Pssst… Don’t tell anyone, but we’re making a move.

A move to London, our other favorite European city, just as full of great shopping, architecture, art, history, and (almost as much) great food. Francophiles need not fret, though — we’ll still cover Paris’ best hidden secrets, but with a little British flair thrown into the mix.

If you’re planning a trip to London, take a peek at our brand new Chelsea vacation rental flat, Brompton. With its private garden, two bedrooms and plenty of space to lounge and cook, it’s the perfect home base for exploring all that London has to offer.

We’re also still offering some fantastic last-minute discounts on February 2012 dates (for Paris and London), so contact us now and get up to 30% off your winter holiday!

`Javier Bouzas ; JM Rosenfeld

Written by Genevieve Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Winter blues got you down? Nothing a quick trip to Paris can’t fix!

Seriously though. Winter is winter in Paris too, but when you can while away the days eating delicious pastries and drinking café crème or mulled wine in a cozy café, it’s easy to become fond of the rainy days too.

Haven in Paris is offering up to 25% off in most of our Paris and London apartments, so making the jaunt over doesn’t have to break the bank. Or just use the money you saved shopping the sales – after all, they run until February 14!

Check out all of our February special offers here, or contact us now to let us do the work for you.

PS: and wouldn’t this make the most darling Valentine’s day retreat…

Mauvais Garçons Marais 1-bedroom

Written by Genevieve Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

After having made the huge, scary, glorious decision to quit my plum entertainment job of 14 years to move to Paris, all I could picture was drinking rosé in fabulous cafes in St. Germain and strolling with my soon-to-be-named French lover along the Seine.  It was going to be all storybook romance and Parisian perfection, right?  What could possibly go wrong?

Finding an Apartment

The first big task on moving to Paris was finding an apartment.  I felt like a Parisian kid in a confiserie as I set out to look through all the online listings.  I was picturing my new, highbrow, literary friends meeting in my salon and debating whether Anna Karenina was due society’s scorn or the victim of a double standard.  And then there would be the lavish, multi-course creations that would appear out of my kitchen and people would say, are you sure she’s not French-trained or a descendant of Julia Child?

Mollie C.; Chris Waits

As I dug into the apartment search further and started to learn the meter to square feet conversion, a rosé hangover started to kick in.  How was I supposed to entertain the French literati in a space the size of a parking spot? Would my culinary creations have to come from a hot plate in my Betty Crocker play kitchen?  Oh, no, this wouldn’t do.  I decided an in-person visit would be best because I was sure there were some things that weren’t translating on the web page.

While I looked at thousands of apartments online, I was able to see exactly two in person.  I was told that they do such an excellent job with their pictures and descriptions that there should be no need to see anything in person.  I will say, if I ever need to sell an outhouse in the back woods of a swamp, I’d hire one of these rental groups to make it read like a genuine, rustic cabin with ocean views.

Sara Ko

In addition to being mighty with the pen, they also must have scored some sort of spy cameras with anti-dark, anti-it’s-really-not-that-small lenses.  The first apartment I saw looked like a little dungeon, and I was sure someone was chained up under the floor boards.  At least I had an honest agent who told me after we entered the dreary cellar that yeah, I don’t like this one because it’s really dark.  Perhaps this small note could have been conveyed during one of our 18 e-mail exchanges, instead of after a 12-hour flight.

When I walked into the other place, I stood mouth open for about 5 minutes before being able to speak.  All I could think was how do they DO that with their camera.  I could spin around and touch all sides of the apartment.  While lying in bed, I could wash my face or make toast.  I couldn’t breathe in this place, let alone entertain a thought.

Lindsey Tramuta (Lost in Cheeseland)

My last, and really only, hope was a friend of a friend’s acquaintance’s neighbor (basically one step away from being random stranger I met on the street, but I too was going to be on the street if I didn’t find a place in my final 24 hours of apartment shopping in Paris).

Related Links:

• Are you looking to buy an apartment in Paris? We can help.
• For interior decor inspiration, we love The City Sage
• For more tips on buying an apartment in France, check out architect & HiP Paris fave Michael Hermann’s guide

To find out whether Kelly finally finds her dream apartment, check back here for the next chapter in this series. Written by Kelly Page for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

As soon as our timetable lets us go, my husband and I move from our base in Amsterdam to our tiny apartment in Paris.

