Explore the sights, sounds, flavours and romance of France
Our series Bespoke Behind the Scenes lets you in on some of the incredible trips that B&R Experience Designers create for travellers. Whether it’s a multi-generational family reunion or an exploration of a dream destination, our team works one-on-one with travellers to design original journeys that meet every need and desire. Here, Experience Designer Jérôme Boré shares the story of a sensorial exploration of three of France’s most famous regions.
There was no one better positioned to create this trip for a couple hoping to get to the heart of three storied regions in France, to connect to the culture, history and architecture and interact with local people throughout the trip.
Medieval villages of Bordeaux
Wine experience in Burgundy
Jérôme Boré, B&R’s Experience Designer for a handful of French regions, among them Bordeaux, Dordogne and Burgundy, was thrilled to create an adventure that immersed these travellers in his home turf. The mix of activities, biking and walking, as well as a balance of guided activities in the daytime and a self-guided schedule in the evenings offered both flexible and fully tailed experiences for the travellers.
“They could move at a relaxed pace and decide how much time they wanted to spend at each location, creating a more intimate experience,” says Jérôme. “They really got to experience the journey exactly the way they wanted to, with the freedom to make adjustments along the way.”
Over two weeks, the couple mixed guided walks through historic towns, cobblestone-lined villages and rural routes surrounded by vineyards. Time in Bordeaux for instance was spent with a brilliant local guide. “Seeing the modern city through her eyes, they took in some of the most beautiful architectural wonders as well as medieval and even Gallo-Roman structures,” Jérôme explains. There was also hiking with a local mountaineer guide in the Auvergne. Known for its breathtaking volcanic landscapes, it’s home to the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring a chain of dormant volcanoes that offers stunning views.
Jerome Bore
Regions of expertise: Loire Valley, Bordeaux & Dordogne, Champagne, Alsace, Provence
Bike rides helped them see the region in a different way with routes on quiet countryside trails, alongside picturesque canals and through some of the most famous vineyards in the world, including Romanée Conti, La Tâche and Richebourg—musts when you’re travelling through two of the great wine regions in France.
And of course, there was a multitude of cultural and culinary experiences during this adventure. From meeting with a local chef to tour her favourite markets, producers and shops in Burgundy to truffle hunting with a trained dog leading the way. There were also tours and tastings at family-owned wineries, estate picnics and a hands-on barrel coopering workshop.
“Here, cuisine and culture are inseparably linked,” says Jérôme. To explore any other way simply wouldn’t be a complete experience in these regions.