How about stepping back in time to 1884? That is when Villa Rabelais began its story. Today it is known as Villa Rabelais. But it was originally built as Manoir Béranger.
Georges Goüin commissioned the building. He was a banker from a rich family. Stephen Sauvestre was the architect. Villa Rabelais is located on Boulevard Béranger in Tours. It sits on the former ramparts of the city. Specifically, it occupies part of the old bastion Saint-Joseph.
Georges Goüin bought the land in several stages. In 1883, he acquired a plot of 15 ares and 52 centiares. Later, he added another 29 ares and 94 centiares. In 1895, Goüin expanded the land with 850 m2. This final piece became a kitchen garden.
The mansion was large. A notary inventoried the property after Goüin’s death. The basement included a large kitchen. There was also a pantry and cellars. The ground floor featured a vestibule. A grand hall and an office were also on this floor. A large dining room overlooked the park. A billiard room and dance hall completed the space.
The first floor had bedrooms with bathrooms. The second floor contained master bedrooms. There were also linen rooms and servants’ quarters. A concierge lived near the boulevard. A large park extended to Rue Victor Hugo. At the end of the park stood service buildings. These included stables for six horses. There were also sheds and staff accommodation.
Georges Goüin hosted grand parties. These events were for the high society of Tours. Two notable evenings took place in 1888 and 1900. The 1900 party hosted nearly 250 guests. The Journal d’Indre-et-Loire mentioned the event. These parties marked the beginning of the social season in Tours. Many guests held titles of nobility.
Goüin had no children. After his death in 1925, the building passed to nuns. They opened a school there. Later, the city of Tours bought the building in 1949. It housed the École de Droit. Later, it became home to the Presses Universitaires François-Rabelais.
Today, Villa Rabelais houses the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie. The building has been listed on the general inventory of cultural heritage since 1991.
Villa Rabelais is dedicated to French gastronomy. It celebrates the art of good eating and drinking. The Villa Rabelais aims to promote the culinary arts. It also emphasizes sustainability. It highlights local and global gastronomic heritage. The European Parliament considers gastronomy a key cultural expression.
The Villa Rabelais project aligns with UNESCO’s recognition of the French gastronomic meal. This recognition occurred in 2010. The Villa Rabelais seeks to educate the public. It focuses on the history and values of dining. It showcases culinary experiments from around the world.
The Institut Européen d’Histoire et des Cultures de l’Alimentation is based here. The IEHCA promotes research into food culture. It also advocates for the recognition of cuisine as a cultural element. It hosts scientific meetings and publishes research. Its library holds over 10000 books and documents. The Villa Rabelais also features a “Bibliothèque Gourmande”. This offers a selection of recent culinary books and magazines.
The Université Ouverte des Sciences Gastronomiques offers practical workshops. Experts guide participants through culinary experiences. These cover wine, spices, tea and more. Villa Rabelais also hosts chef residencies. These expose students to creative culinary processes.