Stir romance with a French cooking class at Villa du Châtelet

Once the home of opera composer Léo Delibes, now a luxury maison d’hôtes B&B, Villa du Chatelet between the Compiègne forest and the Laigue forest in Northern France is the ultimate romantic hideaway for twosomes in need of some quality time together. Blissfully far removed from the pressures and pace of daily life, soak up the serenely romantic ambiance of chandeliers, fine porcelain, period furniture and forest views from the balcony, and make the most of the rare opportunity to enjoy a stroll in the vast grounds, maybe a massage or of course, that haute-cuisine cookery lesson with owner Alix.

Cuisine virtuoso Alix has not only been organising French cookery courses for many years, but is master of her kitchen, so think twice before you go anywhere else for dinner! Either sit back and relax or if you’re keen to learn the art of French food, roll up your sleeves and enjoy the opportunity to have a relaxed cooking lesson, all with a glass of good French wine in hand of course. When it’s time for dinner ─ maybe a fillet of duck breast with an apricot, fig and apple chutney, maybe scallops, chocolate tart or crème bruleé ─ it tastes all the better for having made it yourselves. Délicieux!

During your romantic weekend break at Villa du Châtelet, be sure to venture out into the Northern France countryside for picture-postcard landscapes of lakes, chapels and châteaux. And do you know (shhh!) the best to get there? Alix will give you keys to enter the forest via a gate, and just like a secret door, it’s like stepping into a private world just for two. The romantic ‘Chapelle des Trois Chenes’ (Chapel of the Three Oaks) is only a few minutes’ walk away on foot as is the famous forest clearing where the WW1 armistice was signed. Further afield, get snap happy in the pretty village of Saint-Jean-aux-Bois, stroll the iconic Allée des Beaux Monts walkway with its magnificent views towards Château de Compiègnes or visit the magical Château de Pierrefonds, all within easy reach.