian neighborhoods ~ ideal for your next stay in the City of Light. Guests are offered nicely furnished, completely equipped quality apartments in the heart of Paris' most popular and centrally-located neighborhoods: the Marais, Île de la Cité, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the Louvre. Each apartment ~ and there are nearly 25 from which to choose ~ is stylishly decorated with amazing attention to detail. There are queen-sized beds, comfortable sofa-sleepers, cable television, and beautiful bathrooms. Most have washing machines and/or clothes dryers and some have air conditioning, high speed WiFi DSL and telephone lines that include phone calls to the US, Canada, Australia, and most European countries. Compare feeling at home in one of these great apartments to staying in a Paris hotel, and compare the cost. Guests have discovered why apartments in Paris are a better solution than Paris hotels in terms of comfort level, space, amenities and value for money when traveling to France. One bedroom apartments from Rentals in Paris range from 900 to 1200 euros per week or 2700 to 3600 euros per month, while two bedroom apartments cost from 1400 to 1800 euros per week and 4000 to 5000 euros per month. You will have the convenience of your own kitchen and all the other comforts of home. Prices are all inclusive, with telephone access and weekly linen changes (for monthly guests) as part of the rate. All reservations are handled personally with the added convenience of booking online at the Rentals in Paris web site at http://www.rentals-paris.com. An English-speaking staff member greets guests at the apartments in Paris and is available during your stay. If you have any questions or need anything, you will always be able to contact a representative in Paris. For complete details, locations, and more photos, visit the web site or email your American contact in Paris, Glenn Cooper, at coopergl@gmail.com. You can also phone him from the US at 1.516.977.3318. PLEASE MENTION FRANCE On Your Own WHEN CONTACTING GLENN. P-091231
FRENCH COOKING
COURSES AT A PROVENÇAL CHÂTEAU -
The family
says, " We will be pleased to welcome you to our 17th-century estate,
to enjoy your own prepared quality meals matched to our excellent wines.
You will discover the atmosphere and aromas of Provence. With the
help of our chef, you will create traditional recipes based on seasonal
fresh products coming from regional markets."
Cooking on a Theme: This workshop is particularly designed for food lovers wishing to improve their knowledge and food and wine societies or culinary organizations. Object: Over a 5- day period, in this hands-on cooking workshop, using local and seasonal produce, you will discover Provençal recipes, master new and basic culinary techniques, and savor your recipes in a pleasant environment. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday: 9 AM Meet at the Aix market, shop for the day's cooking. Cooking class for a light lunch, followed by wine tasting. Wednesday: Visit to a local craftsman (cheese maker, oil mill, for example) Cooking class at 4.30 PM and dinner Thursday: 9 AM visit to the fish market and lunch in Marseilles. Cooking class at 4.30 PM and dinner Friday: 9:30 AM cooking class, lunch, summary of the week's cooking workshop. Free evening. Price: Please inquire about 2010 prices by sending an email to cooking@franceonyourown.com. To schedule your visit (and see what dates are available) contact us at email at the end of this offer. Schedule: 9:00 AM Gather at the marketplace in Aix en Provence, discover the local produce, choose while comparing prices and the chef will purchase. 10:00 AM Travel to the Château 10:30 AM Assemble in the kitchen for your cooking lesson: chopping, preparation, cooking and tasting. 1:00 PM Time to enjoy an apéritif, then to sit down and enjoy the meal you have prepared. You will also taste wines from the Château OPTIONAL: To complete your day, visit of the wine cellar. Price: Please inquire about 2010 prices by sending an email to cooking@franceonyourown.com. To schedule
your visit (and see what dates are available) contact us at email at the
end of this offer.
Lunch in our old Provençal kitchen, matched by the wines of the estate. This workshop is held on the dates below. The menu depends on the season. Typcial themes:
small growths & germinated seeds : green Spring
[Travel expenses and cost of accommodation of your choice are not included in the package.] For available
dates, accommodations, detailed course descriptions, information on location,
to make your reservation or to ask any questions you might have, please
send an email to cooking@franceonyourown.com,
and we will promptly respond. We will be happy to assist in any way
we can to ensure your place in the château kitchen!
CX1231
CREATIVE
VACATIONS IN A MEDIEVAL PROVENÇAL VILLAGE:
What if your dream of a holiday in a heavenly Provençal perched village could become reality? And what if it offered spacious yet cozy guest rooms, art or writing classes, or a mix of creative arts including cooking, wine tasting, language, culture and painting? What if such a place truly existed and was waiting just for you? 
Saignon and Fields of Lavender Well, your dreams have been answered! In the dramatic yet peaceful medieval village of Saignon in the Luberon of Provence you will find La Maison des Arts et Lettres, a romantic and comfortable home that is designed to warmly welcome guests. For those interested in painting with Andrew (classes scheduled May through September), the all inclusive 10-day package for one is $3500 US for a week, for two is $5600 US for the week, and $1500 US for a non-painting companion. Marcia, your hostess, conducts writing classes and keeps your appetite satisfied with fine cuisine and wine. You and your fellow students will have daily morning and afternoon sessions, en plein air with countryside and village scenes to choose from - in orchards, vineyards or fields of sunflowers, poppies, and lavender. You may also work with live models in the studio and in the landscape. You will receive individual attention in a non-competitive environment, working at your own pace and level, to develop your skills, discover new aspects of your talent, and refine your perception of the world. Around noon, you'll break to share questions and ideas over a copious lunch of seasonal specialties, with local wines, cheeses and freshly baked bread. Field trips will take you to places that inspired Van Gogh and Cezanne; to Roman bridges ~ both famous and forgotten; to gardens and chateaux. You can up your experience with an optional cooking class, wine-tasting at a vintner's, or an accompanied visit to one of Province's lively outdoor markets. To top off the week, we will host a reception to show off your chosen works to local art lovers in our ancient vaulted gallery space.
For those interested in something other than painting, perhaps just unwinding and enjoying the beautiful Luberon, you can be a guest at La Maison which offers weekly self-catering rentals. You have a choice of a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment for six or seven at 1700 euros per week, a suite for 4 at 1000 euros per week, a studio for two at 595 euros, or a one-bedroom apartment for a two or three people at 650 euros per week. All come with thoughtful amenities such as hair dryers, scented bath products, a coffee maker, CD player, WiFi and more. Your bilingual (English and French) hosts, Marcia and Andrew will make you feel right at home. The village is located amid the lavender, poppies and sunflowers of a regional park in the magical Luberon, only four kilometers from the market town of Apt. La Maison des Arts et Lettres was once part of the ramparts of this medieval village, but today, recently renovated, it offers tranquil rooms overlooking the Place de l'Horloge and is a short walk to the Place de la Fontaine, the village's center of activity. Guests will appreciate the original features of the building such as the chemin du ronde, the catwalk soldiers used to keep watch over the valley below, and the base of the old signal tower. Vaulted stone cellars from the tenth century are now home to a wine tasting cave and an art gallery.
Regional attractions are not far, with Avignon a mere 45 minutes (home to the Palais du Pape on the Rhône) as well as the famed Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence. Famous Luberon hill villages like Gordes and Roussillon are just minutes away. A bit farther afield, but not out of easy reach, are Nîmes, Arles, Orange and Vaison-la-Romaine. Your hosts will be more than happy to help you plan your daily itinerary to make the most of your stay. Past guests have given rave reviews after their stays. "Almost Heaven!..." "Far more like staying with friends than staying at an inn..." "We had an absolutely amazing four days..." and "I felt like Cinderella...it was a totally sublime stay." You, too, can experience La Maison des Arts et Lettres, as a guest who just wants to relax and soak up the Provençal warmth and fragrances, or as a participant in painting, art or other casual creative pastimes. For more information on the Painting courses, Creative Workshops or to inquire about guest reservations at La Maison des Arts et Lettres for a week or longer, send an email to info@franceonyourown.com. CX1231
PENICHE
D'HÔTES ALPHONSIA MARIA:
The port of Marseilles les Aubigny on the Canal Latéral à la Loire between Rogny and Nevers in Burgundy is home to a magnificent Dutch barge, the Alphonsia Maria. Built in 1913 and completely renovated in 2000, this 110 foot vessel offers three spacious double cabins with private baths, a refreshing pool, solarium, library, elegant dining room and access to music, a computer, the Internet and games, television with international channels, telephone and a wine cellar.
Gourmet
cuisine
tops the list of on board delights. Chef Carlo Ciacchella offers
menus of traditional French food and Italian specialties -- dishes prepared
exclusively with fresh seasonal products. Enjoy such exotic selections
as Braised red peppers in Bagna Cauda (sauce based on anchovy, raisins
and aromatic herbs), Roman Artichokes (roasted with garlic, olive oil and
basil), Salmon Coulibiac, St-Jacques scallops with Calvados, Cailles
farcies à la provençale (stuffed quail), Guinea fowl with
pears, Roast pork with juniper, followed by desserts such as tarte
flambée with pears, Charlotte, chocolate croquants, Bavarian cream,or
other temptations! On deck
guests will enjoy the beautiful canal itself as well as the villages along
the route while having lunch in the fresh country air. On warmer
days, a refreshing dip in the pool is a welcome break. Bed
and breakfast guests can take part in wine tasting at nearby wineries,
visits to the local cities and villages, bicycle riding, concerts, trips
to regional markets, games of Pétanque and other activities.
The beautiful barge Alphonsia Maria in the town of Marseilles les Aubigny
will be your home in France -- comfortable, convenient and relaxing. For those
interested in cruising the canal, a six-day itinerary begins with a rendezvous
in Paris and a short trip by bus to the barge. A visit to Nevers
is a well-remembered experience, and the first day concludes with a candlelit
dinner by the pool on board the Alphonsia Maria. Subsequent days
take in visits to Apremont, Charité sur Loire, dinner at la Ferme
des Barraux (Foie gras specialties), Sancerre and its renowned vineyards
for some wine tasting. Of course there will be free time for bicycling,
golf, tennis, miniature golf and more. Currently, prices for bed and breakfast accommodations (chambre double with bathroom) are € 78 per night for two people; € 130 for two nights for two people; € 68 for 1 person for 1 night; and, € 110 for 1 person for two nights. Breakfast is included in all cases. Lunch or dinner on board (table d'hôtes) with reservation is € 19 - 29 per person for a gourmet meal. The sun deck, refreshing pool and living room are at the disposal of guests. There is a 10% reduction in rates for children under the age of 10 for bed and breakfast accommodations. Also offered is the B&B Freedom Cruise, from 1 to 7 days in duration, is €1140 per person (€324 each additional day) includes geared bikes, captain and crew, breakfast each day and the freedom to choose where and when to stop. Prices for groups of 4-6 person charters for 4 days or one week range from € 4,870 to € 10,690. The Dine-Around Cruise on the Loire River, which is 3 to 7 days, includes a welcome reception, full board (lunch each day on the peniche) and dinners each evening in superb local restaurants. Prices are per person €1390 for three days (€401 each extra day) or 4-6 person charters for 4 days or 1 week from € 5,920 to € 12,930. The Half-Board Gourmet Cruise, which is also 3 to 7 days, includes daily continental breakfast and set menu dinners at canal side bistros and restaurants (alcohol and beverages not included). Geared bikes are available to guests, and air-conditioned sightseeing minivans are provided. Prices are per person €1300 for three days (€371 each extra day) or 4-6 person charters for 4 days or 1 week from € 5,600 to € 11,950. A special week-end package from Friday 5 pm to Sunday 5 pm is now being offered with half board. Guests are picked up at the railway station in Nevers, and there is an excursion to visit Apremont-sur-Allier, a beautiful medieval village with a splendid garden. The price for is very attractive: from 310 to 370 euros per person all included with 2 days cruising. There is a discount for 4 or 6 persons. Only two hours from Paris, visitors can easily visit the City of Light and enjoy the canals of Burgundy even if they have a short stay in France. Animals are not accepted on board. For exact details of each package or to make reservations or inquiries, please contact us at FRANCE On Your Own at info@franceonyourown.com and type "peniche" in the subject line. Let us know what dates you have in mind, and we will reply immediately with availability. We and your experienced crew of three aboard the Alphonsia Maria are looking forward to hearing from you! CX1231
HISTORIC STROLLS IN PARIS Paris Through
the Ages offers
a series of seventeen strolls to help you discover little-known facts about
the City of Light (and two guided tours outside the city) which will be
revealed to you in a most entertaining and enlightening manner by Arthur
Gillette. He knows Paris. Arthur is an American graduate of Harvard
(Magna Cum Laude in French language and literature) with a doctorate from
the University of Massachusetts. He has lived in Paris since 1958
and for many years was an official at the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) head quartered in Paris. At UNESCO
he was Editor-in-Chief of Museum International magazine. You can just imagine what a stroll with Arthur Gillette will offer you! As the author of the Paris Through the Ages series of nine pocket map-guides, and an expert on Paris and her monuments, your time could not be better spent. Strolls are organized for small groups (and almost always for a party of family and/or friends) to allow people to interact and ask questions along the way, focusing on the vestiges of a single historical period -- in some cases on a single monument. Each stroll takes from two to two and a half hours and is done at a comfortable and leisurely pace. The themes of sixteen currently-offered strolls are:
FX1231
DISCLAIMER: Neither FRANCE On Your Own nor Cold Spring Press accept any liability or responsibility for the contents or offerings in the ads on this web site. Any purchases of goods or services are made between the buyer and the advertiser, and any differences or disagreements they may have because of said purchases will be resolved between them. Cold Spring Press and FRANCE On Your Own are not a party to any transactions between buyers and sellers unless specifically agreed to in writing by Cold Spring Press, P O Box 26098, San Diego, California 92196-009892 USA prior to a transaction taking place. Home | Newsletter | Style de Vie | Carte Postale | Marketplace | Galerie | Archives | Links | Contact Us | Search ©1998-2010 Cold Spring Press All Rights Reserved |
Fractional
Ownership of fine Paris apartments
In
the
tourist-rich Loire Valley, on the banks of a tributary of the Loire, is
this amazing Medieval château with four self-catering gîtes
and a lovely bed and breakfast, too! For those interested in living
in luxury while operating a successful and enjoyable business, this château
is perfect! Currently, a French/English speaking couple are the very
capable onsite managers.
These dishes are only a small sampling of what is offered on the Alphonsia
Maria, and your hosts want you to know that they will cater to the tastes
and particular dietary needs of their guests. Of course, the appropriate
French wines accompany each course to make your dining experience just
perfect!
During the fifth day of the cruise guests will experience the Garden of
Tisserand, famous for sericulture (silk worms) and weaving, Châtillon
sur Loire with its towers and ancient houses, possible participation
in local artistic events, music and harvest festivals, and an evening enjoying
a Gala Dinner on board. The sixth day brings guests to the
very famous canal bridge of Briare built by Gustave Eiffel followed later
by departure for Rogny -- 14 locks in 14 miles -- and the 7 locks
of Henri IV, then on to Gien, a city famous for its porcelain
where you will see the Castle at Gien and more. Guests depart the
next morning for Paris.