We’ve lived here in Paris part time for more than 4 years now, but I still discover new places, neighborhoods, and restaurants every single time we go on a stroll. Paris is inexhaustible when it comes to surprising me in any unexpected ways.

My dear friend, stylist, photographer and author Pia Jane Bijkerk, used to live here too, and she wrote a wonderful guide that everyone should have when they go to Paris. It’s a little book that takes you on a tour of Paris’ best shops and ateliers for handmade goods. So that’s right up my alley, of course.

One of the places she lists is Le Petit Atelier de Paris, so of course I went.

I fell in love with the shop instantly. Just standing outside, even the façade is charming. Inside, eyes and hands are drawn to the tables filled with handmade ceramics, all unique pieces. I’d love to work in this atelier in another life — I have secretly always wanted to be a ceramist!

They also organize small exhibits for artists from all over the world, so there is always something new and delightful to discover every time I go.  They also make small, beautifully packaged pieces that are perfect gifts to send off to family and friends. It’s a shame to even open them! Go and have a look for yourself – you won’t regret it.

Le Petit Atelier de Paris, 31 Rue de Montmerency, 75003  Paris, open from Thursday to Saturday from 13:00 – 20:00 hrs.

Related Links:

• To see more from Yvette Van Boven, including her cookbooks, illustrations and info on her restaurant in Amsterdam, check out her website
• Check out Le Petit Atelier’s website here for upcoming exhibits and information on current collections
• View Le Petit Atelier’s most recent items on their blog, here
• Read up on Pia’s fantastic book, Paris Made by Hand, in our 2009 review here.
• Can’t get to Paris to shop at Le Petit Atelier? We think Pia’s Paris Made by Hand book would make a great gift for any francophile…

Written by Yvette Van Boven for the HiP Paris Blog. All images by Patricia, aka, Memi the Rainbow; Patricia is an Italian girl who lives in Paris to study art. She is passionate about hand-carved rubber stamps, photography, and long walks through Paris, her muse; check out her fab home-made gifts at her Etsy shop. Also check out her wonderful blog here. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in London, Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

The beach in Nice: Marisa Williams

Years ago I set my eye on the goal of purchasing a “pied-à-terre” in Nice for a long list of reasons:

1. Nice is nice. Let’s face it, it’s the Riviera, the Côte d’Azur, the land of the rich and famous with the blue Mediterranean Sea, balmy weather, palm trees and Italian flavor. What could be so bad?

2. Property in Nice and its environs is increasing in value on a steady basis. With an international airport and an active port, the blue coast is France’s second hotspot after Paris. This makes Nice, and just about all of the coast, an excellent real estate investment.

Nice - Marisa Williams

3. R and R…the moment one lands at Nice’s contemporary and easy airport, and you head toward Nice down the Promenade des Anglais under the swaying palms with the sea at your side, the stress just melts away. Traveling to Nice from Paris is fast and inexpensive, making weekend getaways about as easy as it gets — a perfect antidote to the cold, gray, rainy winters in Paris.

4. Rental potential of vacation apartments, particularly for the North American market, is ripe for business. While the British and Italians are well served by their own compatriots, Americans have been overlooked. Americans want and expect a higher standard of luxury and service than their European counterparts know how to provide. From a business perspective, Nice was looking awfully nice.

Cute streets in old Nice Marisa Williams

But, I discovered that doing business in Nice isn’t so nice. The Niçois have their own way of doing things, very different from Parisian style, and that takes some getting used to. After a few rough bumps, I decided that the fifth reason for purchasing there was, in fact, to pave the way for Americans and to protect them along the way, allowing the burden to rest on my shoulders instead of on theirs.

In one personal situation where the purchase was retracted during the 7-day cooling-off period known as the “délai de rétractation,” instead of hoping to recuperate the loss of the purchase by offering more properties (an American approach to keeping the client), the seller’s agency actually issued a letter in writing saying: “Dear Madam, We do not believe at all in your good intentions and are sure that even if we had business to propose, we would propose it to everyone but you. Good riddance!”

Nice –  buildings and passageways: D’Alk; Julieta Alvarez

In another, the Notaire representing the seller became exasperated with the final negotiations between buyer and seller and actually refused to stay and assist her client, leaving both the buyer and seller on their own to complete a few final decisions and review the complicated pre-sale agreement without her mediation, stating, “When you’re ready, I’ll send in my secretary for you to sign!” (Isn’t it her job to be legal advisor and mediator!?)

