This post is going to be a bit more longer than previous ones as I will write about four excursions we had on this day. We started by going to Valence Ville train station. University had already bought us train tickets to go to the station Tain-l'Hermitage. It was 10 min ride and our professor was waiting for us in there. Before starting the planned excursion, we went to the School Gabriel-Faure. That was short visit to get a quick look at the inside of school.
After we went to appointed visit to Hotel de la Villeon. Wasn't easy to find the entrance door at first, it blends with the rocky walls of the building. We were welcomed by the smile of receptionist and later the director of the hotel, Valerie Antomarchi, greeted and guided us through the ancient building.
This A-listed, charming 18th-century hotel has a wonderful aura. When you enter, on instant you see the reception desk and the figures of animals in dim lighting. Later, going up on ancient stairs, you enter other small but aristocratic style rooms, with rich looking details and wonderful light coming out of large windows. Each room has its own scent that madam Antomarchi chose and made it work. This hotel has 16 rooms in general of which 4 are suite rooms and one is bar. Also it has 2 conference rooms, 1 cave for vine degustation which french hotels differ from other hotels. For me the most exiting visit was the terrace, where on summer mostly the staff is preparing shows of culinary by inviting famous chefs and musicians. Terrace itself is on the roof. How beutiful it is! You can see the rooftops of houses in Tournon-sur-Rhône and different types of trees and flowers planted in there.
After the tour, we were invited to enjoy cofee and freshly squeezed orange juice with addition to glazed dry fruit cake. The dishes, interior design and all the small but thought of details captured my attetion and I was pleased to have the opportunity of visiting this unique hotel.
In the end we recieved brochures and beutiful book about other family hotels located in France.
Take a look at their website:
www.hoteldelavilleon.com
and social media:
facebook.com/hoteldelavilleon
instagram.com/hoteldelavilleon
Next stop-Chateau Tournon. Listed as an Historical Monument since 1927 in case of the external parts, and since 1938 of the interior. Built between 14th and 16th centuries, its architecture bears witness to changes in society between the Medieval period and the beginnings of the Renaissance.
We entered the main courtyard and moved towards the heavy wooden door to explore the interior. It looked fresh and taken care of. Other crowd of people guided by tour guide followed us near. Our proper tour guide was our professor from our University. He rapidly took us around the castle while highliting some artifacts that are held in here, like statues, paintings and tapestries. Again we had an opportunity to see beautiful rooftops of this village and the hill nearby by going upstairs to North Terrace. There was rose bushes and simetrical lawn, rocky walls and fresh wind.
And the last but definately not least, visit to ''Valhrona'' chocolate factory. We had free visit, meaning, free to see that this chocolate museum offers, and it offers a lot. Not only information about the chocolate making, history and its difference, but also the tasting. There were some quick exercises where at the end you win small tablet of chocolate. Also there were placed chocolate candies near the other exhibitions. We had a quick tour around the museum, made a final picture in a picture booth with our professor and headed to the shop. Even in the shop you may have endless tasting of products that are offered there. In the end each of us left this building with something sweet in our bags and full stomachs of chocolate.
Buy some sweets at their website:
https://www.valrhona-selection.fr/?gclid=CjwKCAiA3OzvBRBXEiwALNKDP1E1Qz0JcJgJpV-fCH2Iuj7o-yGCt3BPRd1gjq02X2omKelF75E2YhoCv3IQAvD_BwE