Showing posts with label Chateaux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chateaux. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

BURGUNDY: Autun in August - A Roman Festival

Cruise Southern Burgundy With Finesse
Autun in August - A Roman Festival

The approach to Autun is striking. Its cathedral steeple, golden in the setting sun is quite the contrast to the surrounding green of the Morvan hills; it really wouldn’t look out of place in a Disney film or a Tolkien novel.

The Gallic Rome

The Cathedral of Saint Lazarus of Autun

Named after the Emperor Augustus Caesar, he declared Autun “the sister and rival of Rome itself”; quite the accolade from a man who ruled Rome for 4 decades. In Roman times the town would have been home to some 100,000 people and considered a Roman capital to the Gallic people, today that number is just shy of 14,000.  Roman influence is evident throughout the town, from its amphitheatre to the Romanesque carvings found on the medieval cathedral, and it is a heritage that is proudly celebrated by the locals.

A Roman Festival

Journées Romaines Festival

Each year hundreds of “Romans” take to the town streets for the Journées Romaines Festival, literally translated as “The Roman Days”, every August it brings to life the unusual history of Autun. Re-enactments of battles from the Gallo-Roman Period, and reconstructions of what life would have been like in those turbulent times. The event invites you to partake of a Roman Market, get involved in archaeological workshops, spectate Gladiator fights and watch authentic Roman theatre, all in the spectacular sunshine of the south of France!

Come See For Yourself

What better way to experience the pastoral scenery and tumultuous history of Southern Burgundy than from the peaceful climes of the luxury hotel barge FINESSE, winding its way gently along the undiscovered canals and medieval villages at the heart of France.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse
 

Finesse is a double-decker hotel barge that was built to exacting standards with luxury in mind, enhanced by her modern public areas and very spacious cabin suite accommodation.

The well-designed public areas include a saloon with contemporary furnishings and panoramic windows where the emphasis is on making the most of the natural light. There is also a demonstration galley where guests can watch their chef preparing delicious gourmet meals. Outside, guests can relax on the large sun deck with its alfresco dining area, comfortable seating and spa pool.

The four air conditioned cabin suites, which can be in twin or double-bedded configuration, are very spacious (approximately 265sq ft including en suite bathroom).

Finesse is the perfect vessel on which to cruise the meandering waterways of Southern Burgundy past vineyards and charming canalside villages, and to discover fascinating places along the way such as Autun, Beaune and Dijon.

Cruise Highlights:
  • Visit Clos de Vougeot, home of the Chevaliers du Tastevin
  • Tour and private wine tasting at Château de Chamirey in Mercurey
  • Visit to Beaune, including Hôtel-Dieu Hospice
  • Visit to the ancient roman city of Autun
  • Lunch in the beautiful setting of the Puligny & Chassagne Montrachet vineyards
  • Excellent opportunities for walking and biking. “Biking Plus” option available
About Hotel Barge Finesse




Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


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Saturday, June 08, 2019

Enjoy summer with FINESSE

Summer is here! How about a little FINESSE in Burgundy?

A scrumptious starter on Finesse, Légumes du Jardin.

This looks really good. It is not only tasty but excellently presented.



About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse
 

Current Availability for 2019
  • July 14-20 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Aug 4-10 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Oct 20-26 : 2 cabins open for cabin cruise
  • Oct 27-Nov 2 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise





Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


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Sunday, May 05, 2019

Chef's Update For 2019 Barging Season on Finesse

A Note From The Chef Of Barge Finesse

Mike Crowson, the chef aboard French Hotel Barge Finesse, is looking forward to getting back into the kitchen and meeting lots of new guests.

Chef Mike says:
Having the winter off for the first time, doing lots of travelling has inspired lots of new dishes including John Dory with coconut and mango sauce, black garlic with strawberry and yoghurt dessert, foie gras trifle as a starter, fermented white asparagus with duck egg yolk and pumpkin seed.

Also working on duck dish with breast, confit, fennel, artichoke, dill and orange.

I have a deep love of making desserts and pastry so as the season progresses I will post about modern dessert making and mixing savoury flavours into desserts.
He has also passed along his Spring 2019 dinner menu which looks very tasty and interesting.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse

Finesse
 

Current Availability for 2019
  • May 19-25 : 1 cabin open for cabin cruise
  • July 14-20 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Aug 4-10 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise
  • Oct 20-26 : 2 cabins open for cabin cruise
  • Oct 27-Nov 2 : 4 cabins open for private charter or cabin cruise





Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 









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Sunday, January 13, 2019

RECIPE : Chocolate Soufflé


Fine Food Aboard French Hotel Barge Finesse



We received an email with a recipe from Mike Crowson, the chef aboard "Finesse", that we'd like to share with you.

