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France |
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Highlights of France/Loire : ELEGANT CASTLE TO CASTLE
RIDE |
| What: |
Fine meals served in the areas finest eating locations
and fine accommodations are offered on 4 and 7 day
castle to castle tours. Gourmet meals, grand
accommodations and castles that define excess
characterize the various rides to Chambord , Chaumont,
Cheverny, Chenonceau, Chinon, Saumur and the Pagode de
Chanteloup . Azay le Rideau, Abaye de Fontevraud. |
| Dates and Rates: |
Four days/three night itineraries are: $1495 US/1030
E per person, based on double occupancy.
Single supplement $508 US/350 euros.
Combined seven days/six nights are: $2985 US/2060
E. per person, based on double occupancy.Single
supplement $1016 US/700 euros.
For details of which ride is
going on each week see itineraries below.
Ride dates:
Itinerary 1: Chambord to Charmontor Cheverny:May
3-6, May 31-June 3, July 12-15, Aug 5-8, Sept 6-9, Oct
4-7. Itinerary 2: Chenonceau to Amboise via Chanteloup:
June 3-6, July 15-18, Aug 8-11, Sept 9-12, Oct 7-10.
Itinerary 3: Combines 1 & 2.: May 31-June 6, July 12-18,
Aug 5-11, Sept 6-12, Oct 4-10.
Itinerary 4: Saumur to Chateau de
Montsoreau – Abaye de Fontevraud: June 21-24.
5. Abaye de Fontevraud to Chateau d'Azay le Rideau:
June 24-27, 6 Combines 4 & 5: June 21-27, July
19-25, Aug 16-22 and Sept 20-26.
Most rides require a minimum of 4 riders. |
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General
Description: The rides originate in Blois (iti1), Amboise
(iti2), and Saumur ( iti 4,5,6) right in the heart of the Val-de-Loire a living
testimony to the glory that was France. Here reside the homes of France 's King
and Queens now lovingly maintained and yours to experience on and off horseback.
The elegant Castle to Castle rides offers, political fashion be damned, a touch
of the noble life style that was France and is still retained in her architect,
her art, culture, food, riding, and wine. Some of the castles visited include
Chambord, Villesavin, Beauregard, Cheverny, Troussay, Chaumont, Amboise,
Chenonceau, Nitray, and Pagode de Chanteloup.Ride through the famous lands
surrounding the historical treasures in the Val de Loire and be entertained and
dazzled with visits and shows at the area's beautiful maintained historic,
castles and chateaux. A new ride round Saumur cadre Noir, which you can visit on
one ride can be enjoyed for 4 or 7 days The holiday is meant to pamper you with
accommodations at elegant, historic, chateau, picnics with foie gras and
delicious French meals and all this sizzle and crackle before you get on your
‘high horse'. Ride mixed Camargue, a French breed developed in Camargue
primarily for cattle work and Selle Francais Arabian horses on itinerary
4,5,6.Enjoy both a morning and afternoon ride, at a varied pace suitable for all
riders who can at least maintain long posting trots and the occasional canter or
gallop (itinerary 1,2,3), and maintain long time of canter (itinerary 4,5,6).
We provide a carefully designed riding program that keeps you off the road and
riding in manner and in locations that have made this region, a world renowned
center for fine food, accommodations and horseback riding . The riding center is
conveniently located less than two hours from Paris , by auto, plane or train |
| ITINERARY |
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1.
Chambord to Charmontor Cheverny
2.
Chenonceau to Amboise via Chanteloup
3.Combines 1 and 2
4.Saumur to Chateau de
Montsoreau – Abaye de Fontevraud
5. Abaye de Fontevraud
to Chateau d'Azay le Rideau
6. Combines 4 and 5 |
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| II- DAY BY DAY SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY:1
Chambord to Chaumontor Cheverny
Dates: May 3-6, May 31-June 3, July
12-15, Aug 5-8, Sept 6-9, Oct 4-7.
From the large path of Boulogne forest to trails and
vinyards of val de loire, we ride on Catherine de medicis,
François 1st and so much famous people of that time
footsteps...
Chambord, Beauregard, Villesavin, Blois... These
wonderfull renaissance's castles bring us into the heart
of French History.
Pace : moderate - from 4 to 6h per day in the saddle |
| Day1: |
Arrival to the B&B
au château near Chambord.
Dinner and accomodation in B&B castle. |
| Day2: |
AM (about 3 hours on horseback)
B&B au château - Chambord on horseback.
Lunch in Chambord in the Stables of the Maréchal de
Saxe, Horse show or Visit of the Chambord castle.
PM (about 3 hours on horseback)
Chateau de Chambord - Chateau de Villesavin on
horseback. Guided Visit of the castle.
Dinner and accomodation in B&B castle. |
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Day 3 |
AM (about 1 hour on horseback)
B&B au chateau - Beauregard castle on horseback.
Guided visit of Beauregard castle.
Picnic with foie gras in the Russy forest.
PM (about 3 hours on horseback)
Russy forest - Chateau de Chaumont sur Loire on
horseback.
Visit of the « festival des jardins » (garden
festival) or visit of Chateau de Cheverny.
Accomodation in B&B castle.
Dinner in Blois and show at Chateau de Blois. |
| Day4: |
Breakfast at B&B au château -
Departure or transfer |
Accommodations on Option 1
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LoireValley castle : CHAMBORD From
1518, François 1st who used to enjoy hunting in
the abounding in game forest of Boulogne , ordered
toraze the small castle of the Counts of Blois and
replaced it with a sumptuous structure which was
soon to be called Chambord . The Chambord 's
design is attributed to Leonard de Vinci and
inspired by the feudal movement. Standing as a
Renaissance marvel, Chambord offers 440 rooms, 365
chimneys, 13 main stairs, 70 backstairs and it no
longer inspires any warlike memories. Chambord is
François 1st‚s personal work. François 2nd,
Charles 9th, Louis 13th, Louis 14th, and Molière
stayed in it. After having been offered to the
Marechal of Saxe and then acquired by the Counts
of Chambord, Chambord has become the property of
the French state since 1932. |
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LoireValley castle : BEAUREGARD
The well-named Beauregard has reputed roots such
as Jean du Thiers, secretary of state of Henry 2nd
who was himself the constructor and first Lord of
Beauregard. The castle shelters the famous Galerie
des Illustres which displays the paintingportrays
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.
Splendid! |
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LoireValley castle : VILLESAVIN
Built on the site of an ancient roman
villa,Villesavin - Villa Savini- was erected
between 1527 and 1537 by Jean le Breton,
superintendent of the Chambord 's building work.
Villesavin is a Renaissance castle and however
tends towards a certain classicism. The simplicity
of its façade is dazzlingly graceful and
harmonious. |
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LoireValley castle : CHAUMONT SUR LOIRE
In 1560, Catherine de Medicis, Henri 2nd's widow,
only acquired the castle in order to take revenge
on Diane de Poitiers who used to be the late
King‚s favorite. She compelled this latter to let
her have Chenonceau in exchange of Chaumont.
Chaumont sur Loire is again inspired by the feudal
movement and overlooks its village by the river
Loire . The international festival of the gardens
which is organized in the park is a unique and a
esthetically pleasing place where creativity in
the art of creating gardens is freely expressed.
Each year, a new theme is proposed to about thirty
international landscape gardeners previously
selected by examination. They vie with each other
in imagination and talent to lay out the plot of
land that they were each attributed. |
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ITINERARY 2 |
Chenonceau to Amboise via Chanteloup
Discovering Chateau de Chenonceau'reflection's in
Cher's waters from horseback is absolutely
unforgettable. With itinerary 2 we ride from the
banks of river Cher to Chesnut trees of Amboise
forest, from feminine beauty of chateau de
Chenonceau to political history of château
d'Amboise.Pace: moderate -
from 4 to 6h per day in the saddle
Dates: June 3-6, July 15-18, Aug
8-11, Sept 9-12, Oct 7-10. |
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Day 1 |
Arrival to the B&B au château
near Chenonceau. Dinner and accomodation in B&B
castle. |
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Day 2 |
AM (about 1 hour on horseback)
B&B au château - Chenonceau on horseback.
