Horse riding in France

"Bastide towns and vineyards in the Albi area"

Tourism >Southwest France > Equestrian holidays > Horse riding > Bastide towns and vineyards in the Albi area

Ref : Equ 02

An exceptional ride that combines the celebrated merry-making typical of the South West with the pleasure of riding through magnificent, contrasting scenery and historic villages full of character.

You will be crossing some of the most beautiful bastide towns in France: Cordes, Bruniquel, Puycelsi, medieval towns perched on mountain ledges with their cobbled streets and beautifully worked stone facades.

You will discover the generous cuisine of the land in the lovely guest houses and charming hotels. In the cool wine cellars, you will taste the excellent wines of Gaillac, one of the oldest wine-growing areas in France.

As we go along, you will meet with local people – wine growers, guides who each in their own way will tell you the history of these lands of Albi and the Rouergue.

You will appreciate the sense of a good humour in the air, the inclination to share.

Day 1 :

Reception in the late afternoon and tour of stud farm. Welcoming aperitif, meal with local specialties and night at the Tronques 2* farm.

Day 2 :

Preparation of the horses. Trek through the verdant Viaur valley, stopping point in picturesque accommodation where you can relax before having a generous meal.

Day 3 :

We cross the bastide town of Monestiès and will then set off on a succession of canters over the grassy trail that leads us to the Cordes sur Ciel, the most ancient of the bastide towns. After crossing Cordes we stop and relax before having dinner at Claude Izard’s gourmet restaurant. We spend the night here in a 2** hotel.

Day 4 :

We will gradually leave the forests and narrow valleys behind us before coming out into vineyards of Gaillac where we shall visit the cellars and have a wine-tasting picnic on a winegrower’s estate. We spend the night at Cahuzac sur Vère, a charming village, in a 3* guest house. Wine tasting in a cellar and evening with a historian who has a passionate interest in the region.

Day 5 :

We shall stop off at the Mayragues Castle for a last Gaillac wine-tasting session before making our way through the narrow streets of the bastide town of Castelnau de Montmiral. After the vineyards, we now will ride through the huge state forest of La Grésigne before reaching Puycelsi, a fortified town in a dominant position. We will be spending the night in the village at a 3* guest house where you will be able to unwind by the swimming pool.

Day 6 :

We reach Bruniquel perched on a cliff and flanked by two castles that stand side by side (the setting for scenes in the “Le Vieux Fusil” film). It is a place brimming with stories that our guide will narrate during the tour. Night at a 2* guest house in the village.

Day 7 :

We will take wall-lined paths across the “causses” (limestone tablelands) that lead out on to the Gorge of the Aveyron river - a magnificent view of the Capucin cliffs, much appreciated by rock climbers. St. Antonin Nobleval will be our stopping place, abundant with historic buildings and arts and crafts shops. A sumptuous meal before spending the night in a 2* hotel.

Day 8 :

Departure after a plentiful breakfast.

Plan du site

Evazio

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