(Re)Discover the world famous Loire Valley!
Welcome back dear friends!
First of all I would like to thank you for your trust and fidelity! I have very dear memories of our last trip in Brittany together. I dare say I am as excited as you all are to visit a beautiful region of France: The Loire Valley, its world famous castles, the magnificent rivers Loire, Cher and Indre , the quaint and charming villages, the food, the wine and good friends!
The Loire Valley is the region around the Loire River’s middle stretch in Central France. Comprising about 800 km2, this is the biggest area in France ever to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
It is one of the most beautiful destinations in France, a delicate blend of nature, history, and French elegant art-de-vivre. Here, you can enjoy vibrant medieval towns, magical meandering rivers, fairytale castles, stunning gardens, delicious food, and some of France’s best wines.
We will be staying at the Domaine de Brou, a magical place located near Sainte-Maure de Touraine. A village well-known because it gave its name to the famous goat cheese Sainte-Maure!
I am so very excited to go back to The Château de Brou. It took me weeks to find this gem of a place, it is an actual fairy tale castle with pointy towers and everything, a chapel, a pond and a wonderful park of 300 acres. We won’t be staying in the castle as the price tag is pretty « ouchie » and there are way too many stairs! However there is a marvelous charming Mansion (La Roseraie) right in front of the castle which is just the perfect place as when you open your windows in the morning, you get to see this (I took this picture one morning at 5:50am and I still can’t believe how beautiful it looks!)
The owners of the castle are a lovely couple and they allow us to paint everywhere in the park, near the castle, in the chapel. They also allow us to paint in the main dining room or ball room of the castle!!
The following pictures give you an idea of what our mansion looks and feels like : the bedrooms, the dining room, the kitchen and its incredible and delightful solarium (not sure about the word, this is a veranda enterely closed with big beautiful glass window which allow us to enjoy the view and the sun light!)
Now let me introduce you our itinerary
As you know the following itinerary is the foundation of our trip, it might be subject to change according to the weather, to the calendar of cultural and traditional events, to our specific desire and energy as a group and to the incredible diversity of beauties the Loire Valley has to offer. Please consider the following as a gourmet menu we will choose from!
Years of experience taught me that 2 days of excursions followed by one day at the guest house is the perfect pace. Our Guest house is a place of beauty and quietness where you can rest, read, paint, take a stroll in the park, etc.
Amboise – Château of Clos Lucé
Leonardo Da Vinci’s last home
« Details make perfection and perfection isn’t just a detail. »
Leonardo Da Vinci
1516: King Francis I, passionate by Leonardo da Vinci’s talent, names him “ Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King » and offers him the enjoyment of the Château of Clos Lucé located only a few meters away from the Château d’Amboise, one of King Francis’ home.
The national archives in Paris own a certificate for payement mentioning the pension from Francis I to Leonardo da Vinci « To Master Lyenard de Vince, Italian painter, the sum of 2000 ecussoleil, for his pension of two years ».
A beautiful journey in a delicious garden, a lovely small castle and a museum celebrating Leonardo’s work
Leonardo spends the last three years of his life at the Château of Clos Lucé and works on several projects for the king of France, surrounded by his students.
An underground passage between the two castles allows both men to meet frequently. Today, only the first meters are still visible.
The Italian Master passes away on May the 2nd 1519 in his room at the Château du Clos Lucé.
The gardens of Château de Villandry : Style and substance – A flower lover’s paradise
The Château has boasted gardens since the Renaissance. In keeping with the Renaissance style in the 16th century, French in the 18th century and transformed into a landscaped park in the 19th century, the gardens of Villandry, which were redesigned by Joachim Carvallo in the early 20th century, are an original creation blending tradition and innovation.
To explore the gardens of Villandry is to explore the stylistic library of French garden art, from the mediaeval garden to the Renaissance garden, the garden “à la française” to contemporary garden design.
The gardens have been redesigned by Joachim Carvallo, who, having restored the Renaissance-style château to its former glory, is implementing his plan to give it a spectacular green setting. Seven gardens, organised according to the classification established by Joachim himself – kitchen garden and orchard, ornamental garden and water garden – have been born out of this monumental enterprise: the Ornamental Kitchen Garden, the Love Garden and the Garden of the Crosses, the Music Room, the Herb Garden, the Maze, the Sun Garden and the Water Garden.
