Chateau du Fey - Take a vacation in a lovely French chateau property in the heart of Burgundy, France: Planning Your Stay

Because the property is currently for sale, we are not planning to offer weekly rentals in 2008. However, please feel free to contact us to register your interest should plans change. Alternatively, if you are interested in a long-term rental (3-12 months) in 2008, please do not hesitate to let us know.

We offer two types of accommodation at Chateau du Fey: our Burgundy level rental with a welcome dinner the day of your arrival, linens and two hours of house cleaning per day. Our Concierge option includes a daily chef, host/concierge service, and maid service.

Burgundy Rental

Upon arrival you will be shown to your rooms and have a tour of your accommodations. A welcome supper with wines will be ready for you to enjoy at your leisure. We will provide you with a list of useful telephone numbers and addresses so you can schedule activities in advance and do your shopping and we will leave you to enjoy your vacation in peace and intimacy. During your stay we are happy to orient you with an overall tour of this historic property, including personal anecdotes!

You will be provided with 2 hours of daily cleaning of common areas, and a change of linens during the week.

Our chef can prepare a delicious meal for you at any time during your stay. You can view sample menus, including wine, below (see Concierge Rentals). Please contact us if you are interested in booking a meal during your stay.

It is also possible to use our concierge services on an ad hoc basis – we can book any of the activities listed below under concierge rental. Please contact us in advance if you are interested in booking any activities during your stay.

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Concierge Rental

Our Concierge rentals take care of planning all your activities so you can relax completely during your week’s stay a Château du Fey. Our full-time host, available daily from 9 – 5, will customize your vacation to your wishes, our chef will prepare a daily gastronomic lunch or dinner (and continental breakfast), and full housekeeping services are supplied daily except Sunday.

Once you have booked a concierge rental, week-long menus will be created by our chef according to your taste, always based on seasonal, fresh produce. Sample lunch and dinner menus are included below.

Our concierge will consult with you in advance to discuss the activities you would like to plan during your stay at Château du Fey. A comprehensive list of activities is listed below. We strongly encourage you to book your tours and activities in advance so you are not disappointed at the last minute. For costing of these activities, please contact us.

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Château Dining

These sample menus will give you an idea of what our chef prepares and they are by no means exhaustive. Many of our ingredients come from the château vegetable garden or the local farmers’ market. Our meals are simple, based on regional specialities and home cooking, all prepared to a high gastronomic standard. We can accommodate dietary requirements and food allergies with advance notice.

For Burgundy rentals, the cost per person of a meal including the house wine begin from $65 and up, depending on the menu.

For Concierge rentals the ingredients and alcohol are charged at purchase cost.

Château Luncheon

Burgundian Leek Quiche
Artisanal charcuterie platter
Garden lettuces with fresh herbs
A selection of local cheeses
Breads from our local boulanger
Chardonnay and cornmeal cake with seasonal berries and crème fraîche
House wines

Welcome Supper

Château butter roast chicken with fresh herbs
Gratin dauphinois
Braised green beans
Tarte of fresh fruits
House wines

Château Weeknight Supper

Tomatoes baked with goat cheese and fresh herbs
Burgundian pork loin with Dijon mustard and bacon
Roasted Cauliflower
Poached pears with pistachio frangipane
House wines

A Burgundian Dinner

Gougères au Fromage and apéritifs
Traditional beef bourguignon
Vegetable gratin with fresh herbs
Classic French cheese platter
Tarte Tatin with crème fraîche
Fine local wines

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Activities

It would take much more than a single week to sample all the activities at Château du Feÿ! One of our absolute specialities, as the location of the celebrated LaVarenne cooking school, is culinary activities. The Yonne region also offers a wealth of significant historic sites within a couple of hours drive, and access to plenty of outside activities near the property.

