Corporate Hospitality

Yesterday evening Richard and I were invited to some corporate hospitality... or should I call it Tourism Hospitality?

Now, I've been to a fair few corporate events in my life and Richard started off by saying he could do without it... but I have to say I have never been to one like this.

First off, Chateau Biron, on the borders of Lot-et Garonne and Dordogne, is stunning.  You can see it for miles around and when you get up to the chateau itself the countryside unfolds almost below your feet.

The owners of Chateau Biron put on an event for us gite owners to mark the official start of the season and, of course, to encourage us to promote the chateau as an excellent please to visit (which we would have done anyway, if I'm entirely honest).

Anyway, the event started with a fairly low key presentation from a man in a jacket when, suddenly, an old crone (yes, crone) appeared at an upper window and started to encourage us to chant 'Sabastien, Sabastien...' at which prompting a man appeared in an upper doorway, lowered himself down to the courtyard on a rope, fell over and then started a most interesting and fun tour - all of which appears in the guided tours for visitors.

Apart from the supplied food and wine that is!

We started off in the kitchens where were invited to pick a costume from 'past times' - see the attached photograph.  I think Richard looks particularly Adam and the Ants-esque in his long satin coat.  We were taught a medieval dance and were given (as a reward, I think) a buffet!

The tour continued into the posh dining room.  Interesting fact: 'posh' people are characterised as eating and drinking with their little fingers sticking out.  This comes from the times when people ate with their fingers; ripping up meat, tearing of hunks of bread and so on.  But 'posh' people could afford the fabulously expensive spices so they kept their pinkies clean in order to dip them delicately into a dish of spice and both get the flavour and not contaminate the dish.

Who knew?

There is an exhibition space which is being prepared for an exhibition of Italian artists, a games room, lots of history and lots of architecture.

And out of every window there are stupendous views across the countryside.

We were there from 6.30pm to 9.00pm and the watched the sun set over south west France.  Head over to our FaceBook page to see more of last night's events:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088240212249

All in all, a really interesting evening in a fabulous location.

And I have to say, not being a really committed castle goer, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend a visit and a tour.

If you're coming to stay with us, ask me about it because I have the literature - it's true - we even got a goodie bag to take away with us which had details included!