Step by step throughout your visit, immersed in nature that has been raised to the peak of perfection, you will discover an ephemeral painting that changes with the hours, the weather and the seasons. The effervescence of life is a never-ending spectacle: the emergence of the first spring buds, the buzzing of the bee, the blooming of a rose, the running water, the swan carried along on the current, the gardeners hoeing or pruning the topiary
The International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire – An unbelievable explosion of creativity and blooming
The International Garden Festival has been providing a unique panorama of landscape design all over the world since 1992 (from early April to late November). At the same time a source of ideas and a nursery for talent, the Festival gives an extra boost to the art of gardens and gains the interest of both the public and those in the trade by displaying new flower arrangements, new materials and new ideas. Simply a must-see.
THEME OF THE 2025 FESTIVAL:
ONCE UPON A TIME, IN THE GARDEN
ENCHANTING GARDEN, ENCHANTED GARDEN
The fortress of Chaumont-sur-Loire was built around the year 1000 to keep watch over the border between the counties of Blois and Anjou.
It was owned by the Amboise family for a good 500 years, and it was Charles II d’Amboise who turned it into an ornamental château in the Renaissance style, with sculpted decoration becoming the major feature of its outer façades.
The famous Guinguettes on the banks of the River Loire
Guinguette, this funny little word originally refers to a popular cabaret restaurant that developed at the end of the 19th century in the Paris region and all over France. Often located on the banks of a river, they were both a place to relax and have fun.
Luncheon of the Boating Party Le Déjeuner des canotiers – 1881
A painting by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir
What’s special about it? The spontaneity of the concept… an outdoor bar, a few chairs, tables and lanterns for lighting. An ephemeral and basic installation, on a country and authentic theme.
It can offer theatre, dance, concerts, open-air cinema, shows and conferences. In addition to its incredible atmosphere, this new generation of music hall is environmentally friendly!
Customers are charmed by the friendly and lively atmosphere of these very successful guinguettes. You can find grills and dishes of the day for lunch, tapas snacks and aperitifs for the evening, topped off with a cocktail or a nice beer.
Tours – the gateway city of the Loire Valley
Tours is the great capital of the Loire Valley, a Unesco world heritage site, but it is far more than just a gateway to the Loire Chateaux. Indeed, Tours delights in being charming, beautiful, vibrant and lively. Tours is a pretty stopping point during a couple of days in the middle of the Loire Valley Chateaux. Tour its historic quarters with their half-timbered houses, the bustling Place Plumereau and Saint-Gatien Cathedral, as well as the new Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre.
A true masterpiece of Gothic art, the Saint-Gatien cathedral sits in the heart of old downtown Tours, in Indre-et-Loire. Today listed building, it was built between the thirteenth and sixteenth century on the remains of an ancient Gallo-Roman city. Under royal patronage, the building has seen all the kings of France since Louis VII become canons of honor, showing its importance in the kingdom.
Candes-Saint-Martin (and Montsoreau) – The graceful banks of La Loire
At the confluence of the River Loire and the Vienne, the village of Candes-Saint-Martin naturally developed as a river port. At its peak in the 19th century, Loire Valley wines, dried pears, as well as cut stones, Guérande salt and fish from Brittany passed through here.
A short 3.5 kilometre walk takes you along the charming streets of this beautiful village, where the collegiate church of Saint-Martin and its Plantagenet Gothic architecture dominate the tufa houses with slate roofs.
Here, you can walk along the banks of the Loire and find the perfect spot to paint in the most quiet envirronement. We will have lunch at a lovely little restaurant in front of the local Saint Martin Church.
The man who cut his cape in two to share it with a beggar is none other than Martin of Tours, the bishop of the capital of Touraine, and also known as Saint Martin. The piece of cape he kept later became an object of veneration, and is the origin of the word “chapel”, the place where people came to see the famous cape!
Many villages are named after him, but the holy man died here, in Candes-Saint-Martin. The beautiful Saint Martin collegiate church was built on the site of his house.
