French Holidays +
"unforgettable experiences shared by the lucky few"
Caroline and Adam made everything fun, they are incredible hosts. So warm and welcoming, I felt at home from the moment I arrived. They were super committed to us having a great time. They always asked for our input about the day's activities and were so accommodating to our preferences. They had such a variety of things for us to do. There was a great balance of cooking, learning about the area, tasting local wines and relaxing down time. The food was extraordinary! Always fresh and such a wonderful variety. I learned so much from Adam, and am ready to tackle his recipes at home - my family is quite eager for me to get cooking! The setting at Baron-Figues is the picture of pastoral beauty and it is impossible not to relax in such a setting. My time at Baron-Figues was nothing short of spectacular.
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Adam is a lovely, generous, and fun Irishman. He is very passionate about French food, wine, Armagnac and champagne. The foie gras extravaganza is something you can only experience in France. Time spent in the kitchen with Adam was fun and interesting. His English wife Carolyn is equally fun and charming. They have lived in the French countryside for decades and provide excellent local knowledge. They took me to gorgeous markets and hidden destinations that you would never find by yourself on a brief holiday. As a solo traveller arriving in Agen absolutely exhausted, the whole experience was the perfect mixture of relaxation, interesting outings, swimming, talking, laughing, walking, eating and drinking … lots of eating and drinking! The accomodation is an absolutely beautiful and comfortable country house with a great swimming pool. This was a wonderful experience that I can highly recommend.
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Adam and Caroline were outstanding hosts. We became part of their family. The duck, foil gras and lamb Adam prepared were melt in your mouth. We enjoyed several days out visiting small towns, local markets and an Armagnac old family winery. Adam gave us very informed (but informal) talks about wine and champagne. Beautiful and peaceful location, friendly, fun, knowledgeable hosts. Couldn’t ask for more!
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We enjoyed the entire experience from Caroline picking us up at the train station to Adam dropping us off (sigh). They picked up on my love of Foie Gras and so Adam showed us how to prepare it - 4 ways! As a beer lover, it was fun to visit Graham at his home brewery. I am also an aspiring baker so Caroline took us to a nearby artisan Boulangerie where Isabel showed us her kitchen and methods. These excursions were customized for us it seemed. Adam & Caroline also found for me a 4 day bread baking course nearby that we attended a few weeks later. Dinners & lunches prepared by Adam were outstanding and a lot of fun. Adam is extremely knowledgeable about wine too & we enjoyed the informative tastings he organized each evening.
The location in the middle of the French countryside amidst rolling hills and vineyards was lovely, the house, guest rooms, and outdoor patio and pool were charming and comfortable, the outings to a market and fois gras farm were delightful, but the food and wine both at home and in a restaurant with a Michelin chef were definitely the highlight of our stay!
I liked the relaxed style and flexibility of all aspects of the holiday, and Adams friendly approach to cooking novices.
My week with you at Baron Figues was so special & way more than I ever expected. I really enjoyed my French cooking under Adams watchful eye & our trips out into the South West France county side 🇫🇷 visiting & enjoying the local life… villages, markets, coffee, wine, amazing local restaurants cafes, farms and especially the small family farm producing Armagnac with Armagnac in barrels dating back to the late 70s. Your warm hospitality made me feel so welcome.
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Adam and Caroline were extremely generous, accommodating, and exceptional and every way. They have a very generous spirit. They went out of their way to make our experience as perfect as they could. I can’t be any more positive. It was fun, we were gone for a month and this was clearly the best part of our vacation and we would recommend it to anyone who is considering a culinary experience in France.
Everything about this holiday exceeded expectations - a wonderful tranquil countryside retreat away from the normal hustle and bustle. Adam and Caroline basically put their lives on hold for a week and bent over backwards to make sure we had the best French holiday ever. Gourmet meals, bespoke painting tuition, yoga, country walks, trips to the local markets, bars and vinyards - nothing was too much trouble. We didn’t book to do the jewellery making course available, but the set up to do so and the jewellery we saw was fabulous and we’ll definitely do that the next time we visit. Thank you Caroline, Adam and family for your amazing hospitality - with fond memories of fine food, wine, fun and laughs.
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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 manage !
The tuition we received in art was second to none and we loved learning to cook and also enjoyed some excellent yoga classes.
We will be back for sure !
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Adam and Caroline are hosts extraordinaire! From the initial welcome to the final goodbye, they make their guests feel apart of their family and friends. Adam is a patient instructor and makes the preparation of gourmet dishes appear achievable and fun. Caroline is an incredible artist in metal clay jewelry and willing to share her talents with novices. This vacation was a perfect balance of activity and relaxation.
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Spent an excellent week at Baron Figues with Adam and Caroline. Enjoyed the cooking lessons and preparing the evening meals. No shortage of good food and wine throughout the week. Good balance of activities and down time. Beautiful setting in the french countryside.
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Had a great time on a cooking holiday with Caroline and Adam. They were such wonderful host and made for a great holiday. There was plenty of good food and wine and I learn quite a lot about how to cook great French food.
