The Dordogne Valley lies in southwest France where little has changed since the end of the Middle Ages. A static population, no great industrial revolution and a pattern of farming that has remained much the same combine to make the area a delight to visit. It is here that Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard I and the Black Prince lived.
The region in which you will ride is the Perigord Noir, a beautiful part of the beautiful Dordogne. With the greatest number of historic sites outside of Paris, the area is incredible. Here you will ride through and around wheat fields, breeding pastures, strawberry fields and plum and chestnut orchards. You will pass farmhouses and castles, which have stood in place since the 13th century. The Dordogne area boasts over 1000 castles.
You will have an opportunity to visit one of the famous bastides. The bastides are a type of small town, wide spread in southwest France. They were constructed in the Middle Ages. They are gridiron in shape with surrounding fortifications and gates on each face of the town walls. There is always a centrally placed church adjoining a market square with covered arches. The style of architecture is usually Gothic.
The bastide you will visit, Monpazier is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. It has had a turbulent past. Founded in 1284 by Edward I, it was captured by the Huguenots in 1574 and was the scene of a peasant revolt in 1594 and again in 1637. It was also greatly affected by the French Revolution beginning in 1789. For a small town, it has been the center of much history.
The horses you will ride are of mixed breeding and are usually indigenous to the region. Some may even have the lineage of the Chargers that fought so many of the wars on French soil.
The accommodations are a mixture of bed and breakfasts on some nights and small hotels on others depending on the night. The food is incredible as one might expect given the availability of fresh produce and the traditional French compassion for food.
In Périgord, each season has something for the visitor. In spring, when the air is filled with the scent of fruit trees in full blossom, take a walk in the countryside and marvel at the innumerable species of orchids and other wild flowers that grow here. Summer is never too hot to enjoy a dip in one of Périgord's lakes or ponds, or to go canoing down shaded streams, or discover a bit of history in the refreshing cool of the region's many caves or castles.
In winter the buildings that make up Périgord's architectural heritage come out from behind their leafy hiding places: with the greatest number of historic sites in France outside Paris, the Dordogne is a tourist's paradise. And as Christmas gets closer, the local country folk are to be seen on the markets selling the fresh truffles, cèpes and foies gras so prized by epicures from all over the world.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: You will be met at Agen train station at 6:30 pm or directly at the hotel "La Residence" in Casseneuil between 6:00 and 8:00 pm. You will meet your guide and learn about your ride for the week over an aperitif. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Your ride today will be about 5½ hours. At about 9:30 am. you will depart from the equestrian center "La Ferme Equestre des Abrons". You will ride up and down through a nice hilly landscape of wheat fields, breeding pasture, and plum trees (those dry and cooked plums will give the famous "pruneaux d'Agen"). You will have lunch near a wonderful 13th century house called Bastide de Monflaquin; A copious and comfortable lunch taken at a table with chairs. There will be a possibility to visit this historical place. At about 7 p.m. you will arrive at your hotel for the evening, close to Gavaudun, you will arrive at your guest house for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Your ride today will be about 5½ hours. You will leave from the foot of the 12th century Gavaudun Castle, which was used as a refuge for the Cathars during the religious war. After a ride through the woods, you will reach the picnic place close to the Bonaguil Castle, the last fortified castle built in France. Picnic and visit of the castle. In the afternoon, you will ride to Cuzorn where you have dinner and overnight in your guest house.
Day 4: Your ride today will be about 5 hours. You will leave from Cuzorn about 9:30 am to ride to the castle of Biron, where you stop for a picnic and a visit. In the afternoon riders will follow an old Roman trail to arrive in the fortified town of Monpazier, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France. Free visit of the town. Dinner and evening at the hotel.
Day 5: Your ride will be about 5 hours. Departure from Monpazier around 9:30 am. You ride through big forests of chestnut trees, and depending on the season, you may be able to see plenty of the famous Dordogne cep mushrooms, or wild strawberries. You will have a picnic lunch at a duck and goose farm with the possibility of a wine tasting. You will arrive at Belves in the late afternoon, also a fortified town, and will enjoy a visit of this village. Dinner and overnight in a guest house.
Day 6: You will depart from Belvès around 9:30 am for about 5 hours in the saddle. You will take a pleasant ride in small valleys and under woods. You will ride through the charming old village of Cladesh. Picnic on the Dordogne riverbanks and then you will visit the famous castle “les Milandes” which was owned by Josephine Baker. In the evening you arrive in Domme, a bastide built by Philippe Le Hardi, remarkably located on the top of a hill overlooking the valley of Dordogne. Spend the evening at a hotel.
Day 7: Your ride will be about 3 hours. In the morning you have a visit of Domme. The day's ride takes you to Sarlat, where you will stay in a hotel. Visit of the pleasant, medieval city of Sarlat and dinner in the evening. Evening at the hotel.
Day 8: Transfer to the train station in Sarlat after breakfast.
The picnic lunches are prepared and delivered to the picnic spot, along with a table, chairs and a shelter for protection. The wine served with lunch and dinner is "vin de table" from the region.
Trail runs in reverse on some weeks. The trail itinerary and hotel accommodations may change due to circumstances beyond control (weather, etc.).
2008 Dates: March 8-15, March 29-April 5, June 21-28, August 9-16, September 13-20, October 4-11.
Meeting Point: Agen Train Station.
Saddles: English.
Other Activities: Hiking, sight-seeing, wine tasting.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$2375 per person, shared.
$350 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 7 nights guest house accommodations
- All meals
- 6 days of guided trail riding
- Horse
- Tack
- Luggage transfers
- Transfers to/from train station at pre-set time and tax.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Horse Riding
Cultural Journey
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