Culinary Activities at Chateau du Fey

Wine tasting in the Château’s wine cellar
A local wine expert leads a 60-minute discussion and tasting of the region’s finest wines:

Cheese tasting with our local affineur
A master artisan cheese affineur leads a 60-minute discussion and tasting of France’s finest cheeses:

Demonstration of the Château’s historic bread oven
Spend an afternoon with a master artisanal baker at the château’s bread oven, dating from the 18^th century, baking delectable croissants and French breads:

Hands on Cooking Classes
Create your own Burgundian feast in an informal, interactive class led by staff of the renowned La Varenne Cooking School. A sample menu might include: Gougères, Château Roast Chicken, Gratin Dauphinois, Glazed seasonal Vegetables, and Raspberry Chocolate Soufflés. Dine on the meal you have created at your leisure

When the renowned author and cooking school teacher Anne Willan is available, she will be happy to host a hands-on class featuring her personal favourites such as warm wild mushroom salad, spatchcock of baby chicken Dijonnaise, chocolate hazlenut torte, and pears in red wine sauce. Enjoy the menu you have created at your leisure, with a selection of hand-picked wines.

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Bus Trips from Chateau du Fey

Market tour and lunch
Visit the bustling covered market in the historic town of Sens with a food expert who will introduce you to market vendors and local specialties. Wander the ancient streets, visit the gothic cathedral, and take home temptations to enjoy for the rest of the week. A nearby restaurant offers a simple Burgundian lunch of local specialties, don’t miss the snails!.

Troyes Outlet Stores
The most famous grouping of over 100 outlet stores in all of France is located near Troyes, just over an hour from the château. Feast your eyes on such labels as Gien and Limoges, and acquire a few treasures to take home. Price for the full day including a visit to the medieval center and cathedral of Troyes; transportation by mini-bus and a guide are included, lunch is your choice:

Excursion to Chablis and guided wine tasting
This half- or full-day program includes a visit to Chablis, a guided tour and tasting at Domaine Servin, followed by a simple vineyard lunch in Chablis. The optional afternoon program adds shopping and a cathedral visit in Auxerre, the historic departmental capital of Burgundy,.

Wine tour and tasting in Beaune and the Côte d’Or
Take a guided tour of some of the finest vineyards in the world, learning the inside story from a local expert with many years in the wine trade. Price includes transportation in a mini-bus and lunch at a local restaurant.

Champagne tour and tasting in Reims
This full day program starts early with the drive to the Champagne district and a tour of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard and winery. Lunch is enjoyed in a local fine restaurant, followed by another vineyard tour and tasting before the journey home.

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Dining Out

Special dinners in starred Michelin restaurants
La Côte Saint Jacques in the nearby town of Joigny is one of just 27 restaurants throughout France that earn the prestigious 3-star rating in the Michelin Guide. Not far away in Sens, a rising young chef has earned two Michelin stars at La Madeleine. Let us arrange a private tour of the kitchens and a special multi-course dinner (including fine wines) for you and your guests. Either restaurant is a once in a lifetime experience. Transportation included, prices start at $300/person for La Côte Saint Jacques, La Madeleine $200.

Bistro Dining
Bistro dining is a tradition in France and not to be missed during your vacation. The comfort and relaxation of the bistro environment are an invitation to the meal, which is made up of hearty and home cooked dishes. Classic bistro fare includes French favorites such as roast chicken, steak frites, duck confit, and potato gratins. Desserts are inviting, too, Tarte Tatin, crème brulee, mousse au chocolat, and profiteroles. There are many wonderful restaurants within 30 minutes of the chateau.

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Sightseeing

There are dozens of historic towns, cathedrals and châteaux that you can visit on a one-day excursion from the Château du Feÿ. Our concierge service will be happy to propose some day trips that could include sightseeing, shopping, and a gastronomic meal and/or a wine tour.. We can provide you with a list of proposed and sites in advance of your arrival to Château du Fey, as well as the schedule for local food markets, festivals, and antique fairs.

Cities, cathedrals and châteaux

To the north: Sens, Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte.
To the east: Troyes, Tonnerre, Pontigny, Tanlay, Ancy-le-Franc, Fontenay
To the south: Auxerre, Vézelay, Avallon
To the west: Toucy, St-Fargeau

Smaller towns and sites

Quarré-les-Tombes, Montréal and Saulieu (combine with Avallon/Vézelay).
The medieval village of Noyers (near Chablis).
Toucy, St-Fargeau, St-Sauveur. This area, known as the Puisaye, takes you southwest of Joigny towards the Loire. Known as Colette country as the author came from St-Sauveur. The son et lumière presentation at St-Fargeau on mid-summer Saturday evenings is memorable.

