Prieure de Bonvaux (Dijon, France)
Every year, the tiny French town of Beaune (in the Bourgundy region) has an enormous wine festival after harvest to kick off the holiday season. Alex and I had been planning on making the trip for months with the Queens and we were excited that two other couple friends of ours joined us as well. A fantastic quadrouple date it was!
When we arrived at our castle in Dijon (30 minutes from Beaune and yes, the city of mustard) on Friday, we were greeted by the adorable Brigitte. The first thing Brigitte said to me (after her welcome) was, "See the grass?" "Do you know what that is?" She was pointing to the torn up grass around the castle. "Wild pigs!" She said enthusiastically. "Wild pigs?!" I said, sure that she had gotten some of her Engish words mixed up. But no. Brigitte continued to explain to us that wild pigs come out at night around the castle (did I mention we were in the middle of the country?) and they had destroyed her yard. Cute Brigitte then told me not to worry, she'd invited a hunter-friend of hers out to take care of them and he shot 9 wild pigs in one night! My castle dreams were beginning to diminish for fear of being eaten by a wild boar.
After the story of the wild pigs, Brigitte casually showed us into our bedroom and I temporarily forgot about the pigs. Here's the royal chamber where Alex and I got to stay. I know...I'm officially spoiled.
Here's a picture of our crew eating breakfast in the castle. Brigitte woke up before us to go into town to pick up fresh bread. So sweet!
Sarah and Chris, Alex, Jacques and Kristy and Bertrand and Nollaig
Our plans for the day in Beaune consisted of one particular wine tasting in a cave called Patriarche. The tour took us four hours because they offered 10 tastings of wine dating from 2009 back to 1959. Of course, the 1959 wine was my favorite and it was only 369 Euros a bottle :) Needless to say, Alex and I left Patriarche without a making a purchase. The tasting was a blast, though; the highlight of the trip.
Bottles of wine dating back to...a long, long time ago :)
Dear friends Nollaig and Sarah
The cute boys - Bertrand, Jacques, Alex and Chris
After the tasting, we had a nice dinner down the street in Beaune where Beef Bourguignon and Coq au vin rouge (Chicken in red wine sauce) were the local dishes. The little town was hopping with people, Christmas lights, food booths and mulled wine (though the last thing we wanted after a 4 hour tasting :)
It was a fantastic weekend and the eight of us decided that the trip to the festival should be an annual event. Here's one final picture of the crew in front of our castle. With a little more practice, I think I can get used to this sleeping in a castle business :)
Love from Luxembourg...Melanie
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