The Provence tour is underway, and we are blessed with sunshine, good food, great company and stunning surroundings.
Our base for the week is the Chateau de Moissac, a beautiful 17th century chateau in Provence, that is home to my friends Marie Christine and Louis Caviglioni. Restoring the chateau was a true labor of love. When they first came across the property (while looking for something small !), half of the roof was missing, along with all the doors, windows and shutters. The grand staircase no longer existed and having stood empty for forty years, the chateau had been stripped of all its finest elements.
Nothing had prepared Louis and Marie Christine for this adventure, but they were drawn to this grande dame, and undertook a ten year renovation, until it was transformed into the flawless home that we know today.
During our week here, my guests have been shown around the whole chateau by Louis, who explained the choices that were made during the renovation.
The tour is designed to include many aspects of French living. We visit markets; take a cooking lesson; enjoy some floral art together; visit a wine cellar at a local chateau vineyard; and of course we have multiple opportunities to shop for antiques, brocante and other home decor.
But most importantly, we get off the beaten tourist track, thanks to privileged invitations into people’s homes; the opening of doors on to a confidential designer store, or a special dinner on the terrace of a restaurant that most people know nothing about. Our aim is always to make the tour effortlessly enjoyable, and breathtaking.
So this week, we have shopped in a tiny farm-store, we have taken a lesson in perfume making and we have taken very many beautiful pictures. Friendships have been made, eyes opened, and we have even shed the occasional tear of joy.
If you’d like to know more about our Provence tour, or indeed our Fall tour which takes place in Normandy and Paris, then just drop us a line, and we’ll be happy to tell you more.
23 comments
It looks so pretty. In a way, they were lucky if everything was stripped; otherwise, if it was a classified building, they would have had to return it all to the precise condition. We were told we had to keep the original tommette floors if less than a third of the tiles were broken. Happily it was less than that and we were able to move bits around so the broken parts were under furniture and the solid parts in the middle (rather than vice versa). But buying that kind of historic stuff, and matched, is crazy expensive. In any case, they have marvelous views.
Dedication at it’s best!!! franki
Do you think you could adopt me? I would love to share all the adventures and the grand places you visit. Your friends are lovely and have open hearts to open their homes for us. I so enjoy your blog and the stories are marvelous. Thanks for sharing the French way of life.
I so much inspired by your lovely & beautiful photography that I am transformed into each one them. It is totally divine!!! Thank you sharing your love for France!
Beautiful home and beautiful photos! I’m sure it was a fantastic trip!
The photos remind me of our many adventures in France, my favorite country to visit. How much fun it would be to be invited into so many beautiful homes and buildings.
OMG Sharon – it’s all so beautiful beyond compare. I’m hoping to take one of your tours before too much time passes, but I am just not quite at a settled point in my life yet.
The photos are so lovely to look at and dream about a trip someday. Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely place to be headquartered! I will be in Provence staying in Aix from the end of October thru mid December…..learning French…I hope…immersion…..that is the only way I can even imagine I will learn. I will keep this post in my files. (((<:
I would be interested in a tour in Provence in 2019! This one looks divine. I have been to that region once and have been longing to go back.
You have been such an inspiration for me over the years. Now I am embarking out on my own. http://www.mablogue.com en Français
With gratitude.
Providence brochure please.
I love your posts!
As always, another dreamy and beautiful post.
Oh my. The floor is amazing, but how do they keep it clean. Maybe it’s not as “dusty” there as it is here in the Ozarks. The quilted tablecloth is beautiful.
This post brought tears to my eyes. I don’t know why, it just touched me.
We, too, have been looking for “something small”. However, there are so many majestic buildings in France that need saving and really tug on your heartstrings. Afraid we are neither young enough nor monied enough to embark on a big project. We need something that can be habitable in two years. Still Clooking!
Wish I knew how to re-create the color of the dining room walls. It looks like a pinky peach textured wall.
Hi Julie Partin- I don’t know about the texture of the wall; I have the pinky-peach shade and if you check out the Pantone color palette, I believe you’ll find it. My paint cans are underneath boxes moved after the hurricane and I can’t get to them. That color is so relaxing and my sons would fall asleep when they sat in that room. Best wishes on your color search.
Please may I have the information on upcoming tours!
Absolutely! I’ll send you an email now 🙂
Another beautiful post that has helped me relax after a hectic week. Thank you.
The whole package looks very attractive. Hope to take it sometime.
We would love to have you! Send us an email at contact@myfrenchcountryhome.com for the brochure and more details. 🙂