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Outdoor Activities

At Château du Feÿ

Walks in the forest and open countryside
Heated swimming pool
All-weather tennis court

Near Château du Feÿ

Horseback Riding: There are a number of stables near the château where you can ride either in their arena, or explore the surrounding forest and hills.
Golf: 18 hole Golf du Roncemay is a 30 minute drive and includes a gastronomic Michelin restaurant if you decide to break for lunch or finish in time for dinner.
Ballooning: Burgundy is one of France’s best areas for ballooning – sail over the valleys of vineyards and taste some of the wines!
Boating: The Yonne river has pleasure barges that can be rented by the day. While you sail through locks, picturesque villages, and countryside, we can provide the picnic.
Bicycles: Bicycles are available for rent in Joigny on an hourly or daily basis. We recommend reserving in advance.

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Practical Tips and Information

With the region’s endless winding roads and delightful wines, many Château du Feÿ visitors choose to hire a driver and minibus for daily excursions and meals at local restaurants. If you would like to be driven to/from central Paris, one of the airports or another location in France, please give us details and we will get you a quotation from our transport company which we have known for many years. Some groups like to hire vehicle with a driver for an evening dinner and this can be arranged for a small or large party of friends using a car or minibus with driver.

Local Produce Markets

Joigny: Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Best on Saturday. At market building by bridge.
Sens: Monday (main day) and Friday mornings. Always busy. By the cathedral.
St Julien du Sault: charming nearby village, small market on Thursday morning and larger one on Sunday morning.
Toucy: 20 km southwest of Joigny, this folkloric Saturday morning street market in the open is well-known.

Local Attractions
In any town it's always helpful to visit the local tourist office (Office de Tourisme). In Joigny it's right by the bridge, across from the market, at 4 Quai Ragobert. The Michelin red restaurant guide gives the coordinates of the tourist office at the head of its entry for each town or city. The tourist office is helpful not only for the local area but also for the entire county (départment). There are brochures about special musical and cultural events and art shows as well as the usual hotel and restaurant information, town maps and guides etc.

Besides the usual brocante second-hand or antique shops found in almost every town, in the summer months there are dozens of vide-greniers in the area, the French equivalent of a boot or garage sale, but usually superior. Dealers attend the bigger ones. The 24-hour nonstop vide-grenier in August at Mézilles, between Toucy and St-Fargeau, draws a crowd from all over France.

Transportation Arrangements
We have worked with a local transport company for many years. If you would like to be met in, or taken to, central Paris or one of the airports, or for that matter be driven anywhere else in France, please give us details and we will get you a quotation. Many groups prefer to hire a vehicle with a driver for an evening dinner excursion or the like. This can be arranged for a small or large party of friends using a car or minibus with driver.

A driver and vehicle to transport you and your guests
With the region’s endless winding roads and delightful wines, many Château du Feÿ visitors choose to hire a driver and minibus for daily excursions and meals at local restaurants.

1/2 day rate (for short trips to restaurants and nearby towns)
$500

Full day rate (for excursions to Chablis, Vézelay, etc):
$950

Car Rentals
Europcar (represented by National in the USA) have a rental outlet in Joigny; Sens and Auxerre have a full range of agencies. It is best to make your booking from overseas as rates are usually cheaper.

Supermarkets
Intermarché in Joigny is the most convenient source for food and all basic needs. It is open Monday-Saturday from 9 am to 7.45 pm. Take the N6 to Joigny and cross the river. At the first traffic circle, turn right towards Montargis and take another right off next traffic circle, marked for Intermarché. There is also a clothing and hardware supermarket in the same complex.

Closing Days
Generally Mondays, but Tuesday in Sens. Most small shops and businesses close over lunch, starting 12:00 noon or 12:30 pm.

Click here to go to www.lavarenne.com’s favorite places.

For more information, please click here to contact us.

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