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Update: You Can Now Rent Julia Child's French Country Getaway

This Airbnb listing is one for the books.

By Lindsey Desimone
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Getty/Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty

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?

Original Story 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.


Check out the charming French home below:

The Entrance

Plant, Property, House, Residential area, Real estate, Land lot, Home, Shrub, Rural area, Door,
Sotheby's International Realty

The Living Room

Room, Interior design, Green, Living room, Home, Floor, Furniture, Ceiling, Wall, Couch,
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The Kitchen

Lighting, Room, Wood, Interior design, Countertop, Furniture, Ceiling, Table, Interior design, Cupboard,
Sotheby's International Realty

It remains as Julia had it save for a new stove that replaced the La Cornue she gave to her food writer friend Patricia Wells. The counters are high to accommodate Julia's 6-foot-2 frame.

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A Kitchen Wall

Dishware, Purple, Kitchen utensil, Cutlery, Lavender, Violet, Toy, Collection, Natural material, Serveware,
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Paul Child drew outlines for where all the kitchen implements should live, just as he did for their kitchen in Cambridge, MA, which is now housed within the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

A Bedroom

Blue, Bed, Room, Interior design, Lighting, Wood, Floor, Wall, Textile, Bedroom,
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Another Bedroom

Bed, Lighting, Room, Interior design, Wood, Property, Wall, Floor, Textile, Red,
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The house has three.

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An Aerial View

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The Front Terrace

Branch, Fruit tree, Woody plant, Sunlight, Trunk, Twig, Produce, Fruit, Garden, Shade,
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Around the House

Plant, Natural landscape, Sun, Sunlight, Lens flare, Land lot, Groundcover, Morning, Garden, Grassland,
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There are olive trees and lavender.

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The Swimming Pool

Swimming pool, Property, Landscape, Real estate, Fluid, Garden, Shrub, Water feature, Composite material, Backyard,
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The pool was added by the house's present owner, Kathie Alex, who was a friend of Julia's and once ran a culinary school out of the house.

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