SOLOGNE (Loire Valley) – “One day/One Castle” horse trail

The meeting point is at the equestrian centre at 8:30am to be ready to ride around 9:30 am. On the last day, every rider leaves individually after 6.30 pm. Every riding day is dedicated to a big loop with the objective of joining one of the wonderful castles of the Loire valley where we will stop for a lunch break

At every stage of the trip, you will be able to enjoy some free time to relax, or to visit the castle (entry to be paid on the spot). The time of visit of the castle is about one hour. Every riding day varies depending on the weather, the level of the riders... However, they are all magnificent. Back to the equestrian centre at the end of the day.

Our different riding excursions:

Morning at the heart of the big forest of Sologne and its game parks. You may have the chance of seeing deers, hinds and boars. Friendly picnic near the washing place of Cheverny at the edge of the castle's surrounding walls. It is the estate that inspired the Belgian author Hergé for the Moulinsart castle of "the adventures of Tintin". Castle visiting time (about an hour) or relaxing time before starting our horse ride again through the 2000 hectares of the beautiful forest of Cheverny.

Morning through the "Grande Sologne" and its numerous ponds to arrive at one of the rare Baudet du Poitou donkey breeding in France. Villesavin, also known as the "Chambord work basement" was the old house of the manager of Chambord. Lunch on the castle's lawn followed by an independent visit of its gardens, and/or a guided visit of the inside of the castle (voluntary). Back to the equestrian centre by the village of Fontaines-en-Sologne and its great church from the XII century.

Today, we reach the biggest and probably the most prestigious of the Loire's castles : Chambord. Its building was supervised by François the First, it contains a double spiral staircase, unique in France. The morning will bring you to the heart of the "Grande Sologne" and its numerous ponds. The crossing of the National Park, the biggest in Europe with a surface of 50 km², to see, in between the trees, the shape of the biggest Loire castle and reach our picnic area near the Nizeron. Back in the saddle to see the castle emerge from the trees in the middle of the afternoon. Voluntary visit of the castle(about 1h) or free timpe for the nap, the rider's choice, before riding again to go back to the equestrian centre through the traditionnal "Chemin du Soldat".

In this version, in the morning, we follow the paths of the Domaniale forest of Boulogne, to reach, at the end of the morning, the village of Bracieux and its really nice covered market with floors dating back from the XVII century. Picnic at the bottom of the village's small church followed by a coffee break at the Choco'Bar of the famous chocolate factory Max Vauché. In the beginning of the afternoon, entry in the National Park, the biggest park in Europe of a surface bigger than 50 km², to see emerge, in between the trees, in the middle of the afternoon, the shape of the biggest of the Loire's castles, masterpiece of the XVI century. Chambord, whose construction was supervised by François the First, contains a beautiful double spiral staircase, unique in France. Back to the equestrian centre by car after some free time for a voluntary visit of the castle.

For this day, there is a change of theme. You will discover the regional specialties of the Val de Loire. You will leave the equestrian centre around 9:30am to spend a day in Sologne des Etangs. You will enjoy its sand aisles, suitable for the gaits to reach the Banguin's Goat Farm in the end of the morning. You will taste the farm's products served with wines from the Val de Loire Cherverny and Cour-Cheverny before lunch. A small visit near the goats and you are back in the saddle between forests and ponds to go back to the equestrian centre.