You Can Now Rent Julia Child's French Country Getaway
Update 04/05/16: You can now master the art of French cooking in Julia Child's kitchen.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, superfans will be able to book a stay in Child's former three-bedroom cottage in Provence through Airbnb as early as June.
In February, Child fan Makenna Johnston purchased the Provence, France home with the intention of turning the space into a "culinary retreat center." Cooking classes are still scheduled to take place from April through June and September through October, and the space will be available to rent during off seasons.
The property now includes a "yoga space" that "can host up to 10 students," according to Airbnb. It's the perfect way to take a break from all of that cooking, non?
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Update 02/04/16: The spirit of Julia Child lives on, and in her former French home no less.
"La Pitchoune," the cottage Child and her husband built in the '60s has found a new owner, who plans to use the space to honor the great chef's legacy.
According to Boston Magazine, Makenna Johnston - a lifelong Child fan and fellow alum of Smith College - has purchased the home, with the help of several investors, and plans to turn it into a "culinary retreat center."
The space, which will retain the "La Pitchoune" name, will "be a home base for a center on culinary exploration, peace, and community," Johnston told the magazine.
Johnston, who works as a business strategist and life coach, was inspired by Child's own approach to community while planning the retreat.
"I started thinking about how Julia Child was a total peacenik. She worked for the government, and the best word from back then is she was very democratic. She was very involved in improving communities through food," she explained.
Non-cooking retreats are set to kick off in May, while the cooking sessions will most likely begin in 2017.
Previously 11/13/15: No chef out there may be as beloved as Julia Child. After discovering a passion for France and food at the age of 32, her debut book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," published in 1961, launched her into nearly instantaneous fame. Her cooking show on PBS brought her cuisine – and her spunk! – into homes around the world. Now, it's your turn to go inside her home.
The Provence, France retreat she built in 1963 – on the grounds of her dear friend and writing partner, Simone Beck – has hit the open market for the first time in its history.
Child and her husband, Paul, used the stucco cottage for annual getaways, and even hosted other culinary legends such as James Beard and M.F.K. Fisher at the four-bedroom, four-bathroom property, according to Sotheby's International Realty.
Dubbed "La Pitchoune" – which translates to "The Little Thing" – and affectionately referred to as "La Peetch" by Child, the 1,500-square-foot country estate features delightfully rustic interiors, an inviting swimming pool, and spectacular views.
Though Child stopped visiting the home shortly after her husband's death in the early '90s, her prodigy, Kathie Alex, began renting out the cottage from Beck's family and used it to start her own cooking school.
And of course, for a chef, the real joy of owning Child's home is the kitchen. "She was a very organized person," Alex told The New York Times. "Everything is where your hand is. Everything is so easy to get to." Alex assures that while the rest of the house has been updated, the kitchen is just at Child left it.
In the late '90s, Alex purchased the estate for approximately $400,000, but with her cooking school now closed, she is ready to part with the piece of culinary history. And she's looking to turn a hefty profit, with the home listed for more than double what she paid at roughly $880,000, the NYT reports. Still a bargain for France and Child fans alike.
Tour more of Child's country home below.
