Perigord Pourpre Trails

Introduction
Dordogne France
Enjoy our new horseback trips which take you through the beautiful Périgord region!

The Périgord, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne département, is for many people the picture-perfect image of the French countryside, a gentle landscape of patchwork fields, hilltop towns, turreted mansions and jade green woods.  It is also the spiritual home to two of the country's enduring culinary passions - foie gras and the black truffle!  The Périgord region is famous for its stunning cave paintings, as well as for its many fortified chateaux and bastide towns - reminders of the bloody battles waged here during the Middle Ages and the Hundred Years' War.

There are 4 different geographic Perigord designations: the White Perigord, the Purple Perigord, the Green Perigord and the Black Perigord. This riding tours will take you in the Black Perigord, an area that overlooks the valleys of the Vezere and the Dordogne. This limestone plateau, delimited to the West by the valley of the Vezere and to the South, by the valley of the Dordogne, is covered by forests of chestnut trees, pines and holm oaks, which give it a dark colour and its name "Black Perigord".

A delight for the eyes and the palate, this horseback adventure offers riders a variety of landscapes, bastides (fortified towns), medieval villages, regional cuisine, and opulent castles. In the heart of the Purple Périgord and the Couze Valley, a warm welcome will be reserved for you for experience authentic French life.

Accomodation

Accommodation
This is a progressive ride so you will be staying in different locations each night.

Description

Accommodation is in B&B or hotels.

Accommodation Itinerary - Accommodations are subject to changes based on availability
Nights 1, 2, 3 & 7: Ferme Hermance near Lougratte
Night 4:  Youth Hotel in Cadouin
Nights 5 & 6:  Ferme de Tandou in Monpazier

Ferme Hermance near Lougratte
This equestrian farm has 3 cottages (total of 12 bedrooms) and a swimming pool. Almost all rooms have their own bathroom. Free Wi-Fi is available in each of the cottages.

Youth Hotel in Cadouin
This unusual Youth Hostel is located in a former Cistercian Abbey that was built during the 11-12th centuries. Accommodations are simple but feature all basic needs. Free Wi-Fi is available at this property.

Ferme de Tandou in Monpazier
You will be warmly welcomed at this lovely farmhouse. The cozy bedrooms all come with a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi access.

Room Occupancy
Possibility of single room but with supplement. We try our best to match you with a roommate, but if this is not possible you may be placed in single room with a supplement to be paid.



Meals
All meals are included.

Continental breakfasts served at your accommodation.
The lunches are buffets with a wide choice (adapted to particular diets) & wine.
Dinner in the bed and breakfast, restaurant or hotel (wine not included for dinner).

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Ability
This ride is open to riders who are comfortable at all three gaits (walk, rising trot, canter), with an occasional fast gallop, and practice a regular habit of riding. There are certain sections of the trail where we need to lead the horses. It is recommended that you be in good physical condition in order to participate. Previous experience of trail rides over a number of days would be beneficial but is not required.

Pace
The pace is varied depending on the terrain, with long periods of walk and plenty of opportunities to canter and gallop. We ride around 5-6 hours riding each day. We cover about 150km in total.

Horses
Most of our horses were born on the farm. They live in herds in the meadows and this is what makes them strong. This social lifestyle is very close to their ideal living conditions, which is a natural environment.
Every horse has its own character, but all are gentle, balanced, and multi-talented.
The horses are a mixture of Arabian, Paint horses, and Arabian/Paint crossbreds.
The relationship with the riders and our horses is crucial. Above all, we place attention on the welfare and education of our horses.

Tack
Our saddles are a French trail saddle (JMS brands), which blend the best of English and western styles to make the perfect trail saddle. Horses will work in bridles with Myler bits. Helmets are not mandatory but are strongly recommended.

Logistics
There is a support van for the transport of luggage and riders. It is possible for a rider or a non-riding companion to follow along the horse riders in the van.

Staff
David (GTE/ BPJEPS TE) is a certified Equestrian Tour Guide. He creates the routes and leads all the riding tours. He is also a trainer of apprentice instructors in Equestrian Tourism.
Britta is your riding companion and translator (English, Dutch, German, and Spanish). She is always available to facilitate any language concerns.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Important note: The specific level required is the "confirmed rider level".
As a qualified professional of equestrian tourism in France, it is important for the safety of the groups of riders we receive that everyone has the required riding level (see description below).
A person, who doesn't have the required level, causes difficulties for the staff and other participants, with consequences on the good progress of the stay for everyone.
Therefore, we will test riders on horseback on the 1st day before departure on the trail.
If from the first day we judge that a rider doesn't have the required level for horseback riding, he/she will not continue on horseback. They will continue their stay with the logistics team. They will be able to make all the scheduled visits, and eat with the riders for lunch and dinner.
This decision will be made without any refund on the stay.
If, due to poor physical condition, riders ask to stop riding, they are still liable for the 300 euros we charge for transporting the horse.

