Preliminary day-by-day program
Arrival day: f you come on your own, we will welcome you at the hôtel Akena Reims. If you come by train, we will pick you at 6.30 pm at the TGV train station of CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE
Day 1 We will ride only in the morning.
Breakfast at 8:00 AM. We will begin the trail ride at 10:00 AM with a beautiful perspective over the vineyards, riding through the forest of Sermiers, also called « La forêt du Chêne à la Vierge » (it means the woods of Virgin Mary’s oak). Its name comes from a medieval legend: as loggers would have found a figurine of the Virgin Mary in the heart of a tree… Every year, on the third sunday of September, a pilgrimage celebrates this miracle. Returns to the guesthouse and lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the city of Reims, also known as « the city of coronations » or « the city of the kings ». On December 25, 496, the first French christian king, Clovis was baptized by Bishop Saint Rémi on the location where the Notre-Dame of Reims cathedral would later be built and all further French kings were baptized in the same cathedral.As for Champagne wines, they date back to the 17th century and have been one of the main pillars on the local economy for a long time now.
Day 2 In the morning, relaxing canters will lead us through the woods to the heart of the Verzy forest, called « Les Faux de Verzy ». We will enjoy our picnic there. A « Fau de Verzy » is a Dwarf Beech (Fagus sylvatica variety tortuosa). «fau» designated « beech » in Old French. Les Faux de Verzy is the world’s largest concentration of dwarf beeches standing with about a thousand trees. In the afternoon, we will ride south to Trepail, a typical wine village of the
Champagne region, where the white grape called Chardonnay is at home. We will have dinner and spend the night in the village of Bouzy.
Day 3 After lunch, we will ride through the vineyards to the village of Mutigny, offering a panoramic view on on the Marne Valley, the « Côte des Noirs » - name given to the vineyards which are located on the southeast side of the « Montagne de Reims » - and the « Côte des Blancs » - the vineyards which are located at the south of Epernay. We will enjoy our picnic in Hautvillers. This village is the birthplace of the Champagne wines. The monk Dom Pérignon created the method which gave the Champagne its spurs. We will head downwards through the vineyards and we will cross the Marne river at the village of Cumières, inviting us for a nice canter along the river. We will have dinner and spend the night in the town of Epernay.
Day 4 We will ride only in the morning.
We will alternate forests and vineyards, enjoying a panoramic view on Epernay. We will enter the « Blancs de Blancs » vineyards, after a picnic in the village of Cramant, where we will enjoy some wine tasting. In the afternoon, we will visit Epernay. This town, surrounded by vineyards, is the heart of the Champagne economy and the starting point of several scenic roads. Epernay is also the epicenter of Champagne, with every famous Champagne brand having their headquarters there. Most of them are located on the famous Champagne Avenue and 110 km of cellars run under our feet. We will be able to admire the eclectic architecture of most buildings, dated back from the 19th century. We will have dinner and spend the night in the town of Epernay.
Day 5 We will leave Cramant for the Mountain of Avize and its chalk cliffs, arriving in the Darcy valley, where we will have a beautiful view on the village of Monthelon. Crossing Epernay forest, we will be returning in the Marne Valley. After our picnic, we will cross the Marne river at the village of Damery and continue riding through the vineyard slopes. We will have amazing views on the valley, leaving our horses overnight in the village of Montigny. We will have dinner and spend the night in the town of Epernay.
Day 6 After breakfast, we will continue our trail through the vineyard slopes. We will have a magnificient view on the village of Chatillon sur Marne, at the top of which, there is a gigantic statue of Pope Urban II (33m high), otherwise known Odo of Chatillon, supervising the Champagne vineyards. We will picnic at the Natural Regional Parc House of the Reims Mountain, located in Pourcy, to be returning through the forest to our evening stay. We will have dinner and spend the night in Reims.
Day 7
After breakfast, we will give you a lift to CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE TGV station, depending on train schedule.
Please note that prices do not include wine tasting or entrance fees and beverages
in hotels and restaurants.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather,
conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding
