Gourmet breaks in France

Holidaymakers are increasingly looking for a break where you can cook and enjoy some of the best food the destination you are staying in has to offer.

And one of the most popular ways of getting this holiday experience is by going on a self catering break where you can get the space and freedom to eat out or put together great meals from local produce.

Self catering specialist Holiday-Rentals reports many holiday home owners have been responding to the demand for the gastro-holiday experience by offering chef services, cooking lessons and tours of local markets and vineyards.

On top of this, lots of private holiday homes come with fully equipped kitchens, offering an excellent chance to create the gourmet experience for yourself.

Holiday-Rentals has a selection of a new gourmet-themed self catering breaks for 2007, provided by home owners Tansy Forster and Martine Gouardo-Marsat, which give a taste of the kind of gastro-holiday experiences that can be had.

Self catering holiday in the Dordogne, France

La Borderie de la Cole, a converted farmhouse in the Dordogne, comes with its own chef. Located close to the village of Brantome by the riverside, visitors to the luxury property can choose to have the chef cook local dishes for them, or for the more adventurous, go on a foodie shopping tour to find the best produce.

Once you have toured the local market and been given tips of choosing the best food, the chef will give a lesson in cooking a range of French specialities.

Active holiday in Normandy

You can get active at the Chateau Bellenau in Normandy with a clay-pigeon shooting weekend taking place at the end of August.

The break is ideal for foodies keen on meat and seafood, as the weekend will include a barbecued lunch of venison and a Normandy-style feast of local produce with wild boar, lobster and oysters on the menu.

The country house has 12 bedrooms that break down to four large self catering suites, as well as gardens dating back to the 19th century, a spa, sauna and tennis courts.

As well as Holiday Rentals, Owners in France, Owners Direct and Chez Nous have private holiday homes available for self catering holidays in France.