Our rides are for the experienced rider who has mastered all 4 paces (walk, rising trot, canter/gallop in a forward seat) on varied terrains and in open spaces. The experienced rider rides regularly, has good physical fitness, has good soft hands, a good attitude, and self-confidence. He controls the speed and direction of the horse in all circumstances. He can ride long distances including gallops of several minutes in open terrain.
Participants need to have experience riding on English-style saddles.  They need to know how to ride in balance: two point position.


Day 1: Arrival
We welcome the riders at 6:30pm at the Bergerac's train station and transfer our guests to their first accommodation. After settling in, enjoy a quick visit of the bastide town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at the Farm's Guesthouse

Day 2: Ride around the farm
Departure of the ride around 10:00 am, after presentation and assignment riders to the horses. This day is devoted entirely to horseback riding through the many trails that surround the equestrian farm, including the GR 654 on the road to Saint Jacques de Compostelle. We will view the traditional architecture of the Haut Agenais Périgord: dovecotes, farms, character houses such as the stacked house dating back to the 16th century in Bournel, or the priory of Mesnil Saint Martin dating from the 13th century and of the 18th century. It was restored in 1980 by a religious community. Today, it is a private dwelling.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm's Guesthouse

Day 3: Ride to Faux
After breakfast, we ride on the wooded ridges towards the village of Castillonnès. Perched on its rocky spur overlooking the green Dropt valley, Castillonnès is a 13th century bastide. After crossing through this bastide, we reach the charming village of Eyrenville for lunch. Long gallops on the hilly paths and the limestone plateaus take us to the village of Faux where we leave our horses.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm's Guesthouse

Day 4: Faux to Cadouin
In the morning, we cross the forest to discover the Renaissance castle of Lanquais. The castle of Lanquais, nicknamed "the unfinished Louvre of the Perigord", dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle of Bannes (private residence) dates from the 14th century, it was destroyed after the Hundred Years' War and rebuilt in the 16th century. The Cistercian Abbey of Cadouin dates back to the 12th century and hides in its heart a masterpiece of art gothic, its cloister. 
We then descend into the Couze valley, coming to a small river that we ride along to the castle of Bannes. Picnic in the heart of the park of this magnificent private 1 5th century castle. In the afternoon, we pass by the village of Molières before arriving at our evening stopover in Cadouin, with its 11th and 12th century Cistercian abbey.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Youth Hostel in Cadouin

Day 5: Cadouin to Monpazier
After riding through woods and forests, we reach the village of Montferrand du Périgord for our lunch. This village of the Couze valley is nestled at the foot of a medieval castle. The oldest known document citing the castle of Monte Ferrando is a charter of 1286. We continue our journey toward Monpazier, a 13th century bastide town, a jewel of medieval architecture. Classified among the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", it remains the most beautiful and best preserved of the bastides of the Southwest.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Farmhouse in Monpazier

Day 6: Monpazier to Saint Avit
The morning is free to allow time to visit the bastide of Monpazier
After the picnic, we go on horseback for the afternoon. We leave the Dordogne department for the Lot et Garonne when we approach the castle of Biron, a 12th century castle and by the 18th century, classified as a Historic Monument. As a seat of one of the four baronies of the Périgord, the château occupies a strategic position on the edge of Périgord and the Agenais. Its history is linked to the great Gontaut Biron family, which held the fief estate for eight hundred years. Arrival in Saint Avit where we end our day.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Farmhouse in Monpazier

Day 7: Saint Avit and back to the Farm
Following the valley of the Lède, we reach the Bastide de Monflanquin to enjoy a picnic by the lake. Monflanquin is a picturesque bastide of the 13th century. It is perched on its "pech", located in a hilly region, between Agena is, Périgord and Quercy, and compared by Stendhal to "a little Tuscany". After many gallops, we arrive at the Farm to spend the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm's Guesthouse

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, departure and transfer to the train station in Bergerac.
Meals included: Breakfast



Non Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. It is best to have a car in order to do some sightseeing while the rest of the group explores on horseback.

Rates and Dates for Perigord Pourpre Trails

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: La ferme du Peytavit in Couze
Airport: Bordeaux
Transfer: Lalinde's or Bergerac's train station

Climate:
                                                Sarlat-la-Canéda area