The venue
A historic home for culinary memories and your home in the Loire Valley
Welcome to La Grange
Located in the tranquil countryside near the Loire Valley’s most beautiful castles, this place was built to welcome, to nourish, and to bring people together.
Not a tourist setup, not a cooking-themed attraction, but a working cookery school set in a beautifully renovated prévôté, a historic building once central to village life, now lovingly transformed into a warm and inspiring culinary retreat.
And when the class ends?
You don’t have to go.
We offer six beautifully designed guest rooms, each with its own personality and elegant countryside charm. Whether you stay for a night, a weekend, or longer, enjoy garden breakfasts, sunset wine, and the peaceful ambience accompanied by the aroma of slow-cooked meals as the Loire Valley works its magic on you.
Come and enjoy a culinary experience with a French flavour from A to Z at one of our cooking class.
Questions or need additional information ? Contact us by completing the form below or
by telephone: +332 54 43 57 21 , by email : hello@cookingbytheloire.com
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The village: Vallières-les-Grandes, at the heart of the Loire Valley
Nestled between the Loire and the Cher rivers, Vallières-les-Grandes is the kind of village that seems to have stepped out of a painting. With its winding lanes, slate roofs, and gently rolling countryside, it embodies the quiet elegance of the Loire Valley. Today, it’s perfectly placed for exploring some of the region’s most iconic châteaux: Amboise, Chenonceau, and Chaumont-sur-Loire are just a short drive away. Yet it remains blissfully serene, a hidden pocket of authenticity where time slows down. It’s here, in this rich and storied landscape, that La Grange invites you to cook, rest, and reconnect with food, with nature, and maybe even with yourself.
From Garden to Table.
A touch of history: la Prévôté
Located on the Place de l’Église in the heart of the village, La Prévôté has quietly observed the centuries roll by. Originally the home of the provost, this 17th-century building has worn many hats since: it’s been a primary school filled with chalk dust and giggles, a utilitarian agricultural garage, and now reborn with elegance, a vibrant home for French gastronomy. Though its roles have shifted, the spirit of the place remains strong. Lovingly restored with care and creativity, the thick stone walls and ancient oak beams now provide a timeless setting for culinary discovery. Whether you’re kneading dough under a vaulted ceiling or sipping wine in the garden, you are part of a story that spans generations. We haven’t just preserved a building, we’ve rekindled a spirit of shared knowledge, warm hospitality, and life’s most delicious pleasures.
From earth to table: the potager
Step outside and you’ll find our 450m² kitchen garden, a lively patchwork of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and aromatic herbs. We like to think of it as our outdoor pantry and also as a playground for curious cooks and kids alike. Grown as naturally as possible, everything here follows the rhythm of the seasons: tomatoes ripen under the Loire sun, courgettes sprawl rebelliously across beds, while thyme and rosemary scent the breeze. You might gather fresh mint for your tabbouleh or pull beets straight from the earth before they land on your tart. It’s not just a garden. It’s a philosophy one that says great food starts with great soil.
The atelier de cuisine: like home, but better
Our cooking studio is a luminous, welcoming space where everything feels familiar… yet quietly elevated. You won’t find intimidating restaurant-grade machinery here. Instead, we’ve equipped the kitchen with tools and gadgets you’d recognize from your own cupboards, just perhaps in better condition and beautifully arranged. Designed to demystify rather than dazzle, our atelier de cuisine invites you to roll up your sleeves, trust your senses, and rediscover the joy of home-style cooking, but in very good company. Whether you’re whisking a sabayon or shaping gnocchi, it’s all within reach.
Taste the Craft.
The gîte: six daughters, fifteen guests, endless charm
Tucked within the old walls lies our gîte: a generous and charming retreat where every corner feels considered, personal and just a little bit magical. With six beautifully refurbished bedrooms, each named after one of the owners’ daughters, the house tells a quiet family story. No two rooms are alike: some are cocooned under wooden beams, others open onto garden views, or a terrace drenched in morning light. Thoughtfully designed to welcome up to 15 guests in comfort, the gîte blends softness and authenticity vintage finds, natural fabrics, well-placed books, and that unmistakable feeling of being truly at home. It’s the perfect setting for big family gatherings, creative retreats, or long dinners that stretch lazily into the night.
Start cooking with us
Coming our way?
They’ve had a taste of it
And to go further
Now that you’ve seen our space from the sunlit kitchen to the lush garden and the charming guest rooms why not discover what happens here day to day?
Cooking classes
Our cooking class page is full of inspiration, from sauces to sourdough.
The hosts
Don’t forget to visit the hosts section to meet Julie and Guillaume, the passionate duo behind every dish and every lesson.