In yet another, after receiving a full-price offer in writing by a willing buyer, the seller tried to reduce his capital gains tax from the sale by claiming to have another buyer willing to pay him cash ‘under the table’ — an illegal transaction in France. While this is done, it’s not so openly ‘tossed around,’ given its illegal implications.

The main beach by the Promenade des Anglais in Nice: Erica Berman

Recounting these trials and tribulations is not meant to scare the would-be buyer, but to emphasize that an investment can be made in Nice with great confidence, as long as it’s done with professional help that acts on behalf of the buyer to protect him or her.

After much deliberation and trial and error, I’ve purchased an apartment in Nice, in the district known as the “Carré d’Or” — just a short walk to the beach on a pedestrian street of the city’s chicest shops. One of our clients is purchasing the adjacent apartment and by the end of 2011, we will have two luxury apartments to accommodate a total of 10 people in a beautiful “bourgeois” building ready to accept guests.

This is just the beginning of a new and exciting adventure on the Blue Coast of France.

The famous Promende des Anglais walkway in Nice: Erica Berman

Related Links:

• HiP Paris friend Rosa Jackson, a Nicoise herself, shares one of Nice’s most typical dishes: the Pissaladière
• Tartelette has another recipe of a typical dish of the region, Les Petits Farcis
• If you are interested in buying in Nice, feel free to get in touch with Adrian directly at adrian@adrianleeds.com

Written by Adrian Leeds  for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Summer is here and the crowds are starting to flee Paris for the coast. As I tend to do things in reverse and will be staying in Paris this July to enjoy all of the amazing summer festivals and events, I hit Brittany for a two-week jaunt in May, just before the summer throngs descended upon its lovely shores.

Canal Nantes – Brest

After searching long and hard, mere days before our departure, for last minute lodging that would be not only earth-friendly and green, but appealing and available, I stumbled upon two different eco-homes in Brittany that were, amazingly, available for our dates. Note to self: Planning in advance can be helpful, but if you are willing to chance it, great places that are still available are often ready to discount in the spring. Plus the weather is fabulous and the beaches are empty!

Ground House – Mellionec, Brittany

Our first week was spent in the Ground House , located in the center of Brittany’s rolling green farmland in the town of Mellionnec, one hour from the ocean. This completely self-sustaining eco home, built into the earth on one side and full of huge windows overlooking the garden on the other, was just the thing we were looking for. Built by its English owners and featured on the famous UK show ‘Grand Designs‘, this passive solar house was built with salvaged materials and features an organic garden, a compost heap, dry/composting toilets, and solar heated rainwater for hot water.

Canal Nantes Brest / Farm Centre Bretagne

Not well known, the center of Brittany (Centre Bretagne) offers an abundance of hiking, walking and biking options. Additionally, we were pleased to discover that the area immediately surrounding the Ground House is a serious haven for bio (the French word for organic) fans, with an organic grocery store, a couple of organic restaurants, local artisans, organic shops, and markets where local farmers sell their produce, meat and dairy directly.

Ground House

Nothing beats a week of eating local food, sleeping, reading, walking, biking, hiking, and cooking. We were even able to arrange for a few delicious home cooked French meals to be prepared and delivered by the caretaker of the house.

Ground House

Not to be missed: walking along the Nantes Brest Canal; Tremargat and its potter; the organic baker and organic food coop in Mellionec; and lovely hiking in the Foret de Quenecan followed by a visit to the Abbey of Bon Repos.

The second week of our vacation was spent in another eco home built by its French owners in the small village of Tremeoc in the Finistère region of Brittany. This time we were just minutes from the ocean.

Eco House – Tremeoc, Brittany

The owners of this lovely and comfortable home made sure that everything in the house was as green as possible. It was built completely of wood with solar panels, an organic garden, and rainwater collection on the roof. Even the natural foam mattress was made nearby in Brittany… We were comfy, cozy and eco-friendly. There were certainly no microwaves, dishwashers or dryers in either of these green homes.

Interior – Tremeoc

More hiking (the GR 34 was right outside our door), reading, market shopping, cooking, lots of ice cream, buttery regional biscuits (a specialty), crepes and cider were on the menu.

