Planning a culinary tour of France can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The internet will be a good starting point for research before making any decisions. Then, once informed, tours can be booked through a familiar or local travel agent or through one of the many sources on the internet.
There are four main areas of France which are well-known for their culinary abilities, cuisines and locale. First, decide which area of France you prefer to visit, for example: Provence, Burgundy, Bordeaux or the Loire Valley. Then decide on the type of tour you prefer (barge, bike or automobile); the choices are almost endless.
The fertile lands of Provence, located in the southeastern region of France, are noted for its Mediterranean cuisine. The rich soil produces an abundance of fresh vegetables, olive oil and herbs – key ingredients in the local dishes. Fresh fish and seafood are also daily staples. Culinary tours in this region feature cooking demonstrations, and visits to open-air markets and local villages. Accommodations in this region range from small hotels to restored 18th-century guesthouses.
Burgundy borders Paris on the southwest side and is birthplace to some of the world’s greatest chefs. It is famous for its wines which are used in preparing some of the region’s most celebrated dishes: escargot, beef bourguignon, and coq au vin. A very unique culinary tour of this area includes barging along its inner waterways, visiting villages and markets, with cooking demonstrations on board the barge. Other tours include a walking and cooking tour, with hiking on the menu; or a driving and cooking tour with a private car escort. Accommodations featured in this area include personal homes to small deluxe inns.
Loire Valley, located in central France, is home to the country’s largest river, the Loire. The Valley is also known as the "Garden of France," because produce grows abundantly in the region. Fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, game and wine highlight the local cuisine. Bicycling is offered as part of a culinary tour in this area where winding paths lead you in front of magnificent French castles. Days biking and sampling the French cuisine are alternated with days cooking and sampling your own efforts. Accommodations here range from 16th-century manor houses to French chateaux to castle hotels.
Rural southern France, commonly referred to as the Bordeaux region in the extreme southwestern portion of the country, uses two unique items in their regional cuisine – red chilies and goose fat. Culinary tours in this region focus on the rich wines which make this area famous. Horse riding and medieval castles are two unique aspects on tours. Accommodations range from small hotels to French chateaux to old farmhouses.
Any culinary tour in France is apt to please. Almost all of the tours include excursions to local sites, visits with local markets and free time to explore on your own. From the regional wines, cheeses, produce, meat and seafood, to the vast array of architecture and landscape, to the slight differences of the peoples and accents, a culinary tour will be a taste for all the senses.
