I attended a cooking workshop at Chateau de Balsac with my sister and another friend in May. It was…read morean exceptional and memorable experience. The itinerary was both gastronomically over-the-top and culturally immersive. Local, renowned chefs worked with us in the chateau's large, modern kitchen and in restaurant kitchens, as well. We even shopped at the Rodez Farmers Market with a chef before joining him in his kitchen for a class and lunch from our creation. To say that Malana and Roland were good hosts is an understatement. They took us to local villages, historical sites, museums, a sheep farm, and a Michelin star restaurant, where we dined on 11 courses over 4 hours! From picnicking at a local winery, to afternoon tea in a woodland/stream setting, to shopping for local wines, we truly experienced Aveyron with their knowledgeable guidance and language skills. The chateau is an impressive structure and comfortable. The bedrooms are spacious and the bathrooms modernized. I especially enjoyed the wildflower lawn grazed by their roaming sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits. I plan to go back!

My trip to Chateau Balsac was absolutely lovely. It was so relaxing knowing everything was so well…read moreplanned - we'd be seeing the most interesting spots in the region, benefitting from great local knowledge and enjoying amazing food at every meal. From the moment our group was picked up at the train station, we were treated to Malana and Roland's outstanding hospitality. Each day was carefully choreographed so that we had plenty of time to visit chateaux, villages, museums and relax a bit too. Ours was a group of photographers and the beauty of Aveyron was a perfect place to take the time to get great photos. Some memorable experiences were guided tours through the Soulange museum, the Abbey in Conques the Chateau Bournzel as well as private visits to Chateau Belcastel and tea by the river Dordou. I really enjoyed myself and hope to be back soon!