|
If you ever dream of Southern France - riding through
fields of lavender and inhaling the fragrance of rosemary and thyme,
riding gently on wonderful Andalusian horses; of a 18th Century Bastide
country inn with luxury rooms and incredible Provence Cooking- then this
is the ride for you!
Each room has it own character and is beautifully newly decorated with
private bathrooms decorated with the handmade tiles that the town of
Salernes is world famous for. Al meals are exceptional and included
except for some lunches and dinners where your host will take you to a
local restaurant to experience the true culture and atmosphere of the
Provence.
see our Discover Provence Ride if
you are looking for a bit more riding each day.
 IT-FRSR01
Rates include accommodations, all meals and wine with dinner,
5.5 riding days, a visit to local market, wine tasting
7 days/ 6 nights $ 1,285
Single: + $
215
-- based on € 985 / € 175
Non-Riders: $ 875 lodging, breakfast & dinner
2006 Dates:
10/15-10/21 11/05-11/11
... not available in 2007
Meeting: Salernes en Provence
Airport: Nice (68 mi)
Transfer: $155 (€
120)
pp / min of 2, pick up time 1 PM - drop off 11 AM
... or we can pick you up from the Les Arcs Draguignan (TGV)
train station at 2 PM - drop off 10 AM - $95 (€
75) return - any other time $155 per person.
Tack:
English trekking, some Western
Horses:
Andalusian, Peruvian Paso, French pure bred
Pace: Moderate with nice canters, 4 to 6 hrs of riding per day
Level:
Good intermediate, 4-6 hours in the saddle per day ...
see details
Note: A day for sightseeing by minibus on Wednesday and wine
tasting is included.
Min/Max Riders: 2-8
Note: We
supply all riders with saddle bags, water bottle.
Riders under 18 must wear a helmet
Minimum age is 13 yrs.
Single option is not mandatory if you are willing to
share your room with another same sex person
Itinerary
Day 1:
Sunday -
Afternoon ride to “la cascade”
If you have booked a transfer, we pick you up at Nice Côte d’Azur
international airport (1 PM, terminal 1, meeting point "aquarium") or at
“Les Arcs Draguignan” TGV train station (2 PM)
Meeting at the stables where your guide will show you how to prepare
your horse and how to put the tack as you will do every day, with our
help whenever you need it. We believe that grooming is the start of a
good relationship with a horse and is the best way to construct mutual
respect and confidence. We start by riding in the village of Sillans the
cascade, under the castle of the Counts de Castellane and the ramparts,
and we reach the 42 meters high cascade. We continue our ride in a
beautiful hillside forest. Before reaching our home we cross the river
on a small Roman bridge. Dinner on the terrace near the swimming pool or
in our magnificent arched room to taste our homemade Provencal cuisine.
Day 2: Monday - Day ride to Entrecasteaux and Flayosc
French buffet breakfast with homemade jam, warm croissants and
tasty “baguette” bread. Today is “castles day”. On the way to
Entrecasteaux, we ride in a forest where we will find some nice trails
for canters and the old Riforan castle nested in the middle of nowhere.
We arrive around midday at Entrecasteaux, a small village famous for its
impressive castle. There, we have picnic near the river, a very
refreshing place. After lunch, we pass nearby another romantic castle,
Menthonne, with it’s pretty lane of very old trees. We carry on to our
final destination where we will leave our horses for the night. Return
by minibus for dinner and night. And before your gourmet dinner,
you may be tempted by one of our famous cocktails… and drink it by the
pool or the pond, just relaxing and watching the horses grazing around.
Day 3: Tuesday - Day ride in the vineyards; visit of a wine
castle and wine tasting
In the morning we drive you to our friend’s place where the horses have
spent the night. We ride through a nice landscape with hills, rivers and
of course vineyards before reaching the “Cotes de Provence” wine castle
before lunch. There, a wine grower is waiting for us and he will show us
how the vintages are developed. After visiting the wine cellars, we have
a guided wine tasting followed by a picnic lunch. We saddle our horses
before riding in the vineyards where we can have good canters, before
entering the small streets of Salernes. Back home by the end of the
afternoon for dinner and night in our comfortable and unique rooms
decorated with charm and character.
Day 4: Wednesday - Riding, relaxing & sightseeing
Wednesday is market day in Salernes - we will organize a visit for you
in the morning. You will find in the market and in the shops around all
our Provencal products, from fabrics to olive oil, and you will be
surprised by all the fresh products we have in our beautiful area. A lot
of attractive things to see in Salernes : the “Moulin à huile” (olive
oil makers), the tiles and ceramic shops (Salernes ceramics are sold all
around the world), the old church and the brand new museum of the
ceramics “Terra Rossa”. Lunch at a local restaurant or at our place.
During the afternoon, you can swim and relax by the pool, walk to the
next village Sillans la Cascade, or join us on another relaxing ride
into the countryside. The evening, dinner in the beautiful arched room
or close to the swimming pool. Today is a special dinner as we will
start by tasting different olive oils made in our area, served with
tasty tomatoes, fresh garlic and our famous “Jambon” (“prosciutto” ham).
Day 5: Thursday - Day ride to “La source Saint Martin” (Saint
Martin spring)
Our goal of the day is the top of Cotignac, an old village nested at the
foot of a cliff, overlooked by two Middle Age towers. In the cliff flows
a spring between old cave-dwellers’ houses and caves. We have a set and
fresh picnic brought by our staff at the Saint Martin spring, close to a
small basin under the shadow of the trees. In the afternoon, we return
to our home cantering on pleasant forest trails and in the vineyards.
You will have time for relaxing of for swimming (April to September)
before dinner at our home.
Day 6: Friday - Fox Amphoux
Today we ride in an oaks and pines forest to reach the village of Fox
Amphoux, fatherland of Barras one of the great figures of the French
revolution and the Directoire. We will find some sandy trails for nice
canters before stopping at a bed & breakfast for a set lunch under the
shadow of an ancient oak. After this nice BBQ lunch and a little swim in
the pool (May to September), we ride back and reach the estate late
afternoon. For our last dinner together, we offer you a wine tasting
session in our private 18th century wine cellar. We will show you (and
you will taste!) several of our different French wines: “Côtes de
Provence”, “Bordeaux”, “Côtes du Rhône”, “Beaujolais” etc
Day 7: Saturday - Farewell
Following breakfast those who have booked a transfer will be dropped off
at Nice Côte d’Azur airport, Terminal 1 at 11 AM.
Climate · Very sunny : 300 days without rain
per year. |
View Slide Show:
Horseback
View Slide Show:
Lodging
&
Interiors
View Slide Show:
Scenery
|