On the Finesse I do a cooking demonstration every week, which is how to make a twice baked cheese soufflé, but we don't demonstrate a dessert soufflé. As promised to a number of guests, here we will work through the chocolate soufflé served throughout 2018.


Here we have served the soufflé with a passion fruit sorbet to cut the richness of the chocolate.

This soufflé is very easy to make if you have a basic knowledge of desserts, it is also very stable. The base is a creme patisserie which is basically a very thick custard.

For our North American guests, note that I use cornflour. in this recipe. It is very important you do not confuse this with cornstarch which is used a lot in the USA but is not the same ingredient and does not react the same. Cornstarch, as its name suggests, is made from corn, but cornflour is made from wheat therefore they don't react exactly the same. In a savoury recipe this probably won't make too much difference but working with pastry you have to be very precise.


Chocolate soufflé

INGREDIENTS
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 40g plain flour
  • 35g cornflour
  • 50g cocoa powder
  • 500ml whole milk
  • 6 egg whites
  • 120g caster sugar

METHOD
  • With room-temperature butter, butter and sugar 6 ramekins. Place them in freezer until needed.
  • Preheat oven to 185°C / 365°F / Gas mark 4.
  • Place egg yolks and 150g sugar into a pan and make into a paste.
  • Then add flour and cornflour, mix to combine.
  • Add a small amount of warmed milk place over a medium heat and add the milk slowly while mixing.
  • When all the milk has been added, cook over medium heat stirring all the time.
  • When the mixture is hot, add the cocoa powder and continue cooking the custard mix, watching it doesn't stick on the bottom of the pan, until you have a smooth thick creme patisserie.
  • Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling film until needed.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites with 120g sugar until it is a stiff shiny meringue.
  • Fold meringue into the creme patisserie until no whites are visible in the chocolate mix.
  • Spoon mix into frozen ramekins, level off the tops, place into the oven, cook for around 12 minutes.

Sounds delicious, Mark. Thank you very much.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse


Finesse


Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 


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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Barge Finesse : Visit the Chateau de Germolles


Château de Germolles - Southern Burgundy



As one of the finest surviving examples of a Burgundian ducal residence, a visit to Château de Germolles is a popular excursion on French Hotel Barge Finesse's itinerary in Southern Burgundy. It’s a serene setting in which to learn more about the influential dukes who shaped Burgundy in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods.


Philip the Bold

The Valois Dukes of Burgundy – Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good and Charles the Bold – were thought to have ruled over the “Golden Age” of medieval Burgundy, when the groundwork was laid for both a cultural and an economic Renaissance in the region. Philip made the impressive Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon his central seat, adding a vast ceremonial hall and kitchens where 30 chefs could prepare a banquet all at once.

In 1380 the Château de Germolles, described as “austere” at first, was offered by Philip to his wife, Margaret III of Flanders. The house would soon be turned into a refined and luxurious country retreat by the Duchess, boasting murals painted by the best artists from the Burgundian School.

Although the palace at Dijon retains very little of its architecture from this period, the house at Germolles is a wonderfully preserved example of the splendour of the ducal court on the eve of the Renaissance.


Visiting the Château



Heraldic frescos decorate the private apartments of Margaret’s country residence; the chapels and the Hall of Honour are also impressive late medieval statements, while the thirteenth-century storeroom gives you a glimpse into the effort it would have taken downstairs to maintain such a grand house. Tours are often conducted by the present-day owners of the property, who are able to share a great deal of the château’s history. History lovers aboard the hotel barge Finesse are always impressed and enlightened by this fascinating visit.


About The French Hotel Barge Finesse


Finesse


Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FINESSE
View Finesse's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 




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Sunday, August 19, 2018

Barging Visit To Chateau de Ratilly with Hotel Barge Renaissance

French Barge Renaissance: Visit the Chateau de Ratilly



The Château de Ratilly, located near the village of Treigny in the rolling countryside of the Loire Valley, rises up like a lost magical fortress. The 12th-century castle's ancient walls have stood witness for centuries with stories to tell of battles won and lost. Magnificiently preserved,  Château de Ratilly is now the home of inspiration and artistic creation. Take time to wander through its transformed workspace and you will discover some of France's greatest potters at work.


