Horseback Riding in France
TOUR DE QUERCY |
The Quercy is an exceptionally beautiful region of France. This is the land of truffles and ‘foie gras’, traversed by the picturesque Dordogne River. Tiny farms, hamlets with no city-dwellers weekend houses, geese in the streets and small village hotels. The ride offers oarticipants a view into rural life and a landscape that has all but disappeared. Follow centuries old interconnecting horse and walking tracks that criss-cross the country. The area is rich in attractions to which you will ride. Historic inns with excellent food, prehistoric caves, structures of the Middle Ages, lakes, and of course, the beautiful countryside of gentle hills, forests, and meadows, are all there to be enjoyed.
...It is fabulous - guides, scenery, equitation centre, hotels, cuisine, horses and experience. Indeed, this is a ride that is worth more than the money charged for it. This was the greatest experience of my life. Good company, good food, good humour, and above all, a true caring for people and animals.....
- Philipa Corning
|
| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Transfer from Brive railway station at 6:00 pm to the riding center for dinner and overnight. Meet your hosts and the staff.
|
| Day 2: | Breakfast at 9 o'clock. Then spend a half hour getting acquainted with your horse, including feeding, grooming, picking hooves and tacking up. Ride for approximately 2 ½ hours in the surrounding area. Lunch back at the center, then relax in the afternoon with a swim, tennis or nap. |
| Day 3: | At 9 o’clock leave Les Garennes and the Perigord to traverse the Quercy. The difference between the Perigord and Quercy regions in architecture, flora and fauna is very obvious. Around noon stop for a picnic, then ride trails used only by sheep and horses. Cross the River Dordogne and pass the castle ‘La Treyne’ with its marvelous park, continuing on towards the castle, ‘Belcastel’. Finally reaching the small, clear river L’Ouysse which flows between Lacave and Rocamadour. There you find your hotel near the caves of Lacave. |
| Day 4: | Today ride towards Rocamadour. Follow the River L’Ouysse up to Moulin de Caoulet where you stop for a simple picnic. Then ride on to Rocamadour, which is built high on the slope of a hill, leaving the River Ouysse behind. This is a place of pilgrimage, famous for its beauty. After a short break, continue on to overnight in Alvignac where you will feed your horse and turn it into a field for the night. Transportation is available (when possible) for riders wanting a more extensive visit to Rocamadour. |
| Day 5: | The horses have the morning off while riders visit Gouffre de Padirac. After lunch at the hotel in Alvignac, mount up and ride to Meyronne and the hotel de la Terrasse. This is a small fortified castle and restaurant beautifully located above the River Dordogne. Dinner will be served on the terrace with a lovely view of the valley of the Dordogne. |
| Day 6: | In the morning cross the Dordogne by the bridge of Meyronne and ride by the village of St. Sozy, returning to Blagour mid-day. Arrive at Les Garennes in time for an aperitif, dinner and overnight. |
| Day 7: | Today enjoy a restful half days ride through the surrounding area. Lunch back at Les Garennes and the afternoon free. The farewell dinner will be a typical Perigord meal with the best regional wines. |
| Day 8: | After breakfast depart for Brive for train connection to Paris, a five hour train ride. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
|
|
|
| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Brive or Souillac |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 3 full and 3 half days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-12 |
| Riding Per Day | 3-6 hours |
| Pace | slow - moderate |
| Tack | English (a few Western) |
| Horses | mixed breeds |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2012 Dates | May 19-26, June 2-9, June 16-23, Sept 1-8, Sept 15-22 |
| 2012 Price | Was $1,690, now reduced to $1,555 |
| Single Supplement | $155 |
| Transfers | Included from Brive at specific time |
| Additional Information | Ride price is set, guaranteed and final at the time deposit is paid. |
|
|
