French Western Rides:
The following three rides, using Western saddles, take place in a part of France famous for its fine cuisine as well as for the beauty of its landscape. The English speaking guide gives you a deeper insight into the local history and culture than the casual tourist could ever attain. Fortresses and Forests of the Dordogne is the least demanding of the three and allows plenty of time to visit local castles and other points of interest. Many of the castles here were used during the Hundred Years War which so ravaged the area. The Castles, Cliffs and Caves Ride has wild and spectacular scenery with troglodyte houses and prehistoric caves. Fertile land leads onto higher, wooded country where sheer cliffs offer breathtaking views. The new Vignobles de Cahors Ride winds through the timeless Lot River valley from one award-winning vineyard to the next. Each memorable day combines some of life's great pleasures; fine horses, excellent wines, superb cuisine and upscale accommodations.


Fortresses & Forests of the Dordogne Ride
Castles, Cliffs and Caves Ride
Vignobles de Cahors Ride

Itinerary, Dates and Prices

FORTRESSES & FORESTS OF THE DORDOGNE RIDE
Day 1: You will be met upon arrival at Agen Railway station and taken to your hotel in Pujols, a beautifully restored medieval village set high on a hill overlooking the Lot valley and river. (30 minute drive) Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Visit the thirteenth century bastide town of Montflanquin. Before lunch you will have an opportunity to visit the bastide. In the afternoon, ride toward the valley of Gavaudun, past the Chateaux de Gavaudun built on a rock face in the XI century. Arrive at a converted mill with a swimming pool, where you will spend the night. Relax by the pool or visit the quaint hamlet of St. Avit with its ceramics museum named for Bernard Palissy, the famous scientist and potter born there.
Day 3: Ride to the Chateau de Biron. Its architecture spans eight centuries and it is one of the best-preserved castles in Europe. Picnic lunch, with an optional visit to the castle at a per person cost of about 40FF (at riders own expense). Ride into the Dordogne to Monpazier, the bastide famous for its superb architecture, which was founded by Edward I, King of England in 1284. Visit Monpazier - local meal and overnight at a hotel in the bastide, known for it's historic atmosphere.
Day 4: Morning ride through the chestnut woods, then on through the Dordogne area to the Auberge La Clé des Champs in the middle of the woods. Picnic lunch at the auberge, then drive to the Font-de-Gaume caves famous for its polychrome paintings and engravings, mostly dating from the Magdalenian period. It is one of the finest Paleolithic sanctuaries in the world. Return to the auberge with its warm water swimming pool for a regional evening meal and overnight.
Day 5: Ride to the Chateau de Bonaguil built on a rock face in the XV century. Picnic lunch and optional tour of Bonaguil Castle at a per person cost of about 30FF (at riders own expense). After lunch ride on to a local vineyard for a visit and tasting. Transfer to your hotel located in the countryside just minutes from the vineyard, for dinner and the night.
Day 6: Morning ride to the fortified town of Tournon d'Agenais, perched atop a hill with a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. Another wonderful picnic lunch. Then ride on to a traditional and very comfortable country hotel with a swimming pool and beautiful gardens. In the evening, enjoy a regional meal with excellent local wines.
Day 7: Ride back to the Lot et Garonne, visiting the quaint village of Hautefage la Tour with its XV century tower and Gothic church. Return to the ranch, then transfer to the hotel in Pujols for a farewell dinner at a very nice restaurant known for it's cuisine, and the final night of your trip.
Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Agen Railway Station. (Hotel check out time is 11:00 AM)

