Castles Getaway

Introduction
Loire France

This compressed 4 day/3 night riding getaway leads you to some of the most famous Loire castles for a quick trip back in history: Chambord, Chenonceau, Saumur, and Chinnon.
Guided by local guides, you will enjoy the great pleasures of riding in the beautiful landscapes of the Loire Valley and will have the unique privilege of arriving on horseback to the doorsteps of the  impressive castles. Sometimes  you will enjoy a guided visit, other times our stop will include a garden festival, a horse show, a wine tasting or your own time to explore the castle solo. This tour lets you truly experience the French "art de vivre" and savour the French cuisine!
You will be staying overnight in the same private castle for the duration of this shortened version of our Renaissance Castles of the Loire 8-day tour. Each day you will have dinner with the owners of the castle, taste the  incredible gastronomy from the Heart of France in excellent gourmet restaurants, enjoy picnics with foie gras, and discover several shows in the castle at night. Tailor made, this luxury program is limited to eight riders.

Accomodation

Accommodations are in private castles  where the owners continue to live and  they will be your hosts.  It is a very personal and authentic way to get a feel for the local culture. They offer a breathtaking outlook over the Loire Valley and insight into the history of the 18th century Renaissance times. You will enjoy the magic of old-stone dwellings, of hundred-year-old trees, and of the Lords'  and Counts' authentic and cordial welcomes...

Meals: All meals are provided. Wine with meals (limited).

Sample Menus:
Lunch : assiette cavalière - blancs de volailles à la crème d'estragon, gratin de pomme de terre - fromage - dessert - wine and coffee -
Dinner  : menu du terroir -Terrine de Carpe de Sologne sur un coulis de vin rouge de Cheverny - Navarin d'agneau de la ferme de "la Faubonnière" et sa garniture - l'assiette de fromage de chèvre - feuilleté de pommes caramélisées aux saveurs du terroir et sa glace pain d'épices - wine -coffee

This trip includes some wine with dinner.

Riding

The choice of the horses for this trip has been motivated above all by the strong desire to ensure you enjoy your trip in total safety. The horses are quiet and generous. Your trek companion is chosen for you according your riding level, height and weight. Excursions are coached by state certificated staff. You can choose to ride only half a day if you prefer!

Itinerary

Itinerary  1
Chambord - Beauregard - Chaumont-sur-Loire (or Cheverny)-Villesavin

Day 1 Arrival at the wonderfull Chateau des Grotteaux near Chambord where we will spend all 3 nights- We meet and have dinner together - briefing of the ride

Day 2 Beauregard - Chaumont sur Loire or Cheverny
In the morning- about 2 hours on horseback. After a good night sleep we enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the 18thcentury dinning room in front of the fireplace. Around 10 AM we leave on horseback through forests paths in the Forest of Russy for a one hour ride with trots. We enter in the castle of Beauregard by the main entrance. an unforgetable experience! We visit the famous Galerie des Illustres, intact since the 17th century, which displays the painting portrays of 320 great figures of the court and high-ranking foreign characters gathered around the two portrays of the King and the Queen. This long room has kept its beautiful old Delft tiles and its ceiling painted with lapis-lazuli powder. We leave Beauregard for a nice ride in Russy forest (trot, canter, gallops) to our picnic with foie gras in the forest. 
After lunch - about 2 or 3 hours on horseback.We continue our ride through the countryside and along riverbanks or Cheverny vinyards. Our destination is either Château Chaumont or Château Cheverny. We will visit the Chaumont garden festival or tour Château de Cheverny.Gourmet dinner and overnnight at the chateau.

Day 3 Chambord - Villesavin
In the morning we ride for about 2 hours on horseback. After a good breakfast, we leave the château on horseback towards Chambord. We ride first in the countryside, then through the forest of Boulogne - a good time of rising trot and canters. As we enter the park of Chambord we have a good ride along the old wall of Chambord. Then the Charles IX trail brings us straight to the Chambord castle. We leave the horses at the Maréchal de Saxe écuries where they are watered and fed.  We will see a horseshow or visit the Château de Chambord.
After a lunch with local food, about 2 hours on horseback. We ride through the Boulogne Forest towards Villesavin - a Renaissance castle which tends towards a certain classicism. The simplicity of its façade is dazzlingly graceful and harmonious. We have a guided visit of the castle and afterwards dinner in a gourmet restaurant and a night show in château de Blois. Accomodation at the chateau.

Day 4: Departure after breakfast.

Itinerary 2  
Chenonceau-Chateau de Nitray-Pagode de Chanteloup-Amboise

Day 1 Arrival at the Chateau de l'Isle near Chenonceau where we spend all three nights. We meet and have dinner together - briefing of the ride.