Visit of the château and gardens of Chenonceau.
Lunch in château of Chenonceau.
PM (about 3 hours on horseback)
Chenonceau - château de Nitray on horseback.
Guided visit of the caves, cellar and wine museum -
wine testing.
Dinner and accommodation in B&B castle. |
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Day 3 |
AM (about 2 hours on horseback)
B&B au château - Pagode de Chanteloup on horseback.
Visit of the Pagode de Chanteloup and old fashioned
outdoorgames. Picnic with foie gras in the gardens of
the Pagode.
PM (about 1 hour on horseback)
Pagode de Chanteloup - château d'Amboise on horseback.
Guided visit of the Château d'Amboise.
Accomodation in B&B castle.
Dinner at Amboise and nights illuminations at Chateau
de Chenonceau. |
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Day 4 |
Breakfast at B&B au château –
Departure or transfer. |
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Castle of the LoireValley : CHENONCEAU
Through the very location and conception
of the Chenonceau castle emerges a feminine
influence that makes it so peculiar. It was built
between 1512 and 1521 by Catherine Briçonnet,
Thomas Bohier's wife. In 1547, Henri 2nd offered
Chenonceau to his favourite, Diane de Poitiers.
She tastefully decided the building of the bridge
that steps over the Cher river. When Henri 2nd
died, Catherine of Medicis took her revenge by
forcing Diane to dispose of Chenonceau in exchange
of Chaumont. She arranged the design of the
surrounding park and of the double-floored gallery
upon the bridge. She put on lavish entertainments
that used to marvel her contemporary. The ladies
Chateau today belongs to the family Menier. |
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Castle of the LoireValley : PAGODEDE
CHANTELOUP The Pagode is the only
remaining vestige of the sumptuous castle. It
stands at the edge of the forest of Amboise and
was built by the Duke of Choiseul, minister of
Louis 15th. Its architecture was patterned on
Versailles and it still evokes today the former
atmosphere of the large castle, abandoned and
destroyed in 1823 by real estate agents. Exiled at
Mrs du Barry's instigation, Choiseul made of
Chanteloup a true intellectual and artistic
center. He decided its construction between 1775
and 1778 following the Chinese inspiration in
vogue at that time. The Pagode of Chanteloup thus
brings out an original charm to the Loire valley.
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Castle of the LoireValley : NITRAY
Nitray stands as an exceptional 15th and
16th century architectural set. It's been a great
wine domain since the 15th century. After having
visited the wine and spirit house, you can attend
a demonstration of champanization in the old way.
You can also discover a display of the professions
from the period in the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin
(museum of wine and vineyard).The harmony of its
Renaissance façade rises above a 43hectares
landscape park designed during the 1st Empire. Its
recentlyrestored pigeon house is one of the most
imposing in the Touraine area. |
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Castle of the LoireValley : AMBOISE In
the 15th century, Amboise used to enjoy its golden
age. Charles 7th who had spent his childhood in
the castle restored it with a whole team of
Italian artists, architects, sculptors and
decorators that he had brought back from his
journey. This is the starting point of the Italian
influence over French art. Later belonging to
Gaston d‚Orléans, the outside fortifications were
razed to the ground during one of the numerous
rebellions against the King. Grant lacking, the
main part of the castle was destroyed by Roger
Ducos, a member of Napoleon Directory. Nowadays,
you can admire the imposing vestiges of a past
glory from its terrace which overlooks the River
Loire |
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ITINERARY 3 |
Combines rides 1 and 2:
Dates: Combines 1 & 2.: May
31-June 6, July 12-18,
Aug 5-11, Sept 6-12, Oct 4-10. |
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ITINERARY 4 |
Saumur to Chateau de Montsoreau – Abaye de
Fontevraud
Dates:
June 21-24.