Outside the sleepy (in May) beach town of Benodet, we stumbled upon a friendly cliff-top spa overlooking the ocean in the Pointe St Gilles campground, where we went for sauna, massage, hamman, pool, jacuzzi, and more.

Eco House Interior – Tremeoc / Exterior

Some local highlights not to be missed: Locronan, one of the most beautiful villages in France; Pont D’Aven; hiking on the GR by Benodet,; the GR 34 in Pont D’Aven; a sundae at the restaurant on the port (Les Mimosas); and the Crêperie Bio by the church in Quimperlé.

Two weeks flew by …. and not one day of rain. Who said it rains all the time in Brittany?

Field – Centre Bretagne

Local links near Ground House:

• Ground house website
• Link to the book on building your very own Eco Earth friendly House!
• Abbeye du bon repos
• Coriandre – organic restaurant in Tremargat
• Local tourist info
• Another great looking place to stay

Local links near Tremeoc:

• Our cute eco house
• Benodet beach town
• Spa at the Point St Gilles

Site for Eco lodging in France and elsewhere

Another site for amazing looking vacation spots

Written by Erica Berman for the Hip Paris Blog. All photos taken by Erica Berman. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

Karigee; Piglicker

When my mom found herself suddenly single at 45, she nearly took a year away from her medical practice in Boston to move to Paris with my little sister. She wanted to sip coffees in the late morning sun and read French poetry and eat confit de canard for dinner and take French classes and learn Serge Gainsbourg songs on the guitar… Her dream revolved around a small top-floor apartment on the Ile Saint Louis with a tiny balcony overlooking the Seine – the kind of balcony you see in a Sempé drawing of Paris. Life got in the way and she never made that trip – we have often wondered how all of our lives would have been different if she had.

Haven in Paris

Almost anyone with a long love for Paris can tell you as much about the apartment they would live in as they can about the life they would lead if they could live here. The sweeping views from Montmartre, beamed ceilings in the Marais, herringbone wood floors and crown moldings in a classic Haussmannian building, maybe a péniche on the Seine: there is a different Paris home for everyone. And thankfully for that, since when you are looking for a property in Paris it already feels like there are a million people looking for the same place you are. But then, there is nothing like the moment when you finally find your place.

Karigee

If you can’t live in Paris, the next best thing is to own that dream apartment as a pied à terre. But it’s not hard to imagine what happens once the dream collides head on with battle of the search : surly real estate agents answer your queries in rapid-fire French, if they answer at all. You arrive to a showing, only to find that it is already sold after you’ve trekked across town to see it.  The apartments you do manage to see are drastically different from the photos you saw online (how did they make that closet look like a bedroom???). You found a place with great bones but it needs a serious face-lift… How do you get from here to there? The key is to stay focused and determined – with a sprinkling of perseverance and nerves of steel.  Or maybe you’ll just get lucky.

Henrik Berger Jørgensen

Twenty years later, almost to the day, my mom became a part owner of a newly redone fractional apartment in the Marais: a two-bed, two-bath in a 150 year old building, with a terrace on a quiet, private courtyard shared with the oldest synagogue in the city.  She spends 5 weeks of every year in Paris.  The shared ownership helps make it affordable.  When the dream meets reality, two decades and a little creative thinking can go a long way to almost having it all.

Haven in Paris

Related Links:

• Miranda’s company, Paris Property Finders.  Let her know you found her on HiP Paris!
• Erica Berman shares her experience with the Paris Apartment Blog
• Can’t afford to buy but looking for a place to stay? Haven in Paris has some great special offers for this summer right now…

Written by Miranda Bothe for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

KatPhotos, Lindsey Tramuta

When you move into any new house or apartment in North America, you might expect the neighbours to drop by, introduce themselves, bring a small offering or just let you know that if you need anything, they’re there for you… Or you would do the same, just to introduce yourself to them. This is common practice, standard procedure and, in essence, what we hold to be the ‘right thing to do.’ That’s in North America.

Chris Gold

If you do this when you move into your new house or apartment in France, particularly in Paris, you certainly should not expect the same treatment, nor would your new neighbours look kindly on such ‘friendly’ efforts. “Au Contraire.” This behaviour is considered aggressive and intrusive…at least it has been for quite a long time. For many traditionally-minded French,“étranger” = “danger” [foreigner = danger]. It seems, though, with the influx of foreigners actually settling in Paris, things are (luckily) starting to change and the neighbours are getting friendlier.