Day 2 Chenonceau to Nitray
After breakfast we leave at 9:30 AM  on horseback for a first marvelous ride to the north bank of the Cher River, Discover Chenonceau across the river. Arriving at 11:30 at Chenonceau, we leave the horses and make our way to visit the Chenonceau castle and have lunch. Through the very location and conception of the Chenonceau castle emerges a feminine influence that makes it so peculiar. We leave around 2 PM for a superb ride along the river Cher to Chateau de Nitray. We enter on horseback and visit the outside of the castle's very fine renaissance architecture, the rose gar-den, and the newly restored dove cot. We then visit the caves and wine cellar and museum rounded off with wine tasting. Evening gourmet dinner at our castle accommodation.

Day 3 Pagode de Chanteloup - Amboise
We leave around 10:00AM our castle to Pagode de Chanteloup for a 2 hour ride in the countryside, vineyards, and the Amboise forest. A great picnic with foie gras and cordial welcome wait for us in front of the pagode. Only remaining vestige of the sumptuous castle built by the Duke of Choiseul, minister of Louis XV after the model of Versailles. We leave at 3:00 PM after the visit of the Pagode of Chanteloup for a short ride through the forest and Amboise; ride in front of the last place of Leonardo da Vinci: Le clos Lucé and arrive on horseback by the majestic old enter of Amboise castle. Magic! We have a private guided visit of the Amboise castle. Evening gourmet dinner outside in Château de Pray and night show at Chenonceau - overnight in our  chateau.

Day 4  Departure after breakfast

Itinerary 4 
Saumur - Brézé - Montsoreau - Fontevraud

Day 1 Arrival at the TGV train station Saumur. Take a taxi to the château de Beaulieu near Saumur where we will spend 2 nights. Diner and briefing at the chateau.

Day 2 : Champigny cellar -Chateau de Montsoreau
This morning we set off from our B&B, passing the local vineyards and magnificent views of the Saumaur château until we reach the Champigny troglodyte (cave) cellar where we partake of an unforgettable wine tasting. Represented are some of the most illustrious labels from this great wine producing region.  Following the wine tasting we gather for a gourmet lunch in a nearby restaurant. In the afternoon we ride another two hours along the Champigny vineyards and along the forest to chateau de Montsoreau, which inspired wellknown french writer Alexandre Dumas for his book "la dame de Montsoreau". Dinner and night at château de Beaulieu.

Day 3 : Chateau de Brézé  -Abaye de Fontevraud
Travelling through the scenic countryside of vineyards, we ride this morning from our B&B towards chateau de Brézé.  Lunch will be in the old stables of chateau de Brézé. We then have a guided visit of the chateau. In the afternoon, we carry on riding for about another 2 hours in the vineyards and through the Fontevraud forest.  Descent, with a beautiful view, of the Abaye until we arrive at Abaye de Fontevraud, one of the largest and best preserved medieval abbeys of France. Dinner and overnight inside or near the Abbaye.

Day 4  Breakfast at B&B castle and departure.
 

Itinerary 5  
Chinon - Ussé  - Azay le Rideau - Villandry

Day 1:  Arrival at Hotel Gargantua in Chinon where we spend all 3 nights. Allow time to tour this splendid mediaval city of François Rabelais (a very well-known french writer of XIV century), and the chateau  where Jane of Arc reconized "the gentil dolphin". Dinner and briefing in Chinon.

Day 2 : Chinon - Ussé - Azay le Rideau
This morning we ride about two hours, traveling to Chateau d'Ussé from the Chinon forest.  Stop at Chateau d'Ussé, the "sleeping beauty" chateau, for a visit. The best view of the entire magnificent castle is either from the bridge right before the castle or from the banks of the Loire itself. Lunch in Ussé.
After lunch, about 3 hours on horseback. We ride to Azay le Rideau with unforgettable long canters along the Indre river, forest and orchards. Dinner and night at the medieval hotel of Chinon.

Day 3 : Chateau d'Azay le Rideau- Villandry- 
This morning we ride for about 2 and a half hours on horseback. We ride through the countryside, vinyards and woods to chateau de Villandry and its very famous gardens. Lunch at chateau de Villandry.
We tour the beautiful gardens andc hateau de Villandry. We return by car to Chinon. Free time for shopping or visit the chateau de Chinon. Dinner and night in Chinon. 

Day 4 Breakfast and departure.
Transfer (not included) to TGV Tours Saint Pierre des Corps station (need a reservation).

**Program may be changed a little according to the season and weather conditions.

  

Rates and Dates for Castles Getaway

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Itin. # 1: near Blois
Itin. # 2: near Amboise
Itin. # 4 & #5: near Saumur
Airport: Paris
Transfer: Take a taxi (about 15 minutes) from Blois, Amboise or Samur train stations (depending on your itinerary #). A shuttle is available from Charles De Gaule or Paris Orly Airports (not included-pay locally).

Climate:

Mild most of the year. The Loire is often the line of demarcation in France's weather, between the Northern climate and the Southern. It is a climate considered the most pleasant of northern France, with warmer winters and, more generally, fewer extremes in temperatures, rarely exceeding 38 °C (100 °F).

The general atmosphere is relaxed during your ride. Please bring some smart casual clothes for dinner.