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Tours
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Reservations Open
for Spring & Fall 2009
Provence Culinary Tours
Good News Cafe chef-owner Carole Peck and her husband, Bernard Jarrier, arrange weeklong tours to Provence to introduce select groups of travelers to the culinary, cultural and natural delights of this extraordinary region in the south of France. Intimate tour groups join Carole and Bernard for an unforgettable experience in Provence.
Thanks to strong demand, our bookings are now complete for our five 2008 tours scheduled for May 19-25, June 2-8, Sept. 22-28, Oct. 6-12 and Oct. 13-19. We are now accepting reservations for a new series of Provence Culinary Tours in Spring and Autumn 2009.
Carole has scheduled the following tour dates during 2009:
June 1 to 7
June 15 to 21
September 21 to 27
October 5 to 11
Below we provide a summary of tour activities, reservation information, and a photo slide shows featuring Carole and Bernard's historic accommodations in Provence and scenes from recent tours. A reservation form is provided (in .pdf and Word formats) for the 2009 tours; please inquire first to confirm availability before submitting a reservation deposit. Please contact Robert Taylor by email at bjarrier@saveurfrance.com, by fax at (203) 266-0244, or by phone at (203) 266-4622 to obtain reservation and tour information.
Carole and Bernard have opened their renovated historic home in the village of Montfrin to provide unique and memorable accommodations for our tour participants. The photograph at the top of this page, taken by Antoine Jarrier, provides a captivating evening view of the interior courtyard of Prieur Notre Dame. Slide shows that may be accessed from this page (see links below) offer images of a recent tour "from market to kitchen," and take you inside the walls of Prieur Notre Dame to experience the restoration of this historic site that provides your luxurious accommodations during Carole Peck's Provence Culinary Tour.
For a flavor of some of the experiences you can expect to enjoy during Carole Peck's Provence Culinary Tour, we suggest a visit to the slide show created by Dr. Hal Kaplan, who journeyed to Provence for a recent culinary tour. You can share his experience by clicking on the link to the "Taste of Provence" virtual tour, offered with our thanks to Dr. Kaplan.
Culinary Tour Highlights
These are some of the highlights that Provence Culinary Tour participants enjoy:
* Luxury accommodations that combine the rich history of Provence with contemporary comforts and delightful daily breakfasts.
* Cooking classes featuring local star chefs who demonstrate cooking techniques suitable for all skill levels in the home kitchen.
* Visits to the open-air farm markets of Provence, the biggest and best of France.
* Sumptuous meals in local bistros and fine restaurants.
* Bernard's special dining discoveries, where he pairs the local cusine with wines from the best regional vineyards.
* Plenty of sightseeing opportunities that take full advantage of Carole and Bernard's knowledge of Provence, with its astounding beauty and rich history.
* Abundant opportunities for private tastings that allow you to experience the wonderful foods and wines of Provence at their source.
* Shopping and antiquing, made easy with the euro.
2009 Reservation Rates and Options
We are offering a special "early reservation option" for guests who wish to lock in our current 2008 rates of $3,500 per guest double occupancy, or $3,800 single occupancy, to reserve for the 2009 tours. Reservations under this option require a 50 percent deposit payment that must be received no later than June 30, 2008.
Our regular reservation option offers the alternative of reserving space on a 2009 tour (no deadline for reservations) at the revised 2009 room rates of $3,800 per guest double occupancy, or $4,100 single occupancy. This option requires a 25 percent deposit to confirm the reservation, with an additional 25 percent payment due by Dec. 31, 2008.
Final balances for all 2009 reservations are payable no later than March 1, 2009, for spring tours, and no later than July 1, 2009, for autumn tours.
The package rates for the Provence Culinary Tour cover accommodations at the Prieure Notre Dame with private bath, three meals a day plus all wines and other beverages, sightseeing and ground transportation. Air and rail fares are not included in the package cost; pickups and dropoffs for tour guests are made in Avignon or Nimes.
Our guests remember Provence.... "I don't know of a more unique and exciting tour.... Like spending a week visiting with friends in France.... The best tour for the 'epicurious'!" Our guests recall their Provence experiences in their own words, and you can read their recollections by clicking on this link to Provence tour testimonials.
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Provence Culinary Tour Reservation Forms - Complete this form and submit with deposit to confirm your reservation<br> |
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A Cook's Tour in Provence - Travel & Leisure feature published February 2008 |
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A Sample Tour Itinerary - ... but remember, every tour is a unique experience! |
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Images of Prieur Notre Dame - A Photo Album by Antoine Jarrier: Bernard's son Antoine, a professional photographer, recently put his skilled eye and camera lens to work capturing vivid images of the Prieur , and shares his striking photographs in this slide show. |
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Welcome to Prieur Notre Dame - Be our guests on this tour through the newly renovated and refurnished rooms of Prieur Notre Dame, the historic site in the village of Montfrin where you will stay during your Provence culinary tour. |
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The Inner Courtyard at Prieuré Notre Dame - A hidden sanctum of refuge awaits guests at Prieuré Notre Dame in the enclosed inner courtyard. Here guests may relax and dine on an open-air patio and enjoy a refreshing swim in Prieuré's tastefully designed new pool. |
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From Market to Kitchen - Participants in our June 4-10, 2004, tour discover the wines & foods of Provence and join Carole for a cooking class |
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A Taste of Provence: Scenes from Our Sept. 2003 Tour - A photo album courtesy of Dr. Hal Kaplan |
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An Insider's Tour of Provence - Provence culinary tour profile published in the Danbury News-Times |
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Memories of Provence: A Tour Group Reunion - An evening with our friends from the September 2003 Provence Culinary Tour |
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Robert Brunel at La Mirande - What is it like to learn from a master of Provencal cuisine? Get a taste of great cooking from these recipes prepared during Chef Brunel's exclusive class for our Provence Culinary Tour participants on Sept. 25, 2003. |
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Views of Historical Montfrin - The village of Montfrin offers a perfect place to begin your exploration of Provence. These historical photos of "Montfrin Autrefois" are part of a CD slide show compiled by Chantal Mersadier from the collection of Jacky Siboul. |
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