Imagine: vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, picturesque streets and historic buildings steeped in mystery. In the area surrounding Sancerre, a town with a medieval center and a rich history, there are a number of villages nestled into the hillsides. So many small towns with charming streets and squares. From the vineyards to the town, Sancerre is a charming old medieval town where you can stroll through picturesque streets with old names: rue des Pressoirs, place du Puits-du-Marche, and rue des Trois-Piliers. Sancerre is considered one of the oldest wine-growing regions in France and has been recognized as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine since 1936, or AOC for short, which stands for protected designation of origin for agricultural products. The region's wine perfectly reflects the expression of the terroir—the wine-growing region—and is elegant and racy. The Sauvignon Blanc grape variety is particularly well suited to this region. There is a second AOC in the Sancerre region. Crottin de Chavignol, a goat's cheese, goes perfectly with a Sancerre Blanc made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at the hotel in Sancerre at 6p.m.

Day 2: After breakfast and distribution of horses, you will set off along the vineyard trails from Sancerre to Chavignol, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch. The village of Chavignol is actually a hamlet of Sancerre. The wine-growing village lies in a hollow surrounded by vineyards and stretches along a road that leads up to the church and then to the Graveron viewpoint, from where you have a magnificent view over Sancerre. This hamlet is the origin of Crottin de Chavignol (goat's cheese). At the end of the 19th century, when the phylloxera epidemic destroyed viticulture, a large part of the land was cleared for goat farming in the Sancerre region. The afternoon is free for you to explore Sancerre. Sancerre is a charming old medieval town where you can stroll through picturesque streets with old names: rue des Pressoirs, place du Puits-du Marché, and rue des Trois-Piliers. The Tour des Fiefs, the town's only fortified tower and the last remnant of the castle of the Counts of Sancerre, leads through the cobbled streets. From its height of 40 meters and 195 steps, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Sancerre and the region. Overnight stay and dinner in Sancerre.

Day 3: Continue your discovery of the Sancerrois countryside with the Pays Fort. On the way to the village of Assigny, leave the rows of vines behind and discover a landscape full of crops. You will have a picnic in Assigny, where the highest point of the Cher department is located, the Fait des Marnex, a promontory of the Pays Fort (365 m high), which offers a semi-circular panoramic view of the Loire Valley, the Puisaye, the Nièvre and the Piton de Sancerre. After a refreshing siesta, set off for Vailly sur Sauldre and the Pays Fort. The Pays Fort, which stretches behind the vine-covered hills of the Sancerrois region, consists of fertile bocages: In France, bocage refers to a type of landscape characterized by a large number of hedgerows, hedges, or ramparts that delimit agricultural fields. These are covered with oilseed fields. Pastures bordered by hedges where cows and goats graze, winding paths, sunken lanes, and country roads. The Pays Fort has a rich rural heritage: old half-timbered houses, old mills, wash houses, and the famous pyramid-shaped barns, typical curiosities that should not be missed in this area. Overnight stay and dinner in Vailly sur Sauldre.

Day 4: On the third day on horseback, you will still be in the Pays Fort. For lunch, you will head to Blancafort and its castle. You will have a picnic on the banks of the old Sauldre Canal, a canal with no connection to a waterway. In the afternoon, you will visit the 15th-century castle of Blancafort. This beautiful stone building stands on the banks of the Sauldre Canal in a rural setting, enhanced by an impressive garden. After this visit, continue to Aubigny sur Nère, this time in the Berry region. There was a time when alliances offered original concessions. This was the case during the famous Hundred Years' War, when the French king Charles VII ceded the lordship of Aubigny to John Stuart de Darnley, Constable of the Scottish Army, in the name of the Auld Alliance. For almost four centuries, the village lived in the Scottish era, when kilts, bagpipes, and whisky lined the streets and the language of Shakespeare was