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Riding holidays “Passe-Temps” |
Every week the whole year through there are
lessons. And besides that; you can make adventurous ride outs on a horseback
through woody surroundings with its green valleys and peaceful country sides,
encountering deer, wild boar, foxes, wonderful birdlife, wild flowers…
The rides can start with half a day, a day
and can take several days up to a week.
We are showing you four possibilities of
riding holidays ; 8 days with 7 nights in personalized rooms decorated with
charm and character. You will be riding 6 days; 3-7 hours a day.
The rides are for competent riders who are
happy at all paces.
There will be a good variety of walk, trot and canter and
the group sizes are kept small. Minimum age of the riders: 11 years old. We use
fine English saddles.
Check out our calendar to see on which data
the rides are planned for season 2010.
Non riders are welcome too. You can explore the famous sights, visit the lively local markets or just relax
by the pool and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of rural France.
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Four day trek :
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After an introductory ride through some of
the lovely surrounding countryside and a check that you are suitably matched to
your horse for the week, you will then set out on the four day trail ride. Discovering
the Lot and passing on ancient Roman roads, mule paths and parts of the road to
Santiago de Compostela. All tracks lead you to the once revered Christian site
of Rocamadour, a place of pilgrimage, which has clung to the limestone cliffs
of the Alzou Canyon for over nine hundred years.
You will be covering
approximately 25 to 30 kms per day at a variety of paces, enjoying delicious
picnics at lunch time. Your first night stop is at Le Vigan in a
converted watermill, where you might like to enjoy a soak in the outdoor pool
after the day’s exertions.
From there you head to Rocamadour arriving a La Gardelle in time to put your horse in its field and drive down to see Rocamadour in all its
glory before supper. For the last night of the trail you make your way to
Frayssinet for your stay in a converted convent.
This beautiful oasis of calm
is an ideal resting place and you will certainly be reluctant to leave after a
famously long, relaxing delicious evening meal. However, leave you must, for
your last two nights will be spent back at Dégagnac.
The final day’s ride is a
‘wind down’ ride, taking you in a completely different direction from where you
have come, ensuring that in only a week you will have seen as much as possible
of what ‘Le Lot’ has to offer. |
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Castle Ride in Perigord Noir /
Dordogne, land of History……
This ride is like a walk through time in the most famous
prehistoric region in France; the Perigord Noir. It will
take us to historic bastides, ancient chateaux,
prehistoric caves, countryside of rolling hills, oak
forests, limestone plateaus and cliff-lined valleys that
border the rivers Vézère, Dordogne and their tributaries
are excavated caves and rock shelters occupied by
mankind for more than 400.000 years.
Here you will find all these gourmet ingredients
synonymous with French cuisine: truffles, foies gras,
wild mushrooms, fine wines and cheeses.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Rendez vous at the “ferme equestre” where Hans and
Hermina welcome you and present the itinerary for the
week, drinking a home made cocktail. In the evening
Périgourdine dinner served by Hermina and accommodation
in comfortable rooms at the farm.
Day 2: Dégagnac – Domme
Today we will start our ride through pretty countryside
heading for Domme with its spectacular Royal ‘Bastide’
mansion founded on a sheer rocky outcrop and viewing
over the Dordogne valley. We will enjoy our diner in
this fortified village, held to be one of the most
beautiful places in France with its medieval and
Renaissance houses, before crossing the river on our way
to Château Beynac. Once occupied by Richard the Lion
Heart. This evening we will spend our night in a
charming hotel (**). (approx. 5 hours in the
saddle)
Day 3: Domme – Sireuil
The next day we will leave the Dordogne river and
heading for Château de Commargue. We will spend the
night in a village near “Les Eyzies de Tayac” referred
as the ‘prehistoric centre of Europe’ because of the
remarkable number of prehistoric sites in the immediate
area.
(approx. 7 hours in the saddle)
Day 4: Sireuil – Château La Vitrolle
Our route passes Les Eyzies and follows the Vézère
river. Along the banks we will have a gorgeous picknick.
Turning our back on the Vézère we cross the village Le
Bugue and finish at Château La Vitrolle (****) where we
spend the night. (approx. 6 hours in the saddle)
Day 5: Château La Vitrolle – Belvès
Heading south and rejoining the Dordogne river. We will
enjoy magnificent pathways through the “National Forest
of Bessède” and pass archaeological sites; such as a
megalithic grave and Caesar’s camp, where famous battles
between Roman and Gallic took place. Our stay for the
night will be in a very comfortable hotel(**) in Belvès, a beautiful medieval village
perched upon a rock cliff. (approx. 5 hours in the
saddle)
Day 6: Belvès – Vézac
Today’s ride will take us alongside Château Berbiguières
and Château Les Milandes, former residence of Josephine
Baker and her ‘Rainbow Tribe’ and will finish in
Vézac.
(approx. 7 hours in the saddle)
Day 7: Vézac – Dégagnac
From Vézac our ride takes us through the valleys
of the Céou river, a rolling countryside of forests,
open fields and charming small villages. We finish our
ride at the impressive ruins of Château Le Repaire.
(approx. 5 hours in the saddle)
Day 8: Depart after breakfast |
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Four day trek
“Rocamadour” |
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Six day trek "Castles" |
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Centre based program
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Four day trek
“Rocamadour” |
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Six day trek "Castles" |
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Two day trek |
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Four day trek
“Rocamadour” |
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Two day trek |
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Six day trek "Castles" |
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Four day trek
“Rocamadour” |
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Six day trek "Castles" |
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