Taste and See: Yoga in France, September 5-12, 2020
Taste and See: Savoring the Goodness of Life through the French Countryside, September 5-12, 2020
The Borgogne region of France, full of ripening grapes, ancient castles, meandering rivers, charming towns and world renowned cuisine offers a perfect tableau to “Taste and See” the goodness of nature and the abundance of your own life.
Daily life in France prioritizes savoring each moment, basking in beauty, connecting with the earth and delighting in conversation and companionship. You’ll spend the week experiencing the abundant satisfaction and peace that comes with that way of living and gain tools to enrich your own life when you return home. You will root your experience in daily yoga and meditation, enjoy local, market-fresh meals prepared by a professional chef from the region, learn to cook authentic French cuisine, pedal through the local villages, vineyards and forests along the old railway track converted to green way, float above the region in a hot air ballon, lounge by the beautiful salt-water pool, and learn about the wine, cuisine and ancient history of the area.
Pricing and Services
Shared Occupancy: $2250 per person : 2 double/twin rooms and 5 King sized rooms are available
Single Occupancy: $2750 (King Room)
(For VIP suite – only 2 available – add $400 per room)
Deposit
A NONREFUNDABLE $500 Deposit will secure your spot with the balance due by July 1, 2020
What’s included in your package?
7 nights accommodations in a luxurious 19th century Chateau
All meals with the exception of 3 lunches prepared by an esteemed chef with fresh organic regional and seasonal ingredients
Daily yoga and meditation
Cooking class
Arrival andd Departure transfers from the town of Beaune.
Unlimited internet use
Unlimited use of pool and facilities
Hot air balloon ride departing right from the Chateau!
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare
Rail tickets and transfers to the town of Beaune
Alcoholic Beverages
Extra spa treatments or excursions
Travel Insurance
Our Agenda For the Week (Everything is OPTIONAL…customize your day to suit whatever you need.
We will explore Borgogne all week as a “Feast of the Senses” using the outer beauty of our experience to guide us into the contemplation of our own lives as Masterpieces crafted through experience and consciousness.
Venue and Local Area
Mercurey is a beautiful commune of Saône-et-Loire in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, 10 km north-west of Chalon-sur-Saone.
More than a third of the area of the locality is planted with vineyards. Hilly, crossed by the course of Giroux, located on the ancient Roman road Via Agrippa linking Autun to Chalon, the town owes its name to a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Mercury. Possession of a vassal lord of the Duke of Burgundy in the Middle Ages, Mercurey became part of France in 1477. First called Touches (a hamlet now attached to the town), then Bourgneuf-Val d’Or, the town became Mercurey in 1971 after merging its different entities.
With a population of around 1,300 inhabitants, the village has preserved a historic heritage of quality owing its wealth to viticulture. It is popular with wine lovers and hikers, and its close proximity to Beaune, the de-facto capital of the region, full of exceptional heritage, remarkable monuments, architectural treasures and thriving arts, makes Mercurey the perfect place for our exploration of the French countryside.
Our home for the week, the Chateau Mercurey, is an exceptional 19th century property, built in the “Haussmann” style and completely renovated by the current owners. It is situated amongst vineyards and offers a stunning panoramic view over the surrounding countryside. Its landscaped garden covers almost an acre and includes a large, heated pool a summer house, winter garden, gym and relaxation room, and sauna.
Behind the Château the terraced garden looks across to the pool area and the vineyards beyond. A stone stairway, hidden amongst fig trees, gives access to the bottom of the garden with its dwarf fruit trees and borders of wild lavender.
The living room of Chateau Aquila bespeaks the history that surrounds this property. Spectacular 19th century, hand-painted frescoes cover all four walls of the room and are interpretations on the theme “Eden”. The molded ceilings, wood paneling and oak floors are original and add to the Chateau’s historical authenticity. There is a library full of books for your leisure and perusal.
From Chalon-sur-Saône to Charnay-les-Macon tens of kilometers of old railway track have been converted into a cycle track. Surrounded by rolling landscapes, alternating between vineyards and forest, this flat (or almost!) Green Way, lends itself perfectly to cycling or rollerblading or simply walking. The track goes through several attractive villages and you can also admire sites such as Cluny and Cormatin from it.
Accommodations
The Château Mercurey has eight double bedrooms (of which two are VIP rooms); three on the first floor and five on the second floor. All are equipped with ensuite bathrooms with either a bathtub or shower. The VIP suites offer views out across the park and vineyards, a balcony, high definition TV, Blu-ray DVD player, double washbasins, hairdryers, and a bath with massage jets.
Travel Details
US Citizens traveling to France need a current passport. Check the expiration date to make sure that it does not expire within 6 months of your trip. Visas are not required.
Flying into to France
The easiest way to reach Beaune is to fly into Paris.
Regular trains and buses run from Paris to Beaune and are very reasonably priced (between 15-30 dollars one way). The train trip will last approximately 3 hours. Please plan to arrive in Beaune in time to be picked up at 4pm on Saturday. Your hosts will meet you at the train station and bring you to Chateau Mercurey then. Should you miss the pick up, taxis are available. You can purchase train tickets in advance HERE.
Another option is to rent a car in Paris and make the drive yourself. This might be desirable if you wish to do any touring on your own while you are in the region. The drive is easy and beautiful and will take you about 4 hours.
- we understand that booking transportation can be daunting! Don’t let that stop you from fulfilling a travel dream! Sheila is more than happy to guide you through the travel booking process if you need help. Simply email sheila@johnscreekyoga.com with any questions or concerns.
About Your Hosts
Sheila McVay is a certified Kripalu 500 ERYT and the owner of Johns Creek Yoga in Georgia. She has been teaching in one way or another for over 20 years, first as a literature professor, then as a yogi. Along with maintaining a regular class schedule, she leads retreats locally and internationally and leads teacher training at both the 200 and 500 hour level. She is passionate about all that she does and feels blessed beyond measure to share the powerful and ancient practice of yoga with others.
Sheila McVay