After our lunch we will drive to Montsoreau (just 1 mile from Saint Martin) and take a small boat tour on the river to complete a lovely day!
And a French tour wouldn’t be complete without some wine
Loire Valley wine and its vineyard are an essential part of Touraine’s identity. Vouvray, Chinon, Bourgueil, Montlouis-sur-Loire… the vine stocks stand in their straight line on the hillsides and benefit from the mild climate. Above them can often be seen a few hot-air balloons floating by. They’re not speeding by either… they’re just being carried along by the wind.
Vouvray (“voo-vray”) is a white wine made with Chenin Blanc grapes that grow along the banks of the Loire River in the Touraine district of France. Wines range in style from dry to sweet, and still to sparkling, each with its own distinct character. Regardless of style, Vouvray is loved for its delicate floral aromas and boisterous taste.
MORE OPTIONS :
Château de Chenonceau – The Ladies Castle
Chenonceau earned its beautiful nickname because some great women influenced the architecture and development of the Chateau over the years.
Standing proudly on the shores of River Cher, this castle and bridge were the only one for miles that could get one across to the other side.
Diane de Poitiers, Henri II mistress, contributed to the castle by adding the bridge over River Cher as well as the gardens.
This “floating” parterre (12,000 m2), many of which were created in the Renaissance and of which Chenonceau is one of the finest examples, required a considerable investment at its conception. Its structure remains unchanged since its creation by Diane de Poitiers, however its current layout is by Achille Duchêne (1866-1947).
Château de Gaillard – A very lovely and quiet alternative to Clos Lucé in Amboise
Château Gaillard was renamed the « King’s Gardens » in 1500. For Charles VIII, it was a place of prestige where he could showcase rare species and exceptional citrus plants to his visitors.
A Neapolitan genius, Dom Pacello de Mercoliano, a monk, gardener, and botanist regarded as « the greatest gardener in Europe, » accompanied Charles VIII and brought his dream of a terrestrial paradise to life in the valley of Château Gaillard. Pacello introduced his Arte del Verde and acclimatized France’s first orange trees. He invented the first orange tree containers and pioneered greenhouse cultivation.
Nestled in a protective valley, this Renaissance jewel became the first site in France to house orange trees from Italy. In 1496, Pacello established France’s first orangerie. Behind a large walled garden, shielding the royal plantations « from theft and malice, » Pacello’s exotic species—such as orange trees, peach trees, and palm trees—flourished. A conservatory of 200 citrus trees, including 70 different species of oranges and lemons, was created.
Dom Pacello’s orange trees and his first Royal Orangerie soon became symbols of a new royal status. The orangerie evolved into the grandest and most ornamented space in castles. The acclimatization garden for the first orange trees, with their intoxicating floral scent, forever shaped the destiny of Château Gaillard.
A morning at the streetmarket in Langeais
Visit a « Chèvrerie » – When life gives you goats you make goat cheese!
You guessed it, a « Chèvrerie » is a goat farm! Time to put some good boots on and go for the cutest concerto in « Baa » minor! We won’t be able to paint there, but you might be able to get some pretty lovely reference photos!
The Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine goat cheese, the shining star of any cheese platter, stands out with its rye straw and log-like shape.
Mentioned by writer Honoré de Balzac as early as 1841 in La Rabouilleuse, protected by an AOC since 1990 and an AOP since 2008, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine holds the title of the leading goat cheese designation in France in terms of production volume!
It is easy to recognize: coated in ash (a mixture of salt and vegetable charcoal) and shaped like a small elongated log weighing 250 grams (early molds were made of wicker), it is traversed lengthwise by a rye straw. This straw serves both as a mark of authenticity and a guarantee of origin.
A morning with a Master wickerworker – Hélène
It might sound unusual but I stumbled upon this tiny hamlet and instantly fell in love with the place, the craft, its beauty and the authenticity of its people. Hélène is the 8th generation of Master Wickers that live and work in Villaines-les-rochers.
If you feel crafty and ready for the most immersive, genuine and original experience we could spend a morning or an afternoon there learning the basics of the craft and bring back some fun little wicker fireflies!
A bit about Mathieu – Matthew!
your host, interpreter, guide, driver, jack-of-all-trades french friend!
