Carcassonne Mini Trek

Introduction
South of France France

Set within 104 hectares of tranquil private grounds, where the fertile valley of the river Aude rises up into the impressive hills of the Corbières, this original Logis de France (2 chimney) hotel and restaurant doubles up as a living equestrian center. This riding getaway is based at a 330 year old country estate ten minutes south of Carcassonne, surrounded by forests, open meadows and vineyards.

The views are breathtaking and reach all the way to the Pyrenees mountains. The flower-filled courtyards are inviting to relax and take in the day or spend time in the well stocked library, around the fireplace in the lounge or in the clubhouse. You stay in comfortable suites with large private decks or in one of the the smaller guest-rooms. They are all in a separate section of the estate.
The horses come from the estate's own breeding program and are very friendly and surefooted - the perfect riding companion.

On daily half day rides you explore the countryside. Following small trails you ride through dense forests, across wide open meadows that invite for a brisk canter, and up to the mountain tops with wonderful panoramic views. On a clear day you can see all the way to the coast. This is a perfect getaway in the very southern part of France not far from the Spanish border. Here you will find time to be active and relax all in the same day. Nearby Carcassonne is a medieval town that invites a visit. If you are looking for a special romantic dinner - try one of the excellent restaurants in the evening inside the fortified walls in this historic place. It does not get any more romantic.

Whether you are passionate about horse riding or simply want to get away from it all, this is a unique holiday experience. Any stresses you may have seem to evaporate as you breathe in the fresh country air, indulge in a massage, savor the rich cuisine with organic wine and feel in harmony with some breathtaking surroundings.

Accomodation

Accommodation: The charming 300 year old country house quietly surveys 104 hectares of private woods, fields, hills and a river. It is 4km from the nearest village, Leuc and a short distance away from the famous Abbey de Saint Hilaire and the medieval citadel of Carcassonne.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Superb riding. A great mix of slow going and fast moving. You will find very sure footed horses, well behaved and responsive while out exploring the countryside and mountains.

The riding center offers lessons by a professional instructor - individually or group lessons in dressage and jumping or lessons for novice riders to improve their seat, balance etc..  Rates vary from 12 to 32 Euros per lesson.

No riding on Saturdays.

Itinerary

On daily half day rides you explore the countryside. Following small and delicate trails you ride through dense forests, across wide open meadows that invite for a brisk canters, and up to the mountain tops with their wonderful panoramic views. On a clear day you can see all the way to the coast. We have made most of the trails ourselves and rarely ride on paved streets. There are lots of hills, valleys, vineyards, a few river crossings (small rivers). The pace is slower, due to the wild nature of the landscape, but whenever the terrain allows we will trot and canter. We recommend a rental car so you can explore the area and city when not riding!

For non-riders there are plenty enjoyable excursions by bike or on foot. The region enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year, which makes it the ideal departure point for exploring the Aude Département and its beautiful, natural landscapes. A 20 minute walk takes you to a wonderful river, flowing south of the Domaine, where you can bathe to cool off. Discover the wines of the Minervois and Corbières in the vineyards. Tour the abbeys, castles and grottos of this magical landscape and learn fantastic tales of knights and saints - this is the land of the “Cathars”. And there is Toulouse or the French Riviera not too far away for a side-trip.

Rates and Dates for Carcassonne Mini Trek

Dates Note: Weekly from Saturday to Saturday from April to October.

Other Info
Meeting: Leuc
Airport: Carcassonne or Toulouse
Transfer: Carcassonne airport or train station.

Climate:

General

Carcassonne is a charming old fortified town found in the south of France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

The general climate found here is best described as Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild winters. Carcassonne enjoys a lot of sunshine with over 300 sunny days a year on average. Annual rainfall is low at a little under 600mm a year, although rain can occur at any time of the year - but is most likely in late autumn/early winter.

Carcassone and the surrounding region is one of the warmest places in France with an annual average temperature of around 14C.

Summer

Carcassone enjoys fine summers and sunshine is in abundance!

The hottest months are the peak summer months of July and August when average temperature is around 23C. Daily highs are  usually in the high 20s during summer but temperatures can often reach into the 30s on the hottest days.

June and September also enjoy good summer weather with plenty of sunshine and temperatures  slightly lower, averaging around 20C.

Occasional summer heatwaves can occur each year bringing extremely hot temperatures, even up towards 40C on the odd occasion. If the hot sirocco wind from North Africa is prevailing it can get hot and dry in the region and the wind even brings desert sand with it! This does, however, only happen a couple of days each year.

Rainfall is low in summer, though not unheard of. July is the driest month with an average of just 18mm rainfall. June and August are pretty dry too, seeing about 30-40mm of rain. Come the end of the summer, rainfall begins to increase and lightning storms can occur.

Summer really is a good time to visit Carcassonne; good weather is almost guaranteed and there are a number of festivals.

Autumn

Autumn enjoys good temperatures, but rainfall does increase throughout the season. September is warm and still enjoys summer weather. October still enjoys daily highs in the 20s but temperature does start to drop into single figures at night and rainfall is at its highest of the year around this time. November averages 10C; you can still enjoy pleasant daytime temperatures, but it can also drop into low single figures.

Autumn is one of the wettest times of the year in Carcassonne, but most of the rainfall is accounted for in sporadic heavy storms so you can still enjoy plenty of sunshine throughout the season. The dwindling crowds after the summer months also help to make it a pretty good time to visit and ride.

Winter

Winters are cold in Carcassonne, without getting really cold. Temperatures average 6 to 7C and frequently drop towards zero. Temperatures rarely drop a long way into the minuses, although this does happen and snow can fall on occasions! The nearby mountains will see snow a lot more frequently throughout winter.

Winter can be a bit rainy with about 50-60mm monthly average throughout the season. Expect some rainfall, but you’ll certainly see the sun more than in the United Kingdom.

Spring

Spring is arguably the best time to visit, especially late on in the season. Temperatures are good and the sun shines frequently.

Early spring can still be a little unpredictable with the weather but by the end of the season you can enjoy plenty of sunny days and daytime temperatures in the low 20s.

Rainfall decreases throughout the season as the damp cool winter weather gives way to the warm sunny days of summer.