Renaissance Castles

Introduction
Loire France
The Loire is the longest river in France and its banks are lined with beautiful forestland and handsome vineyards. Immersed in the landscape of beauty and nobility, the more you will come to understand why French aristocracy once flourished here and built their magnificent castles. The Loire valley has preserved its stately charm and lifestyle - the cuisine here is forever exclusive and refined, with splendid and distinguished wines. This horse riding holiday in the Loire provides riders with a pampered vacation experience with the best in local cuisine, wine, the arts and a endlessly romantic landscape that will seduce the hearts of travelers near and far.

This journey across the Loire landscapes and its forest areas is a leap into history of the Middle Ages but mostly the Renaissance. At the time, the royal house of Valois-Orléans-Angoulême had enough power and means to build fancy castles instead of fortresses. The Loire Valley offers a mild climate, fertile soils and biodiversity as well as monasteries, cathedrals, and of course, castles.

Accomodation

Accommodation
This is a progressive ride, so nights are spent in different locations.

Description
Accommodation in B&B or hotels with private facilities and free Wi-Fi available everywhere.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 7- Hotel Restaurant “l’Auberge de l’Ecole” in Pontlevoy
Night 2, 3 & 4- Hotel du Cygne in Bracieux
Day 5 & 6- Hotel Restaurant « L'Hostellerie du Château » in Chaumont-sur-Loire

L’Auberge de l’Ecole at Pontlevoy
This auberge used to be a relay station and was in service for over 100 years. Nowadays, the auberge offers 11 renovated bedroom tastefully decorates with a rustic charm. The rooms all come equipped with a TV, a telephone and an ensuite bathroom with hairdryer. WiFi is available in public areas and guests can relax in the small garden.

Hotel du Cygne at Bracieux
This hotel, originally founded in 1880, offers simple accommodations in fully equipped bedrooms (TV, Wi-Fi and private bathroom with hairdryer). There is a beautiful terrace and a heated outdoor swimming pool which guests can enjoy year round.


Room Occupancy
Double or Twin rooms available. It is possible to request a single room but a supplement applies.
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).

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Ability
This ride is for the experienced rider who has mastered all 4 paces (walk, rising trot, canter/gallop in a forward seat) on a varied terrain, in open spaces. The experienced rider rides regularly, has good physical fitness, has good soft hands, a good attitude, and self-confidence. You should be able to control the speed and direction of the horse in all circumstances and be able to ride long distances including gallops of several minutes in open terrain.
There are certain sections of the trail where we might 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.
Riders who, on their own initiative, ask not to ride during the stay will be charged 300 euros for the transport of the horse.

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

Horses
Most of our horses were born on the farm. They live in herds in a 70 acre field 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 purebred Arabian and Paint horses as well as Arabian/Paint crossbreds and Thoroughbreds.
The relationship with the riders and our horses is crucial. Above all, we place attention on the welfare and education of our horses.

Tack & Equipment
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.
Saddlebags, poncho, and water are provided. 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.
We ask the riders to have only one suitcase (size 69x47x27) and one handbag.

Group Size & Staff
Riding groups have a minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 riders, plus the Guide and the Translator.
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.

Facilities
The Farm covers 30 hectares (75 acres) of woods and meadows and facilities include a covered riding arena, rolling pastures, a round pen, cross country terrain, as well as a multitude of riding and hiking trails.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary: Progressive option - 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
Arrival at Montrichard train station, transfer at 6.30 pm to your hotel. Dinner at 8:00pm.
Meals included:  Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Restaurant “l’Auberge de l’Ecole” in Pontlevoy 

Day 2: Ride to Cheverny
After the presentation and distribution of the horses, we leave to reach Fougères sur Bièvre. We have lunch at the foot of this castle. It offers the ideal image of a small castle of the end of the 15th century with a curtain wall, a dungeon, gunboats, a walkway and machicolations. At the end of the afternoon, the beautifully furnished Cheverny Castle welcomes us for the visit. The Cheverny castle, beautifully furnished, also welcomes us for a visit. This property is owned by the same family for more than 6 centuries. There you’ll discover a fantastic heritage, authentic and still vibrant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel du Cygne in Bracieux

Day 3: Cheverny to Villesavin
In the morning, we ride through the Cheverny forest, between wooded paths and wild moorland, where deer, roe deer and hares, if you're lucky enough to spot them, can be found. For our picnic lunch, we stop off at Château de Villesavin. Dating from the 16th century, it was built by the same French and Italian masters and craftsmen who built the great royal residences. It has survived four centuries in near-perfect condition.
After lunch, we take time to visit the castle. Free afternoon at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel du Cygne in Bracieux

Day 4: Ride to Chambord
After breakfast, we ride to Chambord, where we have a picnic. Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley's castles. It's an unrivalled feat of architecture, with its central double-revolution staircase, a marvel of elegance, set in the heart of a vast 5,440-hectare nature reserve where deer are king. We visit the château after lunch.
Then, through the Bracieux forest, we return to Villesavin in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel du Cygne in Bracieux

Day 5: Ride to Beauregard Castle & Candé-sur-Beuvron
We ride through the forest to Château de Beauregard, where we stop for our picnic lunch. Formerly Chambord's hunting lodge, built on the orders of François I, it has always been known for its famous Galerie des Portraits. A monumental work of 3 generations, it features 327 portraits of illustrious figures, a remarkable lapis lazuli ceiling (7 times the value of gold) and an exceptional paving of 5600 Delft earthenware tiles. After visiting the château, we set off with our horses for the village of Candé-sur-Beuvron.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Chaumont sur Loire

Day 6: Chaumont-sur-Loire
Riding along the banks of the Loire, we reach the village of Chaumont sur Loire. A charming village, listed as a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site, Chaumont is also famous for its feudal castle, which dominates the valley and the village. We enjoy our picnic and we leave the horses to rest for the afternoon.
This afternoon is left free to visit the Château de Chaumont sur Loire (hotel at the foot of the château). Dating from the late 15th century, it illustrates both the defensive architecture of the Gothic period and the pleasure architecture of the Renaissance. Don't miss the 19th-century stables, considered the most luxurious in Europe at the time.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Chaumont sur Loire

Day 7: Chenonceau
After breakfast, we'll enjoy a long gallop through the Amboise forest to reach the Château de Chenonceau, built on the Cher River. Named "Château des Dames", it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet and successively embellished by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis. Chenonceau was saved from the rigors of the Revolution by Madame Dupin. It is the jewel of the Loire Valley. We have lunch on site and visit the château. In the early afternoon, we leave the banks of the Cher for and ride to Pontlevoy.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Restaurant “l’Auberge de l’Ecole” in Pontlevoy

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, time to say “goodbye” and depart for the Montrichard train station around 9:00 am.
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 Renaissance Castles

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Hotel on day one.
Airport: Paris - Charles de Gaulle
Transfer:

Climate:
                                                     Tours area