Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

 

After spending a beautiful week in Belgium and Netherlands, it was time to head to France, where we had lived unbelievable experiences on the Loire Valley. Each city that we visit has its own beauty and you can’t really compare one experience to another because each of it represents a mix of emotions, feelings, moments and beauty around. But I am telling you that for me being on the Loire Valley was unique because we got to sleep in two castles and I could have a small preview of the life of the nobility.

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Mont Saint Michel

Le Mont Saint Michel

Let’s take it step by step. First of all, before reaching Tours, we stopped at Le Mont Saint Michel which is an island located at almost 1 km from the coast. You can reach it by foot and you have to walk a bridge that connects it to the land. The view is spectacular and once you get inside it you will be amazed.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Domaine de la Tortiniere
Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Domaine de la Tortiniere

Loire Valley

We were supposed to stay at Saint Mont Michel maximum 2 hours, but we spent there almost 4 hours so you can imagine how much we enjoyed it, but because of that, we arrived on the Loire Valley quite late in the evening so we couldn’t visit that much. We went straight to Le Domaine de la Tortiniere, which is a petite chateau in the heart of the Loire Valley, surrounded by nature, beauty and some of the most outstanding chateaux. Le Domaine de la Tortinniere offers you more than a staying and a comfortable room, it delivers you experience, tales. Anne and Xavier are the souls of the place and you could feel their emotions and good energy in each detail.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Chateau Chenonceau

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Chateau de Cheverny and Le Chateau Chambord

We spent an amazing day on the Loire Valley, we visited Le Chateau de Chambord, Le Chateau de Cheverny and le Chateau Chenonceau which are known to be one of the most beautiful castles in the region. There is no need of words to describe their beauty and how well maintained they are.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Le Chateau de Pray

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

On our second night on Loire Valley we stayed at Le Chateau de Pray and I can assure you that this is going to be an unforgettable experience because this place was so full of history, memories and good vibes. The castle dates from the 13th century and its interior furniture and accessories are from the 16th century. They were all kept in such a good condition, that the moment you step inside you are in another dimension. You are thrown back in the past in a second and you feel like home. All the rooms are very comfortable and offer you all the modern amenities you might need. Ah, my room was a small one and it was at the last floor of one of the castle’s two towers. It was magic and thank you Jerome for this. The chateau has an exquisite restaurant, swimming pool, amazing views over the valley and an aristocratic lounge where you can enjoy a good glass of wine by the chimney, as we did.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Maison Constance Fournier

The next day we went to visit around a bit more and before heading to Bordeaux, we stopped by Constance Fournier’s maison. She is one of the most famous designers for weeding gowns in France and no wonder why. She does only 50 wedding gowns in a year, so you have to be a very lucky bride to have her creating for you. She never designs to pieces alike, each gown is unique and inspired by the bride’s beauty, personality and wishes. She offers a unique experience, the hole dresses are handmade and Constance droves her energy and creativity from the craft and the french artisanal savoire.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Bordeaux

Bordeaux

In Bordeaux we spent two very intense days. It was raining almost every day but this wasn’t a problem because no rain can stop us from enjoying our time in a new city.

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Hotel Konti

We had our accommodation at the 4 stars Hotel Konti, which is located in the heart of the city. You could walk around to the best places of the city. The hotel is very cosy and has an interesting design, which pays attention to all the details, even to the smallest ones. The view from the room was unforgettable and everything is so comfortable. If you visit Bordeaux, you should consider staying here.

 

Le Bordeaux Ramsay Gordon

On our second night spent here, we had dinner at the Bordeaux Ramsay Gordon Brasserie, which welcomes you in such a nice and cosy place decorated in the Belle-Epoque style. The menu is a mix between the French cuisine and the British touch and is signed by the well-known Chef Gordon Ramsay. He is one of the most famous chefs in England and he was awarded 16 Michelin stars in total for his restaurants, in the present he owns 7 stars for 4 restaurants. We had the best oysters in town, fresh and flavoured pasta, incredible tasty dessert and amazing pairing wine. So if you are looking to experiment fine dining in Bordeaux, here is the place where you have to book a table.

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

Our experience at the restaurant wouldn’t have been that great if we wouldn’t have e-meet Jules, who is Marketing Assistant for the Intercontinental Group. And this is what we love about the Fashion Around Europe, Literally tour, that we get to know wonderful people, we connect with them, and even though hundreds miles apart us, we still have each other close to the heart desiring to meet again soon.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Aatise

Aatise

On our last day in Bordeaux, before heading to Spain, we went to Darwin Camp which is the place that reunites hundreds of start up business, all Eco friendly. There we found out the story of the brand Aatise, which is focused on creating timeless pieces by using sustainable fabrics. It was touching to see how the small brands are trying hard to adapt to the production costs, because even though you want to offer a sustainable process from the start to the end, it’s almost impossible when you are at the beginning of the road. Our talk with Heide and Julia left us smiling and full of energy.

 

La Dune du Pilat

Before leaving France, but only for a while, because we will be back soon, in about two weeks, we went to see La Dune Du Pilat. This place is just amazing and it’s unique because is a dune on the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. When you are there, all you would like to do is to forget yourself there for at least one day.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Bilbao

 

Bilbao

The first city that we visited in Spain, was Bilbao. We spent there 3 nights but every day we moved around to see other cities. The city is so special because it’s an architectural puzzle, completed by joyful people, good energy and life in each corner. By the way, if you are saying all the time to yourself that from next week you’ll go to the gym, but you never succeed, people in Bilbao are always running. Nothing special, until now, I know. But they are running by the river all day long, no matter the weather. Even when it was pouring rain and they where still going for a run. That is just crazy and it seems like we have no excuse.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Casona del Judio

Casona del Judio

One day, we went to have lunch at the Casona del Judio restaurant. We where supposed to spend there maxim 2 hours, we stayed more than 4, but this just because the atmosphere, the food and the chef were just incredible. Sergio Bastard owns the place and he is also the chef. He created the concept of the restaurant as a whole experience. It’s not just about food or pairing wines. It’s about living a multi-sensorial experience. The courses are so tasteful, the combinations of ingredients are amazing you, the plating lefts you blown away and Sergio’s personality conquers you right away because he is not hiding in the kitchen, he is there with his costumers, talking with them and explaining them everything about each corse. Casona del Judio was offered the Bib Gourmet Michelin distinction and you definitely have to pay it a visit. You’ll thank us for the recommendation. You will find the restaurant in Santander.

 

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4
Biaaf Bilbao

Biaaf Bilbao

Bilbao and its aria is very well known for being creative and very inspirational in Spain as the Guggenheim Museum is right there. It attracts all the arts, the modernism and the inspirational people around it. This is how the Biaaf Bilbao  platform was born. Biaaf Bilbao was created to discover and help the local talents in fashion. Soon, it got so popular that now hundreds of designers from more then 90 countries are submitting for the competition each two years. The 30 finalists get guidance, internships for big name brands, scholarships and  lots of other opportunities to get recognised in the industry. We left the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, because there we met the founders of the platform, so inspired and happy to know that someone is preoccupied for the future of fashion. If you ever doubted it, there is future for fashion, but one where is also about stories, emotions and people, not just money and seasons.

Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 4

In case you missed the last articles about this amazing tour. Click here… and see you soon with stories from Portugal because we are heading there.