Cooking Holiday in France at Les Ruches

"The Beehives"

Join us for a relaxing French cooking holiday in rural France and take a break from the stresses and strains of modern life. Step back into a gentler time where you will be hand picking the freshest ingredients and preparing wonderfully fragrant French cuisine in a beautiful setting. Immerse yourself in the sights and scents of rural France and enjoy balmy evenings eating al fresco with good company and good wine. Here at Les Ruches your French cooking holiday will help you to enhance your cooking skills whilst having fun in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

During your cooking holiday in France we will be sharing with you the experience of real country life in a typical French village. This will include, aside from the cooking, harvesting seasonal fruit and vegetables from the ornamental kitchen garden, collecting fresh eggs from our free range chickens and relaxing in the grounds of our 18th century farmhouse. Our courses can be residential by staying in the Chambres d'Hotes at Les Ruches or non-residential if you should wish to arrange to stay in accommodation elsewhere.

The name 'Les Ruches' means ‘The Beehives’ of which we currently have five. Included in your cooking holiday in France will be the unique opportunity to visit the hives (wearing protective clothing) and see the amazing bees at work. However, we do understand that some people may be reluctant to participate so the beekeeping visit is optional! All students will however be able to enjoy the taste of the wonderfully fragrant wildflower honey they produce.

The base for your cooking holiday in France is nestled in the small picturesque village of Sommières du Clain which is overlooked by a stunning chateau in the relatively undiscovered Vienne region of France. The Vienne is a charming rural region of France typified by rolling fields of sunflowers and maize and can be found between the Loire region to the north and the Charente region to the south.

This year we have moved from the farmhouse kitchen into our new kitchen located in an ancient restored cottage. The cottage has many original features including an old stone kitchen fireplace, traditional open oven and and a stone sink called an évier . We have endeavoured to retain the full character and atmosphere of a traditional French country kitchen whilst incorporating all the modern day appliances you would expect in a contemporary kitchen.

So for a taste of the 'Good Life' why not join us on our French cooking holiday and soak up the sunshine, the atmosphere and the wonderful aromas of French cuisine in the setting of our traditional farmhouse in the Vienne. All you need for a perfect cooking holiday in France.