Ilhan Gendron

When I first moved to Paris, I heard a great story from an Italian friend living in the chic 7th district near La Tour Eiffel. She had a neighbour living on the same floor opposite her who never said more than “Bonjour Madame” for several years. One day they both entered the elevator at the same time and the neighbour, not wanting to seem presumptuous, actually asked, “Quel étage, Madame?” (“What floor?”), as if she had never seen her before. My friend was shocked!

Shaindlin

Of course, I am certain that should you need serious assistance, a neighbour would certainly come to your rescue and behave just as one would expect a neighbour to behave, but the French are very private people and view this ‘getting to know one another’ as more of an intrusion in their lives than a way of making new friends. In 14 years of living in the same building in Le Marais (3rd arrondissement), only a few (of about 30) have ever invited me into their apartments…and for reasons that had nothing to do with being friendly. Still, we are all very polite with one another and “Bonjour, Madame,” “Bonjour, Monsieur” each other at every encounter.

Haven in Paris

As an owner in a Paris building run like a condominium with a “copropriété” (home owners association), apartment life is dictated by the opinions of the neighbours. They can vote to create regulations that obstruct what you might think is your natural ‘god-given’ right…like having a pet or placing a plant outside your door. Communal living is always more restrictive than living in a single-family residence. Like anywhere, you cannot control who your neighbours are and living with them peacefully is the key to a pleasant experience. If you demonstrate you are a good neighbour, then I have complete faith your neighbours will be good to you too, ultimately dependable and even, perhaps, friendly!

If you’re interested in having your own pied-à-terre in Paris, Adrian Leeds and her team of property professionals can assist you. Visit www.adrianleeds.com for all that the Adrian Leeds Group offers. You may also e-mail Adrian at info@adrianleeds.com. Make sure to let Adrian know you found her on the HiP Paris Blog!

Related Links:

• Looking for a short-term pied à terre rental in Paris? Check out Haven in Paris
• Claudia from the Paris Apartment blogs about staying in HiP’s Rameau apartment
• Want to daydream about redecorating? We love My Sparrow.

Written by Adrian Leeds for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Oh, Paris! How I would love to scoot over there for a day or two this Valentine’s weekend! Paris is a classic destination for lovers, and with very good reason. The light, the romance of the city, and above all the wine and food make it such a wonderful place to wander on a romantic weekend. But if, like me, you won’t be visiting Paris any time soon, here’s a bit of eye candy and some thoughts on what makes a Parisian kitchen different from the average American kitchen.

These thoughts are from Maggie, a member of the team at Haven in Paris. Haven in Paris is a lush little collection of Paris apartments for rent — all quite beautiful and tempting. We chatted a bit about Paris kitchens, and how they tend to differ from American kitchens. These are all things to be aware of if you are indeed lucky enough to spend a Valentine’s weekend in a real Paris apartment!

1. Traditionally, Parisian kitchens tend to be separate from the rest of the apartment. Although this is changing a bit, Parisians generally do not have open kitchens, or eat in their kitchen. In fact, when a Parisian hosts a dinner party, the prep work is considered unglamorous and kept away from the view of guests. It’s also a big faux paux for a guest to even consider washing dishes for the host, because that would involve coming into the kitchen and seeing the mess. Parisians prefer for you to think the dinner arrived to the table, effortlessly, almost magically.
2. Paris kitchens do far more with far less space. Parisians squeeze everything they can into a tiny room, often one of the smallest rooms in a Paris apartment. There is far less countertop space, but all the typical appliances (fridge, oven, range) and even a washer and dryer miraculously squeeze in under the counter. With less space comes a lot less light, but Parisian cooks still manage to turn out such fabulous meals, you never could have imagined they were concocted in a closet-sized space.
3. Paris kitchens are filled daily with super-fresh food due to tiny fridges. Full-size (American-style) refrigerators are less common in Paris. Sure, there are exceptions, but in general, fridges are about half the size of an American fridge. Less fridge space and the abundance of daily markets means daily grocery shopping, fresh food, produce and lots of fresh cheese.
4. Parisians get by with less gadgets. You won’t find a microwave in every single kitchen (although they are now present in most), but you will be hard pressed to come across a garbage disposal, an ice-maker or a drip coffee machine. Who needs gadgets anyway when there’s all those fresh vegetables, fruits, and bread. Did I mention the cheese too?