I was born and raised in Arles, Provence. I studied biology and film making. After 10 years in Paris working for the movie industry and television networks I came back to Provence to enjoy life with my wife and son. I renovated and settled in a 200 years old house up in the hills of Aix en Provence. I know Provence and its people like the back of my hand. With Wendy Higbee Carando I co-founded the Provence Art Experience in 2015. Art is part of my everyday life. I will be doing everything so you have a memorable stay: a unique experience! Since 2022 I have been expanding my reach, bringing artists to Brittany and Loire Valley!
What I want the Provence Art Experience to be
A thoughtfully tailored adventure for a small group of passionate artists led by an attentive considerate guide-interpret-driver-friend through the beautiful and secret places of Provence, Brittany and Loire Valley.
One of my artist participant (whom I today call my friend) once told me
“You literally hand-carried us through Provence!” and this artist was Holly!!
The sentence stuck with me ever since.
Participants of Provence Art Experience painting workshops tell me I am a provider, a caretaker.
There is no secret about it. I love to meet people, I love to share with them the Provence I know and cherish.
I love to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Is your folding chair ok? Do you have enough shade? Would you like a bottle of water? Would you like some more wine?! Our mini-van is a bit high to step in? Let me put this little stool here!
A Provence Art Experience is nothing like a crowded tour bus.
Nobody will impatiently tap their wrist-watch to tell you to hurry and run because the bus is leaving.
You will not be an anonymous number in a crowd of 50 people. You will be my guests.
And – in my book – guests are always of honor.
You will be a part of an all-inclusive tailored private experience with 7 artists maximum and your artist instructor.
I want to keep it this way so we can get to know each other. You get to discover French Culture and “art de vivre” with someone born in Provence – in love with Provence – and eager to share it with you!
Sharing is really the main idea. The meals together are always heartwarming and special moments, breakfasts at the guest house with fresh croissants and anything you might like with it, lunches at small cafés in the most beautiful typical villages or gourmet dinners with our talented and friendly chef at the guest house or in a delicious restaurant.
We will discover the treasures of Provence, in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne. On the small meandering back roads of this enchanting country we will visit old, typical villages and just enjoy the lights, colors and atmospheres.
I also make sure you get the rest you need because 9 days of immersion can be intense! You will have your alone time to replenish your energy so you get to do and see more.
Provence Art Experience is the way to discover Provence like no where else.
Ultimately the most appropriate persons to talk about the Provence Art Experience are the artists who experienced it:
You can read their enthusiasms and the extremely enthusiastic and sweet reviews they wrote on Facebook, they really are heartwarming for me:
The Experience is ALL INCLUSIVE
The pricing of our painting workshops – as you can easily compare with other offers – is more than reasonable for an all-inclusive private tailored journey in Provence.
We aim to offer you a memorable journey you will remember dearly – a unique artistic, cultural, gastronomic and immersive experience.
Your Loire Art Experience includes:
-your lodging in the mansion of Domaine de Brou
-All your meals with beverages: breakfasts, lunches and gourmet dinners by our chef and/or in local restaurants!
-All airport transfers as well as everyday local transportation,
-The organization of the plein-air sessions,
-The outdoor activities,
-The wine tastings,
-The tickets for the latest events, art museums and must-sees on the itinerary
-My 24/7 attentive and considerate presence as your host, driver, interpret, guide and provider of all you might need!
It does not include:
-The airfare tickets
-Your travel and airfare ticket insurances
Due to the variability in the dollar/euro exchange rate in the past years and to secure the higher level of services we are proud to offer for your Provence Art Experience – we now base the price on the Euro.
Our main goal is to offer the same level of service and quality for the lodging, the meals, the transportation, the tickets for the must-sees and everything else we pay in Euros here in France.
To secure your spot, please fill and send us this following application form as well as our Terms & Conditions documents
You can also find the PDF version here or I can send you a version at your email address or
you can download this one here, fill it and send it to mathieu.brousses@gmail.com
To pay your deposit with a credit/debit card or a PayPal account, please follow this link to our PayPal payment page
I can also send you via email a PayPal invoice you can also pay with a credit/debit card or a PayPal account.