Riding marvelous Arabians horses, we discover by
walking and long canters of our horses, vinyards,
mills, Loire's hillside and bank, forests... The
arrival riding into Abaye de Fontevraud is
terrific ! Pace : fast - from 4 to 6h per day in
the saddle - Arabian horses |
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Day 1 |
Arrival at the B&B au château
near Saumur. Diner and briefing in B&B castle. |
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Day 2 |
Champigny cellar -
Chateau de Brézé AM - about 2 hours on
horseback Beginning of the ride to Champigny
troglodyte cellar from our B&B in château by the
vinyards, with a magnificient view on Saumur chateau.
Arriving on horseback into the troglodytecellar ... an
unforgetable experience ! wine testing Gourmet lunch
in a close restaurant. PM - about 2 hours on
horseback. Ride in the Champigny vinyards, and along
the forest to chateau de Brézé. visit of the chateau.
Gourmet dinner and night at the B&B castle. |
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Day 3 |
Day3: Chateau
de Montsoreau -Abaye de Fontevraud
AM - about 2 hours on horseback. Beginning of the ride
to Chateau de Montsoreau from our B&B in château by
the vinyards, and banks of the Loire. Visit of chateau
de Monsoreau. Lunch on a barge on the Loire in front
of chateau de Monsoreau. PM - about 2 hours on
horseback Ride in the vinyards, and trough the
Fontevraud forest. Descent with a beautiful view on
the Abaye de Fontevraud. Arriving on horseback inside
the Abaye de Fontevraud. |
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Day 4 |
Breakfast at B&B castle -
departure |
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ITINERARY 5 |
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Abaye de Fontevraud to Chateau d'Azay le Rideau
Dates: June 24-27,
Great feeling to meet History of Alienor
d'Aquitaine, Jeanne d'Arc, Plantagenêts, Valois...
Great feeling of long canters of our wonderfull
Arabian horses... Great feeling to ride in this
beautifull country where rivers Indre, Vienne go
together to Loire ...
Pace: fast - 6h per day in the
saddle - Arabian horses |
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Day 1 |
Arrival at Abaye de Fontevraud
Hotel( inside the Abaye).
Dinner and night in Abaye de Fontevraud Hotel. |
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Day 2 |
AM - about 2 hours on horseback
Beginning of the ride to Cande saint Martin from Abaye
de Fontevraud Hotel by the vinyards and countryside,
with a Lunch in a local restaurant on the Vienne
river.
PM - about 3 hours on horseback
Ride along the South bank of the Vienne river.
Arriving with a beautifull view to Chinon.
Visit of the chateau de Chinon.
Gourmet dinner and night at the Abaye de Fontevraud
Hotel. |
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Day 3 |
AM - about 2h30 hours on
horseback
Beginning of the ride to Chateau d'Ussé from Chinon
forest. Ride in the Chinon forest to Chateau d'Ussé.
Visit Chateau d'Ussé.
Lunch in Ussé.
PM - about 3 hours on horseback
Ride along the Indre river, the forest and
countryside.
Arriving on horseback at the doors of Chateau d'Azay
le Rideau.
Visit of Chateau d'Azay le Rideau.
Gourmet Dinner near Saumur and night at Abaye de
Fontevraud Hotel. |
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Day 4 |
Breakfast at Abaye de
Fontevraud Hotel - Departure or transfer. |
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ITINERARY 6 |
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Combines Option 4 and 5. Dates: June 21-27. |
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| IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a sample itinerary, planned several months in advance. Accordingly, arrangements (routes or facilities) are subject to change depending on local conditions and hotel choice may vary due to availability. Also, the tour may be arranged in different order than is described above. |
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| III –SERVICES INCLUDED: |
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Three or six nights accommodations, all meals, riding,
wine, guides and horses. |
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| IV–NOT INCLUDED: |
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Airfares, transfers , discretionary gratuities, and
insurance. |
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