Related Links:

• Inspiration for homes and decor, every day, on Apartment Therapy
• Everything food and kitchen related on The Kitchn
• More fabulous Paris kitchens in Haven in Paris lovely Paris apartments

Article by The Kitchn with thoughts by Maggie Battista and the Haven in Paris team. View the original version of this article here. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

It’s still cold in New England and we’ve managed to get another light coating of snow this week. When it’s this cold, there’s really nothing else to do but daydream of warmer times… in France. Remember when I did that last month? I shared my little trip to Mont Saint Michel, where I was amazed by the towering abbey on the ocean.

This time around, my thoughts are drifting further south, way south, down to a tiny town near the coastline. This time, I didn’t just SEE the towering almost-other-worldly structure in the distance. This time, I got to LIVE there. Erica, the founder of this very blog and my very favorite company (where I also work), whisked her team away to the Chateau de Raissac in the small city of Beziers, just a short drive to the Mediterranean, to unwind, do a bit of brainstorming and meet the fabulous couple who own the chateau and run a local vineyard of the same name.

What do I remember?

I remember getting to know the friendliest little dogs who stood watch over their enormous home. The structure was astounding and unlike anything I had ever seen. I’m typically not a chateau sort of lady, but as I kept whispering all week to my colleagues, “I could adjust to this.”

Entrance to Chateau Raissac

The tower that was home to my blue bedroom at Chateau Raissac

My bedroom was up in a little tower with soft blue shutters that miraculously and without my knowledge were opened each morning and closed tightly each night. All of the rooms were fantasy-like, as if I had stepped back in time, into the most classic of French interiors. I’ve always thought of myself as quite modern at heart, but I guess I finally connected with my inner chatelaine because I felt absolutely content in every nook and cranny, especially my quite blue room (pictured below).

My very blue bedroom at Chateau Raissac (Erica Berman)

The hallways and staircase that held vintage and modern artwork at Chateau Raissac

Oh, and especially at cocktail hour. I loved cocktail hour. I want this sort of cocktail hour each and every night until I die. It involved local white wine, candles, bits and nibbles, plush, deep and ancient green sofas and too many interesting baubles strung across the room. There were vintage statues and aged books and furniture and artwork older than everything else.

The cocktail hour treats were delicious; I hadn’t had olives that good since Italy years ago. But…

The cocktail hour in the sitting room at Chateau Raissac

Lunch of piles of pasta and red sauce at Chateau Raissac

The meals at my chateau – I love calling it my chateau – were really amazing.

Perhaps there is better pasta in Italy or more authentic paella in Spain (just 2 hours away), but the group of us enjoyed every single morsel so much and learned so much about each other after three, four, five glasses of wine. The highlights were the cheese courses at the end of each meal (mais oui!) and the paella, filled with fresh gems from the sea, that we made by hand and with heart with the charming chef and owner, Jean.

The Haven in Paris ladies making paella at Chateau Raissac

My Haven in Paris colleagues, having fun while making paella at Chateau Raissac

I guess there was one thing that rivaled those cheese courses. Not just dessert – which was delicious each and every time – but our daily tea with cake every single afternoon. There was always lots of whipped cream to go around. This tea break was extra special because it was taken outside, nestled within the beauty that is the Chateau de Raissac. The trees, the flowers…

Our afternoon tea at Chateau Raissac, with chocolate cake and fresh whip cream

Our afternoon tea at Chateau Raissac, with coffee and fresh whip cream

… the garden, the green house, the entire lush landscape was just so green. I skipped about during our breaks to snap photos, to admire the gorgeous tropical plants that couldn’t possibly grow outside in New England, and to simply find a bit of quiet time among the stone statues, billowing hammocks, vintage urns and green, green grass.

The outdoor back gardens and green house at Chateau Raissac

The statues and hammocks nestled around the gardens of Chateau Raissac

I had an amazing time in Beziers… it really cast a spell on each of us and we were so sad to leave! But the indulgent life didn’t transpire just inside this heavenly chateau, which you really must visit the next time you’re nearby. The heavenliness continued when Erica pulled out a map and piled us in a car toward the sea. Where did we go? What did we do? Well, that’s another post which I’d be happy to remember aloud with you very soon. Would you like to hear about it? Just let me know in the comments. Until then!

Erica plotting our adventure on the Mediterranean