Hunting Program
Autumn and Winter

This program gives you a taste of one of the oldest aristocratic traditions in France. In the late fall, chateau life is rich with the forest changing color, frosty mornings, fires in the hearths and in your bedrooms. Hunting with the hounds (the Chasse à Courre) is an ancient art with very strict rules of protocol: uniforms, French horn melodies specific to the hunting action and how the 30-50 hounds are working, the ceremonial dagger, and the climactic musical ceremony in honor of the stag. It is a rare privilege to be invited to participate in this elite sport.

You’ll immerse yourself in the many other hunting activities, visiting local chateaux devoted to the hunt and the Countess will be serving you game caught on the property.

Saturday Afternoon – Arrival and Meet the Count and the Countess
Arrive in Angers and transfer to Chateau
Unpack, settle in and refresh yourself
Carriage ride in the Forest of Monaie
Champagne cocktail in the Salon Doré
Welcome Dinner in the Salle à Manger with the Count and Countess – Semiformal dress
Your first night sleeping at the chateau in the beautiful, still countryside in a private forest in Anjou

Sunday – The Vie du Chateau
French continental breakfast in the country kitchen (local breads, homemade jams, local fruits and juices, strong coffee with demi-cream milk)
Mass in 11th century village cathedral and walk in the churchyard or optional golf game on the spectacular course in nearby Baugé (18 holes)
Lunch
Walk around the property to see a working domain; open forestry, hunting posts, pheasant rearing, duck pond, hunting farm, etc. followed by bird shooting (wild duck, woodcock or pheasant) or observation on the property
Visit the Count’s private wine cellar and wine tasting
Hunt Dinner in the Salle à Manger (bird game from the property) – Semiformal dress
After-dinner drinks in the Scottish Bar

Monday – Chateau and Hunting Traditions
Animal observation at dawn on the look-outs stationed on the property
French continental breakfast
Presentation in the Grand Salon by the Count about the Chateau and Hunting Traditions
Hunting wild mushrooms if nature permits
Lunch
Excursion to the castle of Giseux (17th century) or Lathan (15th century)
Dinner in Salle à Manger – Semiformal dress

Tuesday – Chasse à Courre
French continental breakfast
Participate in “Chasse à Courre”. This lasts all day, and one can follow the horsemen and dogs either by car or bicycle. For those that have an advanced level of horsemanship, horses may be rented to ride out with the hunt team. Specific costume is required for these riders.
Lunch
Afternoon continue the hunt
La Curée: French horn music and ceremony in front of the chateau at sunset.
Dinner Buffet in the Grand Salon with the 30 member hunting team – Hunting chic (we’ll provide details)

Wednesday – Private homes of the Region
French continental breakfast
Deer hunting on the property or horse riding in the forest with the local hunting club
Lunch in the Salle à Manger
Excursion to see private chateaux devoted to hunting; Fresnes, Champchevrier
Dinner of game from the property in the Salle à Manger – Sport chic dress

Thursday – Victorian Hunting Property
Animal observation at dawn
French continental breakfast
Excursion to small local church where the traditional St. Hubert (saint day for the hunter) is held each year, and Montgeoffroy castle (18th century), or horse riding at the local club or biking
Lunch at home
Afternoon duck hunting at Les Belles, a Victorian mansion with its own private lake, Champagne at sunset.
Dinner in the Salle à Manger– Formal dress

Friday – Trophies, Saddles and Armor
French continental breakfast
Visit to local taxidermist to see the hunting trophies demonstration, visit to local vineyard for wine tasting (St. Nicolas de Bourgueil)
Lunch
Afternoon free, Saumur (12th century castle) and Museum du Cheval and shopping (hunting clothes shop), or Montreuil-Bellay (15th century castle)
Dinner in the Salon Doré in front of the fire – Semiformal dress
After-dinner drinks and Farewell Party in the Scottish bar

Saturday – Departure, but keep the Vie de Chateau in your heart!
French continental breakfast
Transfer back to Angers

Events subject to modification