+44 203 048 3044 Agent login
From £1796 pp*
(4)
Request Availabilty
See more photos

Jewellery Making and Cooking Holiday

Highlights

  • Design and create your own beautiful jewellery to take home.
  • Fun hands-on cookery classes and excursions to local producers.
  • Stay in a picturesque farmhouse with a large swimming pool.
From £1796 pp*
  1. Select your start date
  2. Choose the number of people in your group
  3. Check availability
Request Availabilty

What you'll do

Overview

Combine learning two unique skills with beautiful accommodation, delicious food and wine, expert tuition and picturesque landscapes on this remarkable 7 night jewellery making and cooking holiday in the heart of Gascony set in a 19th Century farmhouse with swimming pool.

During this 7 night jewellery making holiday, you will be introduced to the wonders of glass and glass fusing techniques with talented artist Caroline and discover the secrets to French cooking with passionate cook...Read All

Arrival

– Arrive at Agen train station in the afternoon to be greeted by your friendly hosts before being driven to the farmhouse where your holiday will begin
– Settle into your delightful room before getting to know your fellow students over delicious aperitifs
– Enjoy a social evening with a 3 course gourmet dinner served in the farmhouse kitchen along with a short introduction from your hosts about what to expect over the next few days

Accommodation

You...Read All

Hollow forms and syringe workshop and wine tasting

– This morning after breakfast you will go to a local delightful village market to explore the area to discuss your first project designs with the rest of the group and your tutor Caroline

– You will then return home to begin your first jewellery making class

– Today you will learn the technique of making hollow forms, which is perfect for creating hollow forms such as classical silver ball earrings or a beautiful textured bead pendant for earrings

̵...Read All

Naturals and fingerprinting jewellery making workshop and Armagnac tasting

– After a leisurely breakfast, you will choose something natural of your choice, such as a leaf, to influence your fine silver jewellery designs today

– Lunch will be served by the pool or in the farmhouse kitchen with views of the countryside all around to help inspire your creative side

– After lunch, you will create a your own personal fingerprint jewellery

– Fingerprint jewellery is when you set the prints of loved ones (or even pets!) into fin...Read All

Free Day

– Today is a free day for you to spend at your leisure

– Choose to spend more time perfecting your metal clay techniques and working on your jewellery in the studio, or take time to relax by the swimming pool with a good book

– All meals are included today, and enjoy a well-earned rest before your cookery experience begins!

Accommodation

You’ll stay in a gorgeous 150-year-old farmhouse or neighbouring gite.

Culinary excursion and first cookery lesson

– After breakfast, it’s time to enter the kitchen and begin your culinary experience!

– Your host and chef Adam will be on hand at all times to ensure you learn as much as possible during informal and fun cookery lessons and culinary excursions

– Today Adam will accompany you on a culinary excursion which will be confirmed upon arrival depending on the group’s preference and the season

– You visit may include any of the following: visits to a l...Read All

Culinary excursion and second cookery lesson

– Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning

– Adam will then accompany you on another culinary excursion to awaken your senses, introduce you to local life, and ignite your passion for fresh, local food

– You will then return to the farmhouse to enjoy a light lunch before reentering the kitchen for your second cookery course

– Learn to cook delicious country meals with Adam, with just a little show and a lot of passion as you learn about real French...Read All

Day group excursion

– Relax with a delicious breakfast this morning before heading out on a fun excursion for the day
– Today you’ll enjoy an excursion to a location of your choice!
– Your hosts will take you to either Bordeaux or Toulouse city, depending on the groups preferences
– Explore the stunning scenery and relax on your final day, and enjoy lunch whilst you out
– This evening you’ll return home for your final dinner, where you’ll reflect on the...Read All

Departure

– After breakfast, guests are asked to check out by 10am
– You are welcome to relax and enjoy some free time if your flight is not until later in the day, before being taken to the airport or train station for your return journey
– You will return home with fantastic memories, fabulous cookery skills, beautiful unique glass jewellery and memories and new skills to last you a lifetime

What's included

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation in a private twin/double room
  • 2 jewellery making workshops (on days 2 and 3)
  • 2 cookery lessons (on days 5 and 6)
  • 2 culinary excursions to local villages or towns
  • 1 day excursion to either Dune de Pila, Bordeaux city, the Pyrenees mountains or Biarritz, depending on the groups preferences
  • Vineyard visit and wine tasting session
  • Armagnac distillery visit and tasting session
  • Access to the jewellery studio daily to work on your pieces
  • All materials and equipment for jewellery making
  • Tips on how to start your own jewellery business
  • All cooking materials, ingredients and notes
  • Transport to and from all excursions
  • All breakfasts, lunches, and 3 course gourmet dinners daily
  • All refreshments (including wine etc)
  • Pick up and drop off from Agen train station
  • Check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check out by 10am on day 8
Your local host

