This trail ride from our riding guide of the popular Loire Castles Tour opens up the Champagne region in north-eastern France.
Your riding route takes you through the Reims hills, a wooded plateau with vineyards where the famous Pinot Noir grape variety is cultivated. You to ride through the Marne Valley and discover the "Cote des Blances", the Champagne growing region. The Chardonnay grape is used to produce the famous Blanc des Blancs champagne.
Champagne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its sparkling namesake - a breathtaking region with vineyards, rolling hills, rivers, forests, dreamy winegrowing villages, renowned wine cellars and a historical background: Reims Cathedral witnessed the coronation of several French kings.

Itinerary

Day 1: Travel by train to Reims to the Champagne Ardennes TGV station with subsequent transfer to the hotel in Reims or travel by car.

Day 2: Today to ride you only ride in the morning. After breakfast at 08:00, you set off at 10:00 on a ride through the vineyards and the forest of Sermiers. According to a medieval legend, woodcutters discovered an image of the Virgin Mary in the trunk of an oak tree from this forest. This miracle is celebrated every year on September 3rd. You return to the inn for lunch. In the afternoon, explore the town city of Reims, known as the coronation city. In 496, the first French Christian king was crowned there, where the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims was later built. In the centuries that followed, other French kings were crowned in this cathedral.

Day 3: In the morning, a relaxed canter takes you into the middle of the forest of Verzy, where you will have a picnic to tighten . In the forest of Verzy you will find the world's largest beech grove. In the afternoon, head to Trepail, a typical wine village in the Champagne region, home to the white grape Chardonnay. After dinner, spend the night in a family-run inn in Bouzy.

Day 4: Today the route leads through the vineyards from Bouzy to Mutigny with a panoramic view over the Marne valley. The Cote des Noirs, these vineyards are all on the south-east side of the Reims hills. South of Epernay is the growing area of the Cote des Blanes. You will have a picnic in Hautvillers, the birthplace of champagne. The monk Dom Pérignon developed a method of bottle fermentation for the production of sparkling wine. The route descends through the wine-growing region and crosses the Marne at village Cumières. This is followed by a long gallop along the river. Dinner and overnight stay are in Epernay.

Day 5: A half-day ride is planned for today. Forests and vineyards alternate on the morning ride. Accompanied by the panoramic view over Epernay. You reach the Blancs de Blancs vineyards and have a picnic with wine tasting at village Cramant. In the afternoon, you will visit Epernay. This town is surrounded by vineyards and is the center of the Champagne growing region. All the famous champagne brands have their headquarters here. Many companies are located in the famous Champagne Avenue with 110 km of wine cellars underground. You can admire the architecture of the 19th century buildings. After dinner, you will spend the night in Epernay.

Day 6: From Cramant, you ride on horseback through the Avize mountains with their chalk cliffs to the Darcy valley where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the village Monthelon. After crossing the forest area around Epernay, you return to the Marne valley. Here you have a picnic, cross the Marne and reach village Damery. The ride continues through the vineyards with impressive views of valley. The horses stay overnight in the village Montigny. After dinner, there will be a champagne wine tasting followed by an overnight stay in a hotel in Epernay.

Day 7: After breakfast, you continue the trail through the vineyards. You will experience a magnificent view of the village Chatillon sur Marne. There is the gigantic statue of Pope Urban II (33 meters high). Also known as Odo of Catillon, this statue guards the vineyards of Champagne. Today's picnic is in Pourcy at the Reims Nature Park. From there, you return via forest . You will find yourself in La Neuville aux Larris for dinner. You will spend the last night on your beautiful trail back at the hotel in Reims.

Day 8: After breakfast, our partner will take you back to the train station in Reims.

Accomodation
The first two and the last two nights of this trail ride will be spent in a hotel in Reims.
The 3rd night is planned in a family-run guesthouse in Bouzy. In Epernay you have 3 nights in a small middle-class boutique hotel.
Double room or single room available.

Saddle & Tack: English bridle and trekking saddles.

Experience: Regular riding is required from approx. 4 years, including light riding seat. You should be able to ride other horses in all gaits without instruction and also feel confident at a lively canter. Maximum rider weight 90 kg.

Horses: Endurance trekking horses, including Anglo-Arabians.

Sorry, there is no feedback yet.