ITINERARY 6 – 7 days
7 days of pure happiness… We start by Saumur, vinyards, troglodytes caves, castles…
We are going on great history of Plantagenets, Alienor of Aquitaine, Valois, Jane of Arc…
We are welcomed by french aristrocats in their château, we ride in wonderfull sceneries: vinyards, forests, rivers Loire, Vienne, Indre, orchards…
And we finish by the wonderfull chateau de Villandry and its famous gardens.
Pace: fast – 5 riding days from 4h to 6h per day in the saddle – Mixed breed horses trained for trail rides.
For regular riders able to have long canters who want to discover all faces of the Loirevalley: vinyards, forests, rivers, history, castles, gastronomy, meet owners of ancestral chateaux.
Day 1:
Arrival from train station of Saumur to Domaine de Mestré, the farm of Abbaye de Fontevraud from XIIème century, and owned by a very traditional french family. Briefing, diner and night at Domaine de Mestré ***.
Day 2: Champigny cellar – Chateau de Montsoreau
AM – about 2 hours on horseback
Beginning of the ride to Champigny troglodyte cellar by the country side and the vinyards, with a magnificient view on chateau of Saumur. Arriving on horseback into the troglodyte cellar … an unforgetable experience ! Champigny wine testing in troglodyte cellar according the season – Gourmet lunch in a local restaurant.
PM – about 2 hours on horseback.
Ride in the Champigny vinyards, and along Loire river to chateau de Montsoreau, wich inspire wellknown french writer Alexandre Dumas for his book “la dame de Montsoreau”. Dinner and night at Domaine de Mestré.
Day 3: Chateau de Brézé – Abbaye de Fontevraud
AM – about 2 hours on horseback-
Beginning of the ride to Chateau de Brézé by the vinyards, and country side. Lunch in old stables of château de Brézé or Domaine de la Giraudière. Visit of château de Brézé.
PM – about 2 hours on horseback
Ride in the vinyards, country side and woods to Abbaye de Fontevraud. Visit of Abbaye de Fontevraud. Dinner and night at domaine de Mestré.
Day 4: Abbaye de Fontevraud – Chateau de Ternay
AM – about 2 hours on horseback
Ride in french traditional countryside to Chateau de la Roche Martel, a private and historical chateau where we are welcome by the owners for a picnic and visit.
PM – about 2 hours 45 on horseback
Ride in the countryside and woods to private chateau de Ternay, cordial welcome by count and countess of Ternay.
Dinner and night in fantastic chateau de Ternay.
Day 5: Chinon – Ussé – Azay le Rideau
AM – about 2 hours on horseback
Beginning of the ride to Chateau d’Ussé from Chinon forest – Ride in Chinon forest.
Arriving to Chateau d’Ussé the sleeping beauty Chateau. Lunch in Ussé.
PM – about 2 hours on horseback
Ride to Azay le Rideau – unforgettable long canters along Indre river, woods and orchards.
Transfer to Azay le rideau.
Dinner and night in Hotel Grand Monarque ***.
Day 6: Azay le Rideau – Villandry
AM – about 2h30 hours on horseback
Short visit of chateau d’Azay le Rideau. Ride to chateau de Villandry and his famous gardens by the country side, vinyards, and woods – Lunch in chateau de Villandry.
PM –
Visit of the wonderfull gardens and chateau de Villandry.
Transfer to Chateau de Gizeux.
Dinner and night in chateau de Gizeux.
Day 7:
Breakfast and departure.
Transfer (not included) to TGV Tours Saint Pierre des Corps station. (need a reservation)