On certain dates, the ride will be in the reverse order to the program below.
Day 1 - Transfer from Bordaux airport 6.00 p.m, hall B at the "Brioche Dorée" snack bar. You will be driven then to Chambre d'Hôtes en Vigne in Ruch for your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2 - This day's hike will take us through the Entre-deux-mers region, with its varied, hilly, wooded landscapes and beautiful vineyards. We pass by the 13th-century Château de Rauzan before arriving at our picnic area. In the
afternoon, we continue through the Bordeaux vineyards, returning to Château du Courros (Bordeaux Supérieur) for a tasting. Built on the grounds of a pre-6th-century religious community dedicated to Saint Vincent (said to be the patron saint of winegrowers), Château du Courros lies a few kilometers south of St. Emilion. Overnight stay and dinner in a B&B in Ruch.
Day 3 - This morning, we drive along the Dordogne to Merlande. Through the vineyards, we head for Saint Emilion, where we have lunch. We see Château de Pavie, Premier Grand Cru classé A. Picnic at Château FrancMayne in Saint Emilion. Franc-Mayne is a Grand Cru Classé. Backing onto the slope of Franc, from which it takes its name, the
château boasts 7 hectares of vines. The ancient Gallo-Roman road runs alongside the vineyard. An old coaching inn bears witness to the passage of pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Tasting and discovery of the
2-hectare underground cellars. In the afternoon, we take in the famous estates of Château Pétrus, Cheval Blanc and Château Figeac before arriving in the Pomerol appellation, where we leave the horses behind. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 - (horseback riding only in the afternoon) The morning is free. You can enjoy Saint Emilion. This unusual medieval town opens its doors all year round to adventurers, wine lovers and the simply curious. A city
steeped in history, perched on a rocky promontory, SaintÉmilion and its vineyards draw their originality from the
limestone that has shaped their identity. This is evidenced by the 200 km of underground galleries that provided the
limestone needed for the construction of many of the region's buildings, including Bordeaux. We picnic where
we left the horses the day before on the Château Le Gay property. In the afternoon, we drive through vineyards interspersed with small woods to Château MayneVeil (Fronsac), where we leave the horses. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel in Libourne.
Day 5 - On this day, we head for Mouillac through varied landscapes of vineyards, meadows and forests. Picnic at Mouillac's little Romanesque church, where you'll have time to find the 9 canonic dials. The day continues on to Cubnezais. The landscape here is divided between the vineyards of the "Blaye - Côtes de Bordeaux" appellation and the forest of pines and hardwoods. At the end of the day, we leave the horses at Domaine de la Gravette. Overnight
stay and dinner in a B&B in Civrac de Blaye.
Day 6 - This morning, we drive through the rolling hills of the Côtes de Bourg. Picnic and tasting at Château Lamothe (Côte de Bourg). Departure around 3pm for the Citadelle de Blaye. We enter the 18th-century Vauban citadel on horseback (tour). With its 1.5 km of ramparts, gates and underground passageways, the citadel has preserved intact the defensive system designed by Vauban, as well as the buildings necessary for the proper functioning of a garrison: former convent, prison, barracks and powder magazine. Overnight in hotel and dinner in Blaye.
Day 7 - (riding only in the morning) After breakfast, we cross the Gironde with our mounts on the ferry to Lamarque and the Médoc (duration 40 mins.). We ride through the Médoc vineyards to our picnic at Moulis en Médoc. Afternoon at leisure, tasting at Château Maslescasse (Haut-Médoc). Located in Lamarque, between Margaux and Saint-Julien, Château Malescasse was built in 1824 in the purest neo-classical style. Overnight stay and dinner
in a bed & breakfast in Moulis en Médoc.
Day 8 - Breakfast and transfer to Bordeaux airport. Departure about 9.30 a.m. It takes about 1½ hours to get to the airport.