Jeanne Pierlot, a potter by trade who made her apprenticeship at St Amand-en-Puisaye at Eugene Lion, and her husband Norbert, an actor, took ownership of the Château de Ratilly in 1951. Seeing the great artistic potential of the space, they repurposed the château into a pottery workshop and artists' haven becoming one of the very first "Center of Private Contemporary Art". Every year, for more than fifty years, concerts, original shows and major visual arts exhibitions have served contemporary artists in the unique setting of the castle.

The Pierlot’s five children have continued their parent’s dedication to the Château and its new-found purpose.

A tour of the grand Château de Ratilly will give a unique insight into the creative process of artists at work. The atmosphere may seem somewhat understated for such a grand historic monument and yet that just adds to its charm and the buzz that can be felt of inspiration in action.

The French Hotel Barge Renaissance which cruises the waterways of the Upper Loire and Western Burgundy includes the Château de Ratilly in their standard, classic cruise itinerary.

About The French Hotel Barge Renaissance


Renaissance


Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE



Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book RENAISSANCE
View Renaissance's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 



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Saturday, April 28, 2018

Barge Anjodi - Chateau de Perdiguier Wine Visit

Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting at the Château de Perdiguier with Barge Anjodi

As you cruise the peaceful inland waterways of France, you will glimpse a number of impressive châteaux from the deck of your hotel barge. Guests aboard French Hotel Barge Anjodi have the chance to explore a particularly special estate while cruising the Canal du Midi: the Château de Perdiguier.



Local History

Set within a gorgeous 700-hectare estate, the Château de Perdiguier is known as both a grand seat since the medieval period and a thriving modern producer of Languedoc wine. One can still spot the original 13th-century architecture in certain places – the north wing, for example – which hints at the long history of the house. It was built in 1280 and came under royal control within a decade. In 1375 it was given by King Charles V to Jean Perdiguier, the region’s royal treasurer – the earliest record of vineyards on the site dates back to this time.

Although gifted a beautiful estate, Jean Perdiguier was not destined to enjoy the house and its grounds. He was killed in the Montpellier Rebellion just four years after he became its master. The Château was passed down the female line until 1793, a period which the building was extensively restructured and reimagined. Today, visitors see the central courtyard, round towers, irregularly spaced mullion windows and steep tiled roofs that were added at this time.


An Abundant Estate

The Château is not only famous for its long history and romantic façade; it is a working estate that produces cereals, fruit, honey and wine. Eight varieties of grape are nurtured in its small but hardworking vineyard, famously including the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes that are blended to produce its delicious En Auger wines.  A tour around the Château will give you a glimpse of the amazing vaulted cellars where the wines are aged to perfection, and a private tasting with a master sommelier will give you a taste of its stellar produce.


French Hotel Barge Anjodi

French Hotel Barge Anjodi - Canal du Midi barging cruises

Sporting a classic Dutch design, the 8-passenger Anjodi hotel barge had a recent facelift in 2016, with cabins and salon skillfully refurbished to create a lighter, more spacious ambience that complements its African hardwood paneling and shining brass fittings.

The well planned accommodation offers a choice of four air-conditioned staterooms (which can be configured as twins or double according to your preference), each with full en-suite facilities. The sun deck is spacious and has a heated spa pool (hot tub) — the perfect place, to watch the sun set after dinner on a warm Mediterranean evening.

Anjodi's highly professional crew of four is comprised of Master Chef, Tour Guide and Host/Hostess, led by a knowledgeable and experienced Captain who will ensure your cruise is memorable and more. Their knowledge of the region combined with the 8 bikes provided, will allow you to explore the areas you cruise through in as much detail as you desire.


Cruise Highlights:
  • Tour Carcassonne, the most complete medieval fortified city in existence
  • Narbonne's Archbishop's Palace and colorful market
  • Explore the hilltop village of Minerve
  • Private wine tasting at the 14th-century Château de Perdiguier
  • View the Pyrenees mountains across the vineyards and discover Cathar history
  • Visit Pezenas, a village associated with the playwright Molière
  • Cruise through the world's oldest canal tunnel at Malpas
  • Excellent towpath for walking and cycling
  • "Biking Plus" option available

Book now! Contact Paradise Connections.
CLICK HERE


Anjodi offers private, whole-boat charters as well as individual cabin cruises where you share the barge with others. Special offers are current available (CLICK HERE) with discounts of 10% and 20% off standard rates depending upon dates.


 Allons-y ! 
Cruise the Canal du Midi with Barge Anjodi


Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ANJODI
View Anjodi's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com
 

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