Saint-Émilion, France | Part Two

As I stated in my last post, one of my biggest regrets on this trip was not spending more time in Saint-Émilion. Thankfully, I booked an afternoon excursion with Bordovino that combined a stop in the little commune and two wineries. Our tour guide, Soline, managed to pack in the greatest spots in Saint-Émilion before we left. One of these spots was this great view near the Saint-Émilion Monolithic Church. The church dates back to the 12th century and was carved from a single block of stone and is quite massive. I've seen a lot of churches in my life, but I honestly cannot say I've seen one as impressive and towering as this one. It was positively medieval and the perfect place to end our time in the beautiful and stunning Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion, France | Part One

As previously stated in my previous post, Markus and I decided to stop in Bordeaux to explore a bit of wine country.  I booked a half day tour with Bordivino tours where we stopped at two wineries and the beautiful Saint-Émilion.  One of the main reasons I booked this tour was because of our stop in the little commune.  I saw a few pictures and instantly fell in love.  It looked exactly like the little village from Beauty and the Beast.

Saint-Émilion is well known as a UNESCO heritage site as well as being one of the regions that produces wine. The area dates back as far as prehistoric times. Despite being an area steeped in history and popular with the tourists, it still manages to retain its charm. I loved walking along the cobblestone streets and exploring the cathedrals and ruins. It never once felt like a tourist trap and I regretted that we weren't able to spend more than a few hours there. I had few regrets on this trip, but this was definitley one of them. 

Wine Tour at Château Soutard and Chateau Cote De Baleau | Saint-Émilion, France

The Bordeaux region of France is very well-known for being wine country. Since Markus and I drink wine every Wednesday for Wine Down Wednesday, we decided to add the area to our road trip. To be honest, I don't know much about the specifics of wine. Whenever I see people tasting wine and picking out certain flavor profiles, I always wonder if we're drinking from the same bottle. I can just tell if it's sweet or dry and most importantly, if I like or not. So this is why I also decided to book a half-day wine tour with Bordovino.  

To be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of guided tours. I loathe being shuffled around on someone else's schedule. I did a lot of research to make sure that I chose the perfect tour company, because there were heaps. I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed Bordovino. Our tour guide, Soline, was really knowledgeable and very friendly. She took us to the wineries of Château Soutard and Chateau Cote De Baleau. Château Soutard is run like a very tight ship and has a bit of a corporate feel, which isn't a bad thing, but it definitely felt more produced. We did a mini wine class, where I still didn't learn much, but it was informative. Chateau Cote De Baleau was a bit more rustic and down to earth. It's a smaller winery but I liked that it was a little less polished. The wines we tasted were really nice and I ended up buying both bottles. Just waiting for the right time to open them. After a few hours at a winery, I still don't know how to pick out every flavor profile that I'm tasting. It's okay though, I'll still drink it every Wednesday. 

Château de Boucéel | Normandy, France

One of the main things I wanted to do in France was stay in a château. Like most little girls who grew up in the 90s, I watched Beauty and the Beast and dreamed of visiting a place like Beast's castle. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who helps me fulfill all my childhood wishes. On our road trip through France, we were able to stay at two châteaus. Both were quite different in many ways. The first was Château de Boucéel in Normandy and I have to be honest, it was my favorite of the two. Previously, I posted the exterior of the château, where we took last year's Christmas card photo.  

I loved EVERYTHING about Château de Boucéel. It's been in the same family since 1763 and is lovingly run by Comte Regis de Roquefeuil, who is a delight, and his family. Comte Regis actually lived in 60s era Chicago, and it was great hearing his stories from his time in the U.S. He is very charming and I may have formed a teensy lil' crush on him. The property itself is so beautiful and true to it's roots. All the decor is intentionally placed and displayed as an homage to the history of the château. There are modern conveniences, like the beautiful pool, but they're not over the top. Our room didn't have a TV, which was great because it encouraged us to explore the grounds and nearby area. I enjoyed every minute we spent here and it would be one of the few places that I would return for a second stay. It was that amazing and truly an incredibly unforgettable experience. 

Mont Saint-Michel | Normandy, France

Mont Saint-Michel is a well-known island commune of the coast of Normandy in France. Originally, the commune was founded by an Irish hermit who had gained a following on the mainland. In the past it was used as a stronghold in the sixth and seventh centuries. Local legend says that the archangel Michael appeared in a vision to the bishop and told him to build a church. Currently, it was one of the most visited sites in France and loved for the trek from the mainland to the island during low tide. 

I remember seeing a photo of Mont Saint-Michel in a book when I was a kid and promised myself I would visit one day. There is definitely a sense of awestruck wonder when you approach the island, but unfortunately that disappears when you make it onto the island. Droves of people and are bussed onto the island, overloading the small space with tourists. It was a little unbearable and hard to enjoy. Even though, the experience on Mont Saint-Michel wasn't my favorite, I'm still glad we went because it's such a unique and beautiful place. It's worth a visit even if there are tons of tourists. Normandy is beautiful and there is enough to do in the area to entertain.