An Undiscovered Region in Southwest France
Travel with us to explore the tiny villages and the contrasting landscape of plains and mountain ranges. Here between the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, you can feel the spirit and romance of the troubadours, minstrels and poets who entertained the courts. Visit the castles and fortress ruins of nobles and chivalrous knights who fought to defend their people and their lands from invading armies of crusaders. Spend an entire day in Carcassonne, the most expansive and the best-preserved walled city in Europe. This fairy tale Medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of top two most visited sites in all of France.
Enjoy An Incredible France Wine Tour in the Largest Wine Region in the World
Enjoy the amazing wines of Languedoc! This is the largest wine region in the world. New wines, organic wines, grape varieties that were nearly lost, the famous sparkling wines, the tiny producers as well as the fabulous wine estates all contribute to making Languedoc the “New Wine Capital” of France! Gastronomy! Languedoc puts the emphasis on “local” and “organic”. We work with restaurants, wine makers and merchants who use local products of the region. They call it “Terroir” here. It’s the way the sun, the wind, the soil, and all of the elements contribute to the freshness and high quality of the products used in their regional cuisine. You will have the chance to meet some of these very special people who literally work the soil with their own hands throughout this incredible France wine tour. You will get to taste these delights at “farm to table” restaurants and on the domain of an award winning winemaker.
Day 1. We will meet you in Toulouse at 9:00 AM to embark on our adventure starting with a tour of magnificent Abbey of Fontfroide. After a visit of this 11th Century Cistercian abbey, set in the midst of the vineyards of Languedoc, we will have a chance to taste the wines from their own domain. The monks first started making wine here nearly 900 years ago. We will enjoy a delicious group lunch at La Table de Fontfroide, an award-winning restaurant having earned a chef’s hat in the Gault Millau restaurant guide. After lunch we will drive to Sete on the Mediterranean, our base for 4 days to explore this captivating region.
Day 2. This morning we will begin with a visit to the winemaker of La Seigneurie de Peyrat for a wine tasting and “Pique-nique chic” of local fresh cheeses, meats, and tapas. Afterwards we will drive to medieval Pezenas. Pézenas is one of the most lively and beautiful towns in the South of France. You will notice that many of the buildings have gorgeous carved stone fronts and intricate ironwork – a reminder that Pezenaswas once the playground of kings, princes and some of Europe’s most famous artists.
Day 3. 3 Market day in Sete! Sleep in or get up early and hit the market which opens at 8 AM. This is a large market that fills the square and meanders along several streets. You can find everything from clothing, shoes, sunglasses, baskets, jewelry, art, books, music, and of course, lots of food. Try the green basil cheese. There are museums to visit, boutiques, or just enjoy walking through the narrow streets and along the canals. In the afternoon we will visit the Musee des Beaux Arts in Sete and will drive to the top of Mont St. Clair for the beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
Day 4. 4 Today we will drive to Meze. In the morning there is a colorful market. You will be delighted by this charming little port town, one of the oldest in all of France. In the afternoon we will have a private two-hour excursion on a boat with our own captain. We will meet an ostreiculteur, the “oyster farmer” who will meet us to tell us about the ways they raise oysters, clams and mussels. We will have an onboard tasting of these delights, fresh from the Bassin de Thau, accompanied by a regional white wine. After lunch at one of the cafes on the port we will go to Marseillan for our private tour of Noilly Prat. Here we will enjoy a tasting of the different three different vermouths, vermouth cocktails. Take advantage of their beautiful shop to purchase some delightful chocolate treats made with Noilly Prat vermouth. Return to Sete late afternoon.
Day 5. 5 Today we will depart from Sete to drive to the historic village of Minerve. On our way we will visit an olive cooperative, L’Oulibo. Established in 1942 they are the most important olive producer in the region, known for their table olives for munching as well as their fine olive oils. We will have a guided tour and a tasting of their different olive products afterwards. Time to shop in their boutique and purchase some olives to take away if you like. On our arrival in the village of Minerve we will first have lunch, then time to explore this site of a Cathar hold out against the crusaders. Minerve has been designated as one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages en France” (one of the most beautiful
Day 6. Today you will have an entire day in the city of Albi, home of the amazing 13 th century Cathedral Sainte Cécile, the world’s largest brick cathedral. Albi is full of unique shops, cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, churches, cafes and restaurants. It is a lively, cosmopolitan city located on the banks of the River Tarn. We will visit the Toulouse Lautrec Museum where you can see more than 1000 works created by Lautrec. This is the largest collection of the artist’s work in the world. The museum is housed in the former residence of the archbishops, Le Palais Berbie. Don’t miss the beautiful formal gardens beside the palace with a spectacular view of the Tarn River.
Day 7. 
This morning we will drive to the perched hill town of Cordes-sur-Ciel. We will depart late morning and arrive in time for you to have lunch before exploring another designated “Most beautiful village in France”. Cordes has a long history of both prosperity and tragedy. Wars, plagues, political conflict and financial disasters did not defeat Cordes! It is now a village known for its beauty, history and numerous artist galleries. Late afternoon return to our inn with some free time before dinner.
Day 8. This morning we will drive into the heart of the “Montagne Noire”, the Black Mountain, to visit Saissac, the least known, yet the oldest and largest of the Cathar fortresses! After our visit here we will return to our inn for a cooking lesson with Chef Andonis. Learn lovely recipes that you can make at home. Participate hands on if you like, or just watch. We are preparing our own dinner for this evening. Lots of fun and laughs. This is a casual and fun activity. Lunch will be provided at the inn before the cooking lesson begins.
Day 9. Today we will drive to the magnificent walled city of Carcassonne. We will begin with a guided tour by our charming Medieval Knight, Jean-Francois. He will entertain you while heexplains the architecture of the walled city, medieval arms, and other intriguing facts about life in Medieval times. For lunch we will go to the oldest restaurant in the Cité and dine on the local specialty of Cassoulet, accompanied by live gypsy music. Free time after lunch to explore the walled city on your own. Be sure to visit the beautiful 12th Century Basilica of Saint Nazaire. The castle of the Viscounts is open for visiting also. You will enjoy strolling through this authentic medieval city at your leisure. Return to our inn for our bon voyage dinner with the group. You will have time before dinner to relax and finish packing up for departure.
Day 10. Departure Day. We will provide your transport to Toulouse airport, train station, or Toulouse center if you are staying longer in France.
