Disclaimers and F.A.Q

While you come to Preniac for tutorials, we want the hospitality to be a memorable part of your vacation. As such, we prepare home-cooked meals to cater to different dietary requirements. We use local produce from nearby farms when possible. More importantly, we introduced collaborative menus. Instead of planning meals for the whole week in advance, we plan for only one or two days so we can adjust the menus based on guests' input. We have found that each group is different and that appetites vary from day to day, even for the same group. The weather also plays a critical part in menu selections. We will propose lunch and dinner options in advance and go with the group's majority view for the next day.

Breakfast consists of a continental buffet with yogurt, honey, cereals, toasts, jams, fruits, freshly baked croissants, hard-boiled eggs, orange juice, coffee, and tea. We have tasty gluten-free bread and cereal options available at all times.

Lunch is also served buffet-style, either outside or inside, depending on the weather. A typical lunch includes a hot meal with protein, salads, vegetables, baguettes, cheese, and refreshing light desserts, using local fruits when available. 

Happy hour, or apéritif, starts an hour before dinner and includes cocktails, beer, and wine. We also serve nibbles from local artisans whenever possible. Occasionally, a cheese and charcuterie board is served before dinner.

Dinner is also tailored to the group's desire. Some groups enjoy a 3-course meal, while others collectively decide to skip the appetizer and let us know during the afternoon. We adapt to your needs on the go. We have a variety of appetizers, salads, mains, side dishes, and desserts to rotate throughout the week without repetition, unless, of course, you request it. Desserts tend to be more traditional and a bit richer at dinner time than at lunch, on purpose.

We offer vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, and more, with advance notice. Please be sure to indicate your dietary requirements on your booking form. We will confirm the information you provided the week before to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

We take food allergy seriously and take precautionary measures to avoid mistakes. By law, we completed a food safety and hygiene certification. We follow precautionary measures, and we even place individualized signs in the kitchen by the plating area to remind ourselves of your allergies. We ask, however, that you help keep yourself safe by asking us if your dish is allergy-compliant when we bring it to you. We can never be too cautious with severe food allergies. If that is the case and you have life-threatening allergies, don't forget to bring your EpiPen, since we do not carry any.

Unfortunately, we are not wheelchair accessible. The dwellings consist of 200-year-old farm buildings that have been converted into living spaces over the years. There are quirks everywhere with steps and uneven grounds all around. That said, we have handrails, including in the pool, to help you walk around. Note that every room requires going up or down some steps, either outside or inside. If you have limited mobility and are unsure about getting around between the studio, your bedroom, and the dining area, please email us so we can answer your questions or schedule a call to discuss your needs in more detail. 

There is a medical clinic in Montcuq, about 5 minutes away, with a few doctors who can see people the same day or the next day for urgent care during regular business hours. There is also a 24-hour emergency room in Cahors, about 20 to 30 minutes away. While we will do our best to take you, we may at times need to hire a driver. Please understand if logistics or meal service for other guests prevent us from driving you to a doctor. You should bring enough medication to last for the duration of the workshop, and, if necessary, a printed copy of any prescriptions you might need to fill at the pharmacy while you are here. The pharmacist may still insist on a prescription from a French doctor; in which case, the clinic in Montcuq can assist you.

Guests can make use of the following amenities during their stay with us at Studio Préniac:

1. Heated swimming pool
   We have a 12x6 m chlorine-heated swimming pool with a handrail for easy access and enchanting views across the valley from the sun terraces.
   
   
2. Orchard
   We are lucky enough to have a plethora of fruit trees on our land. Please feel free to help yourselves to any ripe fruit during your stay!
   
   
3. Water Pond
   Across the road, but still on the property, is a beautiful pond surrounded by trees and filled with frogs that chant. Take a stroll in the evening and sit on the bench while you are being serenaded by a wild symphony. 
   
   
4. Common lounge
   We have remodeled the living room area of the main building into a guest lounge with increased seating capacity, laid out for conversation, with no television in sight.
   
   
5. Guest library
   Don't run out of reading materials. Grab one of our extra books from the shelves in the lounge. Leave a book behind or swap a book if you wish to contribute to the library. 
   
   
6. Gazebo
   We have a covered seating area in the shade with new outdoor furniture. If you need cushions and pillows before we place them out for happy hour, please let us know, or help yourself. The cushions and pillows are located in the storage box on the front porch to the right of the kitchen.

There is no air conditioning on the property or in the minivan used for airport transfers. Clients enjoy battery-powered personal fans worn around the neck, especially while riding the minivan, but also while working in the studio, or at the dinner table on hot days. These portable fans are readily available online, inexpensive, and very effective. 

Inside the house, the one-meter-thick walls made of field stone keep the temperature relatively cool. The studio building is even cooler due to the shade from the trees. Each room is equipped with a portable fan, and the wall windows have shutters to block the sun during the day. You are welcome to use our refreshing pool at any time. Be aware that heatwaves occur each year and can cause temperatures to rise above 40 Celsius. Unfortunately, we cannot control or guarantee the weather. We will, however, email everyone the week before their workshop to share the latest weather forecast so you can plan accordingly. Finally, please know that we are actively exploring air-conditioning options, but it is too early to provide a specific timeline. We will update the website once we have a firm date.

We have very high-speed fibre optic WiFi service in the main building, and we are working to bring the same service to the studio building and the gites. In the meantime, you are welcome to use the guest lounge, which is open 24 hours a day, to connect to WiFi. Please note that guests have different cell phone coverage experiences depending on their service provider, phone model, and even the weather.

The studio does not have television service. Streaming is available through WiFi on your phone, tablet, or computer. If you plan to watch anything with sound in the lounge, please remember to bring headphones in case other guests are enjoying the lounge or trying to sleep in nearby rooms.

We do not have domestic animals to prevent adverse reactions for guests with pet allergies. We are, however, surrounded by wildlife. We get occasional visits from undesired visitors. That is why we have an ongoing service with a local provider, who can be called at any time to respond to emergencies. They also provide regular preventive maintenance.