**DAILY ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES**

CASTLES, CLIFFS AND CAVES RIDE
Day 1: Meet at Agen Railway Station and transfer to your hotel in Pujols, a beautifully restored medieval village set high atop a hill overlooking the Lot Valley and River. (about a 30 minute drive) Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 2: After breakfast riders are taken to the ranch for allocation of the horses. Depart for the picturesque village of Hautefage, with its XV century tower and Gothic church. After a picnic lunch at Hautefage, ride on to Chateau de L'Hoste. Dinner and overnight at this traditional and very comfortable country hotel with swimming pool and beautiful gardens. Dinner will be a regional meal with excellent local wines.
Day 3: Ride to Montaigu de Quercy for a picnic lunch. This is a splendid example of a medieval village with its typical half-timbered, white stone houses unique to the Quercy region. After a picnic lunch continue on to Montcuq, capital of the white Quercy region. Dinner and overnight at a small country house hotel just outside the village. The ride is now in more remote country, climbing higher into the hills.
Day 4: Cross the calcareous and wild plateau of the Lot with a midday stop at the small village of Labastide-Marnhac. After lunch continue through varied countryside, valleys and oak woods to arrive at a vineyard for a visit and taste. Then transfer to Lalbenque, a typical French village located in the center of the Quercy black truffle region, for dinner and overnight in a local hotel.
Day 5: A short morning ride to Pech Petit, a retirement home for horses. After lunch, head north through the village of Concots to your hotel near the wondrous village of Saint Cirq Lapopie, perched on a cliff face with a commanding view of the Lot Valley. Visit of the medieval village; dinner at a local restaurant, and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: A spectacular morning ride along the cliffs, crossing the Lot River, to the prehistoric caves of Pech-Merle, decorated with Magdalenian rupestrian (on the stone) paintings. Visit the caves (at rider's own expense – about 50 FF), and enjoy another picnic lunch. In the afternoon ride through the beautiful valley of Célé to the quaint village of Saulliac sur Célé, built in the middle of a cirque of cliffs, with amazing troglodyte houses. Dinner and overnight in very comfortable guest rooms at a 16th century converted farm house.
Day 7: Continue along the River Célé to Marcilhac sur Célé with its magnificent Benedictine abbey. Lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit of the abbey. In the afternoon, transfer to Pujols for a farewell dinner at a restaurant known for it's cuisine, and the final night of your trip.
Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Agen railway station. (Hotel check out time is 11:00 AM)

**ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES**

VIGNOBLES de CAHORS RIDE
Day 1: You will be met upon arrival at Agen Railway station and taken to your hotel, a traditional comfortable, country hotel for dinner and overnight. (45 minute drive)
Day 2: After breakfast and allocation of the horses at the hotel, you will ride through the countryside to the village of Montaigu de Quercy for a picnic lunch. Montaigu is a splendid example of a medieval village with its half-timbered, white stone houses, unique to the Quercy region of France. After lunch continue on to the Chateau de Chambert, set high on the hillsides of South Quercy near the old Quercynois village of Floressas. This will be your first opportunity for wine tasting and a visit of an award winning Cahors vineyard that has been producing Cahors wine since the XII century. After the visit and wine tasting, you will be transferred a short distance to your quaint, country hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: The ride continues through the forests and hillsides of the area to reach the Lot valley, where you will stop at the Chateau de Grezels for a picnic lunch and a short visit of this medieval castle. Overlooking the Lot valley and many of the Cahors vineyards, the view from the castle gives a wonderful indication of the days to come. After lunch, ride down into the Lot valley and along the Lot River to the vineyards of the Chateau la Gineste. Dinner and overnight at this XVI century hunting inn that has been converted to a traditional Quercy home of the XVIII century. Today it is a restaurant, guest house and working vineyard, all in one. A wine tasting and tour will precede dinner.
Day 4: Ride out of the Lot valley to explore the hillsides of the area north of the river. Stop for lunch at the XIII century bastide, Montcabrier. This small forest village still has vestiges of the original XIII century fortifications and the XIIII century church in the town center. Ride back into the Lot valley after lunch and on to the XII century Chateau du Cayrou, located within a loop of the meandering Lot River. Here there will be another wine tasting and visit before being transferred to a nearby modern hotel in Puy-Lévéque for the night. Puy-Lévéque is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque locations in the Lot valley, with it's ancient houses of ochre-yellow stone, overlooked by it's XIII century castle keep.
Day 5: Today ride back into the hills past ancient dolmens and garriotes (shepherd houses) before returning again to the river and the beautiful bastide of Castlefranc. Picnic on the banks of the Lot River, below the walls of this old bastide once belonging to the Bishop of Cahors. After lunch, ride along the river and on through the valley to the award winning Chateau Lagrezette. Enjoy another wine tasting before transferring to the nearby Chateau de Mercues for a special evening in this XIII century castle perched on a promontory overlooking the Lot River and vineyards below. Once the favorite residence of the Bishops of Cahors, the chateau has recently returned to its vocation as a wine producing estate, while also being converted into a four-star hotel and restaurant. Dinner in the castle offers an excellent opportunity to sample some of the chateaux vintage wines.
Day 6: In the morning ride north of the Lot valley, crossing the calcareous and wild plateaus of the region and into the surrounding oak forests. Lunch will be in a small village restaurant north of the town of Cahors. After lunch, transfer to the same hotel as on the first night, where you will have an opportunity to relax before the evening's farewell dinner.
Day 7: After breakfast transfer to Agen Railway Station. (Hotel check out time is 11:00 AM)
**ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES**