French Ceramics Tour September 2010

Zeste French Tours

Booking at http://janeannois.com/tours.htm

The Itinerary: Wednesday 8 - Monday 20 September 2010

Wednsday 8 September [Beaujolais]

In the morning, arrive at St Exupery Airport, Lyon [also the TGV train station]

You will be picked up. We will have lunch in Lyon, explore the old city, then travel to the other side of Lyon to the Beaujolais region.

Oingt, Beaujolais

Visit Annie D’Orifice and her studio and gallery at Oingt. Visit sculptors and ceramic artists Dominique Bajard and Agnes Coupey at their studio. Stay at hotel in the Beaujolais. Dinner included.

Thursday 9 and Friday 10 September [Bourgogne, near Cluny]

Travel north to Bourgogne. Les vendanges, grape picking season in vineyards. Visit potter Christian Faillat, Mireille and Noel Dailler at Blanot, and others, wine tastings and explore the countryside. Accommodation in a chambre d’hote in the countryside. 1 Dinner included, 1 restaurant.

Saturday 11 September [Lyon]

Explore the potters market “Les Tupiniers de Vieux Lyon” in the afternoon. Possibly the largest potters market in France, 150 stands selected from France and Europe. Dinner with the potters in Lyon in the evening. Restaurant.

Night at hotel in Lyon.

Potters’ Market “Les Tupiniers de Vieux Lyon”

Sunday 12 September [Faramans]

Explore the potters market and old quarter of Lyon. I can interpret and make introductions. Also “Marche de Creations” artist’s market in the morning. La Fourviere, basilica and Roman ruins. Free afternoon in Lyon. Restaurant.

Stay 2 nights in a farmhouse at Faramans near the potters.

Monday 13 September [Faramans]

Visit Jean Jacques Dubernard, wine tasting, evening Brigitte Long?

Dinner included.

Robert Montaudouin work in progress

Tues 14 and wed 15 and Thursday 16 September [Dieulefit 3 nights]

Leave Lyon to head south to Cliousclat and Mirmande in the Drome region. Cliousclat is a village where the ceramics tradition has continued for over 200 years. Tour of pottery. [Ann Dangar discovered pottery here before moving to Moly Sabata at Sablons and to Jean Jacques Dubernard’s studio]. Stay at Dieulefit, meaning ‘God made it’- the home of lavender, valleys and artists. Visit ceramic artists Maryse Tavernier, Roland Dutel, Robert Montaudouin, Tristan, Marie Laure Levitan and others. Visit Gallery Nadia B, Maison de la Ceramique. Stay in a chambre d’hote.

Chambre d’hote near Dieulefit

Friday 17 Sept [Aspres sur Buech]

Drive along spectacular gorge through the mountains to Aspres sur Buech to visit Michel Cohen, his wood fire kiln. Stay the night.

Sat 18 Sept [Faramans]

Drive north to Grenoble, Potters market, spend the day in Grenoble, visiting potters market, gallery, old city. Dinner at restaurant at Grenoble [pay our own way]. Return to Faramans to farm house.

Sun 19 Sept [Faramans]

South of Lyon, in the Rhone Alpes region, village of Faramans, where you will visit potters and their studios who work in raku, terre vernissee. Potters include: Jean Marc Plantier, Brigitte Long, Yves Gaget. Visit the ‘ Palais Ideal de Facteur Cheval’.

Stay in farmhouse at Faramans, farewell dinner with the potters [included].

Farmhouse at Faramans Le Palais Ideal de Facteur Cheval

Monday 20 September

Return to Lyon airport and TVG station at St Exupery.

Food and costs

$3100 AUD

12 nights, 13 days, in a range of accommodation; hotel, gite or farmhouse, chambre d’hote [b&b].

Bed and all breakfasts are covered.

All dinners in chambre d’hotes are covered.

8 dinners are included.

The other nights [4] where it is noted restaurant, we pay for our own.

All museum/ gallery entries are covered.

Lunches we can have a picnic or buy a sandwich or find a little restaurant, to be decided on how we feel. It is a good idea to have a kitty and go to local markets.

Pick up and drop off at airport.

The itinerary is planned well in advance. There may be alterations made due to change of circumstance with the potters’ availability, beyond our control. Every effort will be made to find a suitable substitute or change the timing of activities to suit.

I can guarantee an insightful trip, as knowing the area and the potters for 12 years has allowed me openings to places and people you would not otherwise find. The language is invaluable too! We will have a lot of fun.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is based on two people to a room.

At Faramans you will be staying in a farmhouse run by Bernard and his wife. It is very simple and self-contained. There is a kitchen, a dining/lounge room, a bathroom and separate toilet, a washing machine, 3 bedrooms. There is a separate “suite” next to the farmhouse, for a couple with its own bathroom, which is a little more luxurious. If there is a couple who would prefer to stay there, it will be a slight increase in cost.

At Faramans, the bakery is in the village about 1km from the farmhouse. Those who like to get up early and go for a walk may like to enjoy the French bakery experience and practise their French.

The other accommodation will be in a gite or chambre d’hote, b&b, run by a French family.