Caroline & Adam

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Caroline is a qualified teacher from the UK and her husband Adam is a passionate cook. They moved to South West France looking for a change of lifestyle and now run their hugely successful jewellery making and activity holidays from Baron-Figués, where you will be staying. Caroline has been a qualified teacher for over 25 years and has experience in setting up and running training centres teaching practical skills. She is a senior instructor in both PMC and Art Clay and has experience in using a wide range of clays and other materials. Adam is a serious gastro enthusiast, as much in love with the local seasonal produce as the Gascons, and entirely committed to cooking the most incredible traditional dishes for guests as well as providing wonderful cooking courses. For Adam, cooking is a journey through all the senses and you won't just spend time sampling the local produce but understand how it is made and the traditions behind it. Adam blends a simple Irish approach to cooking with flavours and skills acquired from travels across the world. From conception to plate, Adam will teach you how to prepare and serve fantastic meals that will seem to magically appear in front of your guests, allowing you to enjoy the party too! For the painting course, they are joined by passionate local artists with huge knowledge and experience of the area as well as art to ensure you are taken to the right places to inspire your paintings.

Caroline & Adam image

Location

Set in the heart of Gascony surrounded by 50 acres of private unspoilt meadows, the your farmhouse accommodation is tucked away in the Gascon countryside. Although the farmhouse is a rural retreat, the bustling picturesque towns of Nérac and Condom are within easy reach.

Nearest airports:
Toulouse (1hr 40min), Bordeaux (1hr 40min), Pau (2 hours) or Bergerac (2 hours)

Complimentary pre-booked train transfers:
Return transfers to and from Agen train station (30 minutes) are included in the course price.

Trains run to Agen from across the SNCF network from where you can take advantage of the free transfer. Optional private airport transfers can be booked for an additional cost.

What our travellers are saying...

Best French Holidays is so aptly named. Of all the trips we have made to France this was the best. Nothing is too much trouble for Caroline and Adam and from the time they picked us up until the time they dropped us off, everything was perfect. Gourmet meals were provided every lunch time and evening with as much amazing French wine as we could mange ! The tuition we received in art was second to none and we loved learning to cook and also e

Anon

Caroline and Adam were warm, kind and generous hosts. The tuition of both the jewellery and cooking classes was first rate. I was very very pleased with the pieces of jewellery that I produced and Adam made the cookery class great fun and I came away with lots of ideas. Their school is in an idyllic, peaceful setting with beautiful views. I can thoroughly recommend this course. Lots of laughs, fun, sun and good food.

A Smith, Marlow, United Kingdom

A brilliant holiday. Caroline and Adam are excellent hosts. I came back with several pieces of jewellery to many compliments. The cooking experience was fun and there was much wine tasting and laughter. It is a beautiful part of France and I was taken to some of the little villages nearby, to markets and Toulouse too. I made new friends. It was one of the best holidays I have had. I hope to go back again!

B Marie, Bromley, United Kingdom

The classes were fun and well taught; the food was excelllent; the mix of classes and tours made for a lovely experience.

D D Wakeman, New Orleans, United States

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

Suitable for all cooking levels from beginners to advanced with a minimum age 18. Your hosts and tutors speak English and French, and lessons will be taught in English. Dietary requirements will be catered for if these are communicated in advance of booking.

I'm travelling solo - can I join?

These holidays make great singles holidays as there are no single supplements and you will have your own private room for no additional cost. There is a discount for 2 people travelling together and sharing a room.

When can I start?

This holiday starts on Sundays and runs on set dates from March to November. Holidays run for 7 nights / 8 days.

Is there restricted mobility access?

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
- We generally do not recommend this location for those with restricted mobility.
- This holiday is based in the countryside, and does include some walking.
- The accommodation has no bedrooms or bathrooms on the ground floor, therefore one must be comfortable with stairs.

What can I do in my free time?

During your free time, there is plenty to do at your farmhouse accommodation including relaxing by the swimming pool (May-September). The accommodation offers a range of extracurricular activities onsite which are free of charge including table tennis, basketball, shooting, archery, cycling and board games to name a few!

There are numerous fêtes, music festivals and exhibitions in the surrounding areas through the year and your host Caroline will be happy to advise you during your stay. The closest towns are Nérac and Condom, and your host will be happy to suggest activities and transport should you wish to explore these during your stay.

Join our community

Get off the beaten track and support local communities that you visit.

Sign up for inspiriation for your itinerary, new experiences and special offers.