Chateau Ricketson
You are invited to Rico's 40th birthday celebration in France! Plus, he has selected Zoom Vacations and Events to assist all of you with the details, so all you have to do is relax and have the time of your lives with Rico in the French countryside! Below, please find more information about pricing and what to expect from this fantastic trip.
A week in a private chateau...
The Chateau La Moinerie
This antique castle is built on a rock overlooking the Caudeau valley, 11 kms north-east of Bergerac. It dates essentially from the 14th and 18th century although its base includes remains from the 5th century. The fortress walls support the courtyard accessed by a bridge over the moat.
The chateau has been entirely restored with great care and offers modern comfort in a very authentic and exceptional setting. Furnished with many family antiques, this is a magnificent home covering some 900 sq meters of living quarters.
The 13 hectare park includes a large swimming pool 15x6m set on a terrace with an 18th century Pigeonnier overlooking the chateau and the valley. A perfect place for family reunions and time with friends, in simple but grand style.
There are many living areas of different styles, a french billiard room, a large dining room, piano's, an impressive library, a grand 18th century stairway, a terrace and is also accessible from the ground floor living rooms.
The kitchen is fully equipped with all modern amenities and includes a refrigerator.
Additional amenities includes a satellite TV, internet/Wi-Fi access and a large 15x6 meters swimming pool with an electrically rolling cover for safety. The property also has central heating.
Chateau La Moinerie is located on the edge of the vineyards of Bergerac, in the valley of Caudeau. This stunning property is partially surrounded by a moat filled with water.
The peaceful little village of Lamonzie-Montastruc is only 300 meters away, ideal for spending a relaxing afternoon exploring.
The property is situated in 13 hectares of park offering green space, woods and alleys for long walks. The generous nature of the Dordogne invites you to step out beyond the estate's boundaries and explore the welcoming countryside.
Chateau La Moinerie is the ideal base from which to explore the marvels of the Perigord-Dordogne. There are the prehistorical caves of Lascauxin Les Eyzies just 30 minutes away.
Chateau La Moinerie is set in a countryside rich with hospitality, extraordinary food and excellent wine. Wine tasting is available just minutes away from this Chateau.
Futher west, Saint Emilion is only one hour away and Bordeaux is an hour and a half's drive. The Atlantic ocean is accessible west of Bordeaux and is less than 2 hours from Chateau La Moinerie, making it ideal for a day trip.
- Horse-riding and tennis are all offered in the immediate surroundings.
- Water sports and canoeing in Bergerac and up the Dordogne.
- Golf - nine hole 10 minutes away, and 27 hole championship 20 minutes away (Les Vigiers).
10 Things to do in Bergerac
• Stroll the medieval streets. The historic old quarter is not that big and can be walked in a short time. Practically all the houses here date from the 16th century with half-timbered "bricou" frontages. Check out La Place Pelissiere, the largest, and arguably prettiest square in Bergerac. There's a lovely fountain, a fantastic view of the Eglise Saint Jacques. . .and some beautiful patios to sit at and enjoy your surroundings.
• Recollets Convent (Maison des vins). This converted convent was built between the 12th and 17th centuries and used by the "Recollets" order of Franciscans. It was used afterwards as a Protestant temple (now rehoused in the adjacent building). Now turned into the Wine museum of Bergerac it still retains a somewhat "olde worlde" look about it. In the center of the building is the superb cloister with a century-old Paulownia tree that had left a carpet of flowers for us to walk on. The museum and tastings are closed on Mondays, but the cloister remains open for anyone to walk around. Hours of entry vary depending on the month of the year but is free all the time. Closed Mondays all year long.
• Boat trip or Kayak Down the Dordogne. There are a number of places to pick up a kayak, and Beynac is just one of them and you get a choice of how many how long a journey you want to do.
A 15K trip can be great, and the views are breathtaking. You wont be alone there are hundreds of people messing about on the water, but suggest you take a picnic and you can pull up on a bank at various points along the way and just chill for a while. OR, take one of the one hour boat trips, and if you do not speak French you are given a book in English to translate what the skipper is saying! While on the trip you pass an area where many birds nest. There are woodpeckers, kingfishers and lots of other birds nesting there, which is especially great if you are a birder
• Tobacco Museum. This sounds really baoring, but it was not, in fact it is really interesting. A must if the weather is bad as you can spend quite a long time there, over the three floors. Many artifacts, including old cigarette boxes.
• Aquarium du Perigord Noir. Both recreational and educational, this aquarium has 3000000 liters of water where in natural light you can watch 6000 plus fish. With more than 30 pools you make a voyage through 5 covered visiting areas. Outside there is a shop and a bar “Croc - o - Grill" and mini golf, picnic area.
• L'eglise Saint Jacques. Of Roman origin, the Saint Jacques church was historically a place of rest for pilgrims following the Santiago de Compostelle route. The church was partially destroyed during the wars of religion; Louis XIV was ultimately responsible for its reconstruction. Only the clock tower above the balcony is original, but it is still an attractive building. It's situated on the Place Pelissiere, so sitting out at one of the patios is a terrific way to enjoy a view of the church.
• Vieux Pont. In winters past, the Dordogne's level would rise high enough to submerge substantial parts of the lower town. The worst of the floods, in 1783, actually washed away the bridge that was later replaced. The construction of dams has succeeded in preventing any recent floods. Today, the port is quite attractive, despite being bordered by a municipal parking lot.
• L'église Notre-Dame. The 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral is located just on the northern outskirts of the pedestrianized vielle ville (old town) of Bergerac. The clock tower reaches 80 metres ~ making it an excellent point of reference throughout the town. The inside isn't terribly remarkable ~ but it does cast a striking image against a clear sky.
• La Place de la Mirpe. Bergerac has more than it's share of attractive, pedestrianized squares. La place de la Mirpe is yet another ~ this one home to a statue of Rostand’s character Cyrano de Bergerac (no real connection to the town). The square is surrounded by picturesque half-timbered houses.
• Cloitre des Recollets. The cloister was built in 1630, and the Franciscan Recollets were first installed here with the intention of returning Bergerac to the Catholic path from which it had strayed. The galleries date from the 16th to 18th centuries. . .there's a gorgeous Paulownia tree in the corner of the cloister. Even if you're not interested in the Maison des Vins, a brief peek into the courtyard is worth the time.
• Maison des Vins. The Maison des Vins is housed in a section of a 17th century cloister. The entryway into the cloister has wall displays that detail the history of wine in the region. You can follow the panels downstairs to a room where a short video loops (French and English versions are played). It is a short film, and has some beautiful scenes of the countryside, so it doesn't hurt to take a seat for ten minutes.
The next stage in the Maison des Vins (the whole "museum" is free), is a center for testing your nose ~ you can play around with different stations to see how easily you identify about 25 scents (woods, fruits, etc.) that assist your wine tasting skill.
The self-guided tour ends in a shop with free tastings ~ there is no pressure to buy.
RESERVE
Air: International and domestic airfare not included.
Passports: Your valid passport should have at least two blank pages and should be valid for at least six months after your planned departure from the country you are visiting.
While Zoom Events will assist when possible, please note that passport, visa, and vaccination requirements vary from country to country and are the sole responsibility of the traveler. If you are a US resident, you may click here for more information on passport, visa, and vaccination requirements for various countries.
*Land only Introductory rate, based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change.