Life in a Beaujolais chateau
Keira Richardson is helping young people see the world, from a Beaujolais chateau.
What inspired your move, and how long have you been there? I currently live in a quaint little region in Eastern France called the Beaujolais. I work for Contiki and have lived and worked at their on-site chateau since March. My love for travel and people inspired me to take on a new way of life, and the idea that Contiki is different every day, fun and full of energy definitely inspired my move. What do you do there? I cook breakfast and dinner, work behind the bar, run party nights and clean bedrooms and bathrooms at the chateau. Looking after travellers and making sure they’re happy and having a brilliant time is also part of my job. What are the greatest advantages to living there? Living at a 16th century chateau is pretty mind-blowing! I have gained so many new friends, learned so much about France and myself, and couldn’t recommend the experience of jumping out of your comfort zone more. Disadvantages? Living so far away from home can be tough, but Contiki becomes your second family and I’m constantly busy and having too much fun to think about it. The language barrier can be a slight problem, especially with suppliers that come through the site. Easiest way to get around? The closest train station is a 20-minute drive away, and the trains are very easy to book and run frequently. How expensive is it compared to New Zealand? How much is a beer? The Lyon region is a good place to live. Everything is relatively priced and roughly the same price as New Zealand. A beer will cost around 4 euro (NZ$6.30) and the best place in town for a mojito will cost 8 euro. What’s the local delicacy and would you recommend eating it? The local delicacies here in France are escargots (snails) and grenouilles (frog’s legs). I tried snails last year when I was travelling through Monaco and was able to try frog’s legs in a pub in Theize´ called Bruno’s. They taste like a mix between seafood and chicken. What do you do in your spare time? The Beaujolais is a wine region, so is surrounded by hills and vineyards and there are many different walking tracks close by. Lyon, the second-largest city in France, is only a 20-minute train ride away and is the gastronomic capital of Europe, so I often visit. What are the top three things you recommend for visitors? Trying a traditional bottle of red wine from the Beaujolais wine region and drinking it while experiencing the beautiful views. Enjoy a hearty meal from the gastronomical capital of Europe and wash it down with a cold French lager. Lastly, book a High Energy Contiki and experience the Contiki Chateau! What’s the shopping like? The shopping in Lyon is heaven. There is a large shopping mall right outside one of the main train stations that is so easy to get lost in. Best time of year to visit? During training in March, I experienced wind, rain and snow. Since then I’ve experienced the summer heat and beautiful thunderstorms, and I prefer that much more. Besides family and friends, what do you miss most about home? I miss being able to jump in my car and drive to a random city and explore new surroundings, but living in Europe offers so many other travel opportunities.
Since working here, I have spent a long weekend in Paris and also visited the Lauterbrunnen Contiki site in Switzerland. How easy is it for you to get back to NZ? Lyon has an international airport with direct flights to London, which makes it relatively easy to get home. For Kiwis looking to move there, which industries are seeking fresh talent? Contiki is always looking for new, energetic and friendly people; whether it’s for on-site work like I’m doing, or being a trip manager or driver.
The shopping in Lyon is heaven. There is a large shopping mall right outside one of the main train stations that is so easy to get lost in.