Marc Boutfol Gilder of Turquant
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He works his magic inside an
abandoned cave overlooking the Loire River from its perch in the village of Turquant, today one of a cluster of ateliers where artisans work, teach class and display their work. Mark Boutfol is a gilder by trade, perfecting a golden, ornamental art-style that dates back centuries in France. His skill in applying fine, gold-leaf powder to ornate frames, shrines and even family crests is evident as you browse through his intimate workshop, where he and his wife use traditional materials to turn everything they touch into gold.
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The art of living in the Loire Valley ranges from a gilder’s treasured touch to a gentle canoe ride on the Vienne River and a bike ride on bucolic country roads.
Saumur equestrian school, founded in 1814, is renowned as the sole custodian of the French equestrian tradition and today trains the upper echelons of French riders. Indulge your own Culturious interests back in Saumur where the remainder of the day is free. The town is surrounded by vineyards which produce some of France’s finest wines. À votre santé! Meals BL
4. A BIKE RIDE TO A COUNTRY CASTLE The best way to explore the country lanes of Loire Valley villages is by bike. Pedal to Breze for a visit to the still privately owned Castle of Breze; if you’re game, challenge yourself to a stroll down in the castle’s labyrinthine tunnel system that dates back to the Middle Ages. Come up for lunch and a stop at the National Equestrian Center, more evidence of the “good life” here in the Loire Valley – the
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5. OF CHAMPIGNONS & GILDED ARTS Mushrooms are a staple of French cuisine; learn more about them on an optional visit this morning to the Musée de Champignons. Lunch at a small café gives you the energy you need for this afternoon’s hike along the “windmill road” to vineyards inspired by amazing views! The art of living in the Loire Valley continues with an insider visit to a restoration artists’ studio where the artists’ work, literally, is dressed in gold! Meet gilder Mark Boutfol, profiled above, as he shares the time-honored tips of his chosen profession from his atelier
overlooking the Loire River; meticulous care and painstaking attention to detail are called for when repairing, restoring and replicating ornate works of art, including antique frames, family crests and shrines, to their original soul-stirring golden condition using traditional, natural materials. Our sunset dinner cruise aboard a typical Loire boat celebrates the golden light – and wines – that bathe the valley in this beautiful region of France. Meals BLD
6. CANOEING & CHÂTEAUX GARDENS Can you canoe? Try it as we glide along the Vienne River near Chinon, a great way to immerse in the region’s tranquil landscapes and to discover first-hand why so many of the landed gentry built their châteaux here. See two of them today as you tour hilltop Château Chinon, dating back to 954, and visit the gardens of Château de Villandry, “the imaginative 20th-century recreation of a Renaissance castle garden” – en route to your 17th-century manor house in
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