Languedoc Creative courses, nr Carcassonne, France

	Domaine St Raymond Creative Courses in the Languedoc
Accommodation	Creative Courses	Golf and Gourmet Holidays

Choose your Creative Course
Starting	Courses in 2009	Finishing
April 30	Books and Drama	May 4
June 3	Creative Art/Mixed Media	June 7
June 10	Embroiderers’ Course	June 15
June 24	Creative Writing	June 28
September 17	Creative Art/Mixed Media	September 21
September 24	Books and Drama	September 28
October 1	Embroiderers’ Course	October 5
All courses start at 4 pm on the first day and finish on 1.30 pm on the last day

INFORMATION ABOUT DOMAINE ST RAYMOND
The Accommodation Domaine St. Raymond is a beautiful, spacious house with gardens, a large swimming pool and a tennis court. We have a supply of bicycles - and the road is flat right down to the canal towpath! There's table-tennis, a pool table and even a set of boules. With an optimum of 16 guests per weekend, with 8 bedrooms, there's a house party atmosphere which promises the formation of new friendships or cementing of old ones.
Smart, roomy bedrooms are double or triple-sized . All bedrooms have en-suite shower-rooms and, in the case of the Olive room, an additional bath. All towels and linen are provided and each room has a hairdryer. Beach towels for use around the pool are not supplied. Arts courses include breakfasts, lunches and dinners with free-flowing wines from a local vineyard - where a degustation has also been arranged for one afternoon. The Golf and Gourmet Getaways are inclusive of all meals and wines. Help and advice can be given if guests require visits to La Cite at Carcassonne or to the castle sites of Cathar resistance.
Take some French Leave and slip away to the lovely landscape of the Languedoc for some leisurely learning and a large helping of culture.	Swimming Pool

Large sitting area .On the ground floor the large sitting area has comfortable sofas and an open fireplace for log fires. There is a pool-table and a classic 1950s juke-box for those who hanker after the Beatles, Elvis and Chuck Berry. The Kitchen Large, bright and airy, St Raymond's kitchen has plenty of storage space, electric oven and hob, a dishwasher, microwave and two refrigeration/deep-freeze units, together with a corner breakfast-bar. The large pool and its paved and grassed surrounds. A covered barbecue and outdoor dining area occupies the far end.	-	Our Location Where we are in Languedoc, near Carcassonne The loveliness of the Languedoc landscape of France is undisputed. Set between the Pyrenees in the south and the Black Mountains to the north, it is a geographical region of many personalities: plains and rugged mountains and elegant cities ... the numberless sprawling vineyards of the Minervois, Corbiere and Malepere ... the hot-scented, standing stillness of sunflowers in field after field, ranked like soldiers in the warm yellow light ... the bumpy red-tiled roofs of houses - immediate evidence of the Catalan influence just over the southern border ... the tree-draped Canal du Midi making its green-dappled way towards the Mediterranean coast ... And all this, set against the magnificence of the Pyrenees, an eternal iridescent purple backdrop with spiked peaks which can still be white-capped, even into May. Domaine St Raymond enjoys fantastic views of the Pyrenees, which can be reached in about an hour. Yet it is only 20 minutes from Carcassonne Airport and an hour's journey east leads you to the beaches of the Mediterranean. The nearest large town is Castelnaudary, the birthplace of "Cassoulet" (a sort of bean casserole). This busy old town has bars, restaurants, plenty of shops, a weekly market and regular festivals. Even closer is the small town of Bram, site of a Cathar stronghold until 1210 when it fell to Papal Crusaders during the massacre of the Cathars. The circular layout of Bram's streets follows the pattern of a typical circular medieval village. This region being the heart of Cathar country, many former hilltop strongholds such as Montsegur and Lastours are within very easy reach. (see Carcassonne and the Cathars) South-west through the mountains finds Andorra. Spain is easily-accessed: one can make Barcelona in three hours. Toulouse is 45 minutes away to the west and Albi, birthplace of the artist Toulouse-Lautrec, about 90 minutes' drive north. These are just two of the creative centres of a region where all artistic interests are well-catered-for. Many sporting activities can be enjoyed in the region, from hill-walking and sailing to horse-riding and cycling. There are beautiful lakes, mountains and gorges within quick and easy driving distance.
The Olive Room This bedroom has a king-sized bed and offers splendid views across the surrounding fields to the Pyrenees. It has a bathroom (with bath, shower and toilet), air conditioning, hairdryer and personal CD player.		The Terrace Room The only bedroom on the ground floor (making it suitable for anyone who has difficulty in climbing stairs), this room contains a king-sized bed, en suite shower room, mobile air-conditioning unit, hairdryer and personal CD player. The toilet is situated next to the bedroom.
The Custard Cream Room This bedroom contains twin beds, en suite shower / toilet room, a mobile air-cooling unit, hairdryer and personal CD player.		The Lavender Room This room contains two single beds and en suite shower / toilet room. One wall is constructed almost entirely of glass, an arched window creating a striking effect with a view of the swimming pool. Air-conditioning, hairdryer and personal CD player.
Take a taster of an integral part of your stay!
An integral part of your stay at Domaine Saint Raymond is the Wine Tasting "Fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine." - Charles Dickens. Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest vineyard in the world, its production exceeding that of Australia or Bordeaux. Until the last quarter of the 20th Century most of the wine made was regarded as 'plonk' but today there are hundreds of serious growers of quality wine, some rivalling the best in France and the New World. The range of wine styles produced is amazing ... reds, whites, roses, sparkling and vin doux naturel wines all reflecting the individual Languedocian terroirs. It is here that Mediterranean meets Atlantic. Regional grape varieties sit side-by-side with classic Bordeaux varieties as in the Cabardes AOC where Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon can be blended with Grenache and Syrah. It certainly produces a heady mixture! To give you an insight into this fascinating wine region, an informal wine tasting will be hosted in-house, prior to dinner on Thursday evening, by our resident award-winning Wine Wizard who will bring his longstanding expertise in the wine industry to educate your palate in the wines of the Corbieres, Minervois, Cabardes, Malepere regions, and more. . . You will get the chance to taste the famous Limoux sparkling wine 'Blanquette' and a cross-section of the still and fortified styles which are available. For those of you who wish to experience winemaking 'at first hand' there is an optional half-day wine-tasting available which will take you to two local producers for a tour round the property and - of course - a good tasting at each .		Languedoc has splendid wines Languedoc vineyards

CREATIVE COURSES AT DOMAINE ST RAYMOND, NEAR CARCASSONNE, LANGUEDOC
Interested in Creative Courses or Golf and Gourmet courses at Domaine St Raymond? Contact French House Party at 01299 896819 or 07900 322791 frenchhouseparty@southfrance.com For accommodation and house rental near Carcassonne in Languedoc stay at Les Coccinelles
Accommodation	Creative Courses	Golf and Gourmet Holidays

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