In addition to being a land of mystery and legend, Brittany is a region of endless, rugged shorelines, vast salt marshes, rich interior farmlands, and simply splendid seafood. Nowhere in France can you find a more tempting array of large succulent lobsters, tender-sweet langoustines, mouthwatering scallops (coquilles Saint-Jacques), clams (praires and palourdes), periwinkles, mussels, and incredible crabs (torteaux and araignées de mer). Exquisite globe artichokes, delicately flavored pré-salé lamb, buckwheat crêpes, and cider round out the local specialties. In Brittany, the cuisine is fresh and simple. Imagine eating the freshest briny oysters right out of the sea, followed by a perfectly grilled lobster with a bottle of crisp, dry muscadet, while sitting at your own window-side table surrounded by the sea.

If this sounds like heaven, join us at the exquisite, privately owned Château de Kerivon in the heart of the pink granite coast. Christine Adams and châtelain (owner) Le Viconte Gérald Rogon de Carcaradec will be our hosts as we settle into la vie de château at the magnificent Château de Kerivon, which is exclusively available to Les Liaisons Délicieuses. The Château de Kerivon was built in 1741 to replace an older manoir which was destroyed. It has been continuously inhabited by Gérald’s ancestors, one of whom fought with General Lafayette in the American Revolution. Kerivon’s walls are adorned with an extraordinary collection of original 13th-century Aubusson Tapestries. Its library boasts a collection of rare antique books—La Fontaine and Rousseau to name a few—and family documents with the original signatures of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Kerivon also has an exceptional collection of antique carriages. Christy and Gérald will be our guides as we explore the Brittany coast and countryside, learn about its rich Celtic and Gallic heritage, see some ancient standing stones, and visit other splendid private châteaux and manoirs where Gérald’s friends will invite us for tea or dinner.

Chef Jean-Yves Jaguin, whose restaurant La Ville Blanche has had a Michelin star for many years, and Chef Louis Leroy of Restaurant Le Goeland will share their passion for their native Brittany and the secrets of their exceptional cuisine. All of this will come alive in hands-on cooking classes, a market visit, and oyster and shellfish expeditions. To round out this extraordinary week, we will take several lovely promenades with breathtaking views of the sea.