France’s Perigord Castle Ride (Noir)

Day 1

Late afternoon independent arrival to the B&B/hotel. Alternatively, transfers can be arranged from the Lalinde train station for an additional fee.

Evening welcome and overview of the week.

Day 2

After breakfast, around 10:30AM, you'll meet the horses at Chateau de Bannes (a private chateau from the 15th century). You will begin the ride exploring Lalinde's bastide (the first of several fortified villages on your week) and then follow the canal toward Mauzac, a village on the right bank of the Dordogne, where a lovely picnic lunch will be waiting.

Afterward you'll ride onward to Limeuil, an ancient fishing port.

Day 3

This morning's ride takes you exploring through the forest. After some fun trotting and cantering, you'll be glad to relax at your picnic lunch near the village of St. Cyprien, right on the edge of the Dordogne.

After lunch you'll ride out toward Castelnaud la Chapelle following a route on a medieval pathway from the castle of Tayac.

Your horse will overnight in the Valley of the Ceou while you are taken to your B&B/hotel for a welcome dinner and overnight.

Day 4

This morning you will visit the Castelnaud-la-Chapelle's Castle and it's museum, dating back to the 12th century (entry fee not included). It offers a magnificent panorama of various areas (Beynac, Marquessac, La Roche Gageac and gives a very nice history of the war in the middle ages.

Riding from the Ceou Valley to the Dordogne Valley, the morning ride has many nice chances for fun canters. Your picnic lunch awaits you at the foot of a windmill, in the Domme bastide. Before or after the picnic you may visit the royal bastide of Domme (entry fee not included) dating to the 13th century.

You will particularly enjoy the view of the Dordogne Valley from this medieval village before you ride on to Vitrac, where the horses will overnight and you will be driven to Sarlat, an old area that is an excellent example of a preserved medieval city.

Day 5

Today, you ride only in the morning and you begin by traveling through the village and exploring the countryside of Sarlat before stopping at the Campagnac Castle for a lovely picnic lunch.

You have the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the charming city of Sarlat - perfect for strolling, shopping or relaxing over some coffee or wine. This is the capital of the Perigord Noir, a city of art and history. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Europe with its magnificent architecture.

There may be the possibility of a city tour in the afternoon or after dinner.

Day 6

Today's ride follows a path the takes you to Meyrals, with the chance to see and visit (entry fee not included) the Puymartin Castle which was built in the 15th century. It was first built in the 12th century, was destroyed in the 14th century and rebuilt - it has a very interesting and storied history.

You'll enjoy your picnic lunch at the boot of Meyrals' Church before you head out to the village of Audrix, which gives you the most amazing panoramic view of the Vezere valley.

Day 7

Your morning begins by riding down into the Vezere valley on the way to Limeuil. You'll ride along the Dordogne River toward the village of Cadouin, where you picnic lunch awaits near the abbey, built inthe 12th century. After lunch, there is ample time for a tour (entry fee not included) of the abbey.

Mounting back up, you ride to and through the Bessede Forest, the most important forestland of the Perigord. You'll have time to visit Moliere's village, a bastide from the 12th century, before you head back to Bannes castle.

Day 8

After breakfast, transfer to Lalinde train station at pre set time.