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 riders 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.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Transfer from Souillac railway station to the riding center for dinner and overnight. Meet your hosts, Jean-Paul, Annabella and the staff.
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| 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 ˝ hours in the surrounding area. Lunch back at the center, then relax in the afternoon with a swim, tennis or nap.
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| 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 arrive at La Blagour, a trout farm and a "Gouffre" (underground spring), known for the pure quality of its water. A wonderful, quiet and cool place, where you will eat trout prepared by one of the best cooks of the Quercy. After lunch ride trails used only by sheep and horses. Early evening arrive at tonights destination where you will feed your horse and turn it into a field for the night.
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| Day 4: | Ride out in the morning for a long days ride in the direction of Rocamadour. Cross the River Dordogne and past the castle 'La Treyne' with its marvelous park, continuing on towards the castle 'Belcastle'. Eventually reaching the River Ouysse, a small, clear river flowing between Lacave and Rocamadour. Mid-day stop for a simple picnic (to include walnut cake, a specialty of the region) in a old water mill. Ride on through the town, 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. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel du Chateau in Alvignac. Transportation is available for riders wanting a more extensive visit to Rocamadour.
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| 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 house and restaurant beautifully located above the River Dordogne. Dinner will be served on the terrace with a beautiful view of the valley of the Dordogne.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Day 8: | After breakfast depart for Souillac for train connection to Paris, a five hour train ride.
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| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| 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 | moderate |
| Tack | English (a few Western) |
| Horses | mixed breeds |
| Weight Limit | 200 lbs |
| 2008 Dates | May 10-17, May 31-June 7, June 21-28, Sept 6-13, Sept 27-Oct 4 |
| 2008 Price | €1050
Due to rapidly changing market please call for the current US dollar rate. |
| Single Supplement | $175 |
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