Accueil & Accompagnement de voyageurs

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1 Gastronomy Courses Learn French Gastronomy with a famous Chef* Ducasse Gastronomy Courses in Paris Chef Ducasse is THE French Chef of the last years, its extented international reputation is well-known by any «connaisseur» of contemporain French Gastronomy. Have the privilege to learn in its cooking school, a unique place. By choosing to open a new kind of cooking school in Paris, Alain Ducasse is creating a phenomenon. The chef shares his savoir-faire and teaching method with gourmet food lovers in a luminous, and contemporary space of 700 m2. In the classes, each participant will have a work area and can try out all stages of recipes, working with efficient user-friendly equipment. Gift certificates are available for all of our programs. Learn French Cuisine with a famous Chef in Lyon Jean-Marc Villard has 30 years of experience in some of France s best restaurants and 10 years as Professor and Chef at Paul Bocuse Institute. Used to represent abroad the French Cuisine in courses for amateurs and professionals in many countries, its hands-on cooking class are held in English. He proposes 3 courses menu, followed by lunch or dinner. Welcome to Chef s home close to Lyon, in his private and professional kitchen surrounded by a garden. Jean-Marc Villard can also guide you on a gastronomic tour of les Halles Paul Bocuse, the famous indoor market. La Villa des Chefs in Provence La Villa des Chefs is situated close to Aix en Provence, in a private and green property. The eleven Chefs who organize those exceptional courses have all won those very famous Michelin Guide stars, in recognition for their talent. «Maitres cuisiniers de France» and pastry Chefs, they propose training of gastonomy cooking. All year long, they can teach you how to cook menus with season products, depending on their inspiration and personnality. Every student will elaborate the menu and take part in its elaboration, in a kitchen similar to the one of the greatest gastronomic restaurants. *Merci France will do its best to connect your travel planning with their avalaibility.

2 Val de Loire VISIT WINE CELLARS Loire Chateaux Country and wine tourism* The Loire, a unique heritage In 2000, UNESCO bestowed the cultural landscape World Heritage title on the Loire Valley. The area along the banks of this nearly 250 kilometre stretch of Europe s last wild river constitutes a unique setting that is the result of a harmonious blend of natural treasures and the genius of mankind. The history of the Loire and its wines is melted, noblesse oblige, with the History of France. Royal castles (Chinon, Chenonceau, Chambord, Amboise) and vineyards establish essential elements of this monumental landscape mattering among the most accomplished to the world. Estimated in all Europe, wines of the Loire also seduced the most illustrious gourmets: from Rabelais, Balzac to Curnonsky, before convincing the major names of gastronomy. Delve into the fascinating world of wine tourism! Along the 800 kilometers banks of the Loire, four specific areas corresponding to the various AOCs and their 68 naming - with their different colors, materials and tastes - manage of the tour de force to please the most demanding connoisseurs and to delight the taste buds simple amateurs. Vineyard estates, troglodyte cellars dug into the tufa stone, impressive castles, museums: a promise of exceptional moments of sharing, a harmonious blend of natural treasures and the genius of mankind. Merci France has selected the best wine cellars, located in 4 parts along the Loire: Between the Ocean to Champtoceaux (Nantes, Ancenis) Between Champtoceaux to Saumur (Angers, Cholet, Saumur) Between Saumur and Chenonceaux (Touraine, Chinon, Vouvray) between Chenonceaux and St Aignan (Blois, Chambor, Cheverny,Vierson) *Merci France will do its best to connect your travel planning with the dates of opening of the castles and vineyard estates.

3 Loire Chateaux Country and wine tourism*

4 French Olive Terroir PROVENCE The secrets of olive tree and olive oil extraction * An inspiration for Van Gogh, a very old tradition Art historians believe that to Van Gogh the olive tree was something sacred, symbolizing both the divine and the cycle of life: «The rustle of the olive grove has something very secret in it, and immensely old». Did you know extra virgin olive oils, like wines, exhibit characteristics that reflect their terroir? Even more than that, behind every bottle of olive oil there is a story, a tradition and, behind it all, a culture that began in the VIth century before J-C, under the influence of the Phocaean. After the crises of XIVth and XVth century (black plague and Hundred Years War), the olive growing in Provence came back to a progress, the trade of the oil found new outlets in the industry and the soap factory. In spite of the successive frosts between XVIIth and XXth century, which strongly shook the oléicole capacity of Provence, the olive tree remains in this region a fundamental culture. Discover the «terroir» and the methods of olive oil fabrication The olive oil is only obtained by mechanical operations, without the intervention of chemicals: it is a pure fruit juice. Although over time the equipment technically evolved, the process of extraction of the oil known since the highest antiquity remains the same. It includes three successive phases, after which the golden green olive oil, named 1st pressure under cold conditions, is obtained. French growers and producers can tell you: they produce much less olive oil than their European neighbors and have very stringent production and quality standards. They are, though, well aware of their renowned Provençal heritage. French producers are cultivating with patience, passion and perseverance. The geographical area of the AOC (Protected Designation of Origin) olive oil of Provence extends over four departments - Vaucluse, Bouches du Rhône, the Var and Alpes de Haute-Provence - as well as in some municipalities of the Gard and the Drôme. Merci France has selected the most charming and welcoming olive mills, all located in those traditional terroirs. The producers will explain the full process and have you taste their oil and local food products done with olive oil. *November and December are the months of the olive harvest.

5 French Olive Terroir PROVENCE The secrets of olive tree and olive oil extraction *