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I really enjoyed being with these wonderful people. Their kindness, positivity, warmth, and hospitality made this experience unforgettable. Adam’s knowledge of food and wine, and his relationship with the people in the towns near his made my stay even more interesting and fun. Ours was a great group, and we enjoyed our time at the farmhouse with our ‘new family’, and loved experiencing the villages and community around us.
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Adam did a wonderful job of providing 3 gourmet meals per day in addition to superb cooking demonstrations! He also supplied the menus for all of the meals that we had throughout the week!
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Standing with friends you have made throughout the week, as dusk falls on the French countryside around you, and you compare the merits of various Champagnes and eat the foie gras you have prepared... perfect. Our Culinary Vacation experience was like spending a week visiting with friends in their beautiful home. Caroline and Adam made us feel welcomed and comfortable from our first moments. We loved the trips to markets, chateaus for wine tastings, walks through the countryside with groups of neighborhood friends that Caroline arranged, and exploring the little villages and the city of Bordeaux. Adam always knew just what we should see or to whom we should speak. And then there was the food.... Adam is both a patient instructor and incredible chef. The food was absolutely amazing. It really was a perfect experience from beginning to end.
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What a fabulous holiday. Caroline and Adam were incredibly welcoming. I enjoyed the PMC silver clay course enormously, and the food was amazing.
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Excellent course fab location felt like a friend rather than a guest. I can highly recommended the cooking & jewellery. I will go again.
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I would normally try and give a balanced review but on this occasion I can only find positive comments. Everything was excellent.
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Caroline and Adam were the best hosts, welcoming me into their home and providing delicious food, plentiful amounts of wine and lots of laughter. The excellent tuition from Caroline enabled me to make some beautiful pieces of jewellery which I am thrilled with. Will definitely return.
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Lovely location, Caroline friendly and helpful, the accommodation adequate and I thoroughly enjoyed the painting. I would have preferred more painting time in the studio in Condom than the 15 hours provided as this was what I went for, and less time at the farmhouse.
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Excellent holiday. I can find no fault and would recommend it to anybody.
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A great holiday. Tuition was fantastic for both jewellery and cooking. My pieces turned out beautifully and I learned a number of different techniques. The cooking classes were inspirational. Caroline and Adam were wonderful hosts. I would thoroughly recommend.
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Fabulous wine and cheese. Days exploring the French local cuisines. Nights full of Apero's and laughs. Adam and Caroline are such amazing hosts and create an environment full of laughs. Adam makes cooking amazing food look so easy even for some beginners. The trips to the local areas were great being able to wander beautiful country towns full of cobblestones and history. And the cheese, the cheese made by the local producers are to die for. There really is no substitute for tasting local cuisine made simply.
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"Excellent"
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From the moment we arrived we found 2 new friends - incredible hosts - quite laid back. Adam is an incredible chef and along with Caroline fantastic hosts. Nothing was too much trouble and on one occasion we went to a night market, and although we were already fed, I said I must have some snails that I had seen in the market and Adam instantly appeared with a bowl to try!! They took us to so many places we would have never seen without them and what a luxury to be driven somewhere different
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Simply the best!
Bestfrenchholidays.com – It does what it says on the tin! I would highly recommend Baron Figuès. Caroline and Adam are fantastic hosts. They made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived, and we immediately felt like we were visiting old friends. Adam is an amazing chef and we were wined and dined like kings! Allergies, likes and dislikes are all well taken care of. Caroline is a great teacher – informative, encouraging and inspiring, not only for the projects in hand, but also for carrying on at home. I have had so many admiring comments on the pieces I made, and Caroline has definitely spurred on my creativity.
Our room was very comfortable - simply furnished, but had everything we needed, including complimentary toiletries in the bathroom and extra towels for pool use.
We met up at Baron Figuès with friends from the UK, who flew in to Toulouse. I am glad we turned our holiday into a road trip, as we were then able to stock up on the wonderful wine and food from the region, to which Caroline and Adam gave us a great insider tips – our car departed much heavier than it arrived! However, our car had a holiday too, as Adam and Caroline drove us everywhere.
Partners not involved in courses can also have a wonderful break at Baron Figuès, with bikes, pool, pool table, table tennis etc on site, as well as joining in on any excursions. We definitely want to return!
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The experience exceeded my expectations. I learned a great deal in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I would thoroughly recommend it.
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A great holiday. Tuition was fantastic for both jewellery and cooking. My pieces turned out beautifully and I learned a number of different techniques. The cooking classes were inspirational. Caroline and Adam were wonderful hosts. I would thoroughly recommend.
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Caroline is an experienced teacher with a fun, enthusiastic and adaptable approach. Great hospitality and fantastic food!
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Had a fantastic painting holiday! Learnt lots of new techniques from the very talented Rebecca, and was inspired by the beautiful location. Caroline and Adam were fantastic hosts. The accommodation, food, and excursions to local markets were all excellent, and made for a very relaxing holiday.
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It was a fantastic week in the south of France making jewellery. Caroline was funny, relaxed, full of energy and knowledge. The food cooked by her husband, Adam was just exquisite! The accomodation was fabulous as was the day outings visiting markets etc! Thank you so much and hope to return!
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I had an amazing 4 day break in the south of France learning to make jewellery with Caroline, my tutor. I was made to feel so welcome from the 1st email communication with Caroline all the way to her dropping me back at Agen station. I made 3 beautiful pieces and now feel that I have caught the jewellery making bug!! Carolina's husband Adam made some amazing dishes, it was like eating in a 5 star restaurant every day bit without any of the pretentiousness. The accondation was lovely and I especially liked the outdoor pool, perfect to cool off in the hot weather. I'm already thinking about booking my next holiday with Caroline.
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"Baron-Figus is a little slice of heaven in the French countryside and provides the ideal setting to immerse yourself in a local experience. Adam provided a wonderful opportunity to cook with interesting local ingredients and come away with some tasty recipes and clever tips. I found the entire experience relaxing and a lot of fun. Carolyn and Adam are fabulous hosts who leave you feeling like an old friend catching up over great food and wine."
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Loved the location, very peaceful, wonderful tutors. Felt like I had know Caroline and Adam my whole life as they made me feel so welcome. It was like being at a fiends house. Learnt a lot of interesting things not only about the jewellery making and cooking, but Caroline and Adam where fantastic tour guides. ,
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I loved everything about our holiday! Our gorgeous hosts Caroline and Adam who cared for and spoiled us! Learning new skills in jewellery making from master craftswoman Caroline. Having wonderful meals outside under the awning with the family. Swimming in their lovely pool. Learning some super dishes from chef Adam and enjoying his cuisine every evening. Trips around the district to historic towns and lovely meals out. Visits to local vineyards and Distilleries!
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The holiday was really wonderful. Caroline and Adam are amazingly nice people who really care about their guests. Caroline and Adam are experts in their field and impart their knowledge with patience, humor and flexibility. The accomdations are up to date and very comfortable. The side trips were interesting, beautiful and informative. The welcoming, down to earth ambiance is more than relaxing it's restorative. As a single traveler I was never made to feel uncomfortable or out of place.Without reservation I recommend this Holiday.
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From the moment I was picked up to the moment I left I had a fantastic time. Caroline absolutly gave 100% of herself, tutoring and making me feel welcome and confident. Her whole family, as a matter fact. Her husband cooked delightfully. We also travelled around. Wonderful experience!!!
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This was an exceptionally amazing experience for me. Caroline was very meticulous in the way she delivered the training and introduction to Polymer Clay Jewelry and cuff making....but it wasn't just the Studio Sessions...It was also the great healthy but very yummy food prepared by Adam....the farmhouse which was simply breathtaking and serene.... and the excursions to Nerac, the Frechou night market, the visit to galleriekoustak.......Its all an inclusive must have experience. Highly recommended.
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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.
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A wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to anybody who wishes to learn a lot, but also to have fun and meet amazing people!
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Everything about this holiday was wonderful the beautiful Gascony region of France, the hospitality of Caroline and her family, the local village markets, delicious foods and some great red wine... and I was surprised, I can make silver Jewelry - the course was perfect for a beginner like me!
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I had a fantastic time and learnt new skills. The setting, hosts, and food were all first class. Caroline and Adam are great hosts and make you feel most welcome. I would highly recommend this course to everyone.
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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!
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Had I taken the time to define what would be the perfect trip for me, I could not have imagined the trip to be as perfect as it actually was. Caroline, Adam and their delightful children were the ultimate hosts. I am definitely planning to return to experience another vacation of a lifetime!
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My sister and I spent a week at Baron Figues on the jewellery and cooking course - a girls holiday away from stress was the plan! Everybody involved made this a trip that will never be forgotten and forever treasured! The 'teaching' was informal and friendly and Caroline and Adam simply couldn't do enough to make sure we had an amazing time. The surroundings, the pool and activities were an added bonus although we were busy wine-tasting, eating local delicacies, completing jewellery projects and visiting Bordeaux! The food was phenomenal and we have come home armed with simple ways to impress our friends together with beautiful jewellery I am amazed we were able to create! I really felt that everybody made a huge effort to ensure we enjoyed our stay - we loved every minute of it and I would wholeheartedly recommend it - a great way to immerse yourself in rural France!
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Excellent hospitality, location, and tuition. A first class holiday!
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Absolutely brilliant course, and highly recommended! Caroline is the best teacher, and I learned so much about different aspects of metal clay work. I made some lovely pieces to show off to my friends! Coupled with the amazing food and great accommodation, this was THE best course!
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I had a wonderful learning experience in both jewellery making and cooking the French relaxed way. My hosts were gracious, warm and very helpful, their family was wonderful. I hope to return again.
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Friendly family. Tailored program willingly to suit our needs. Quality food. Quality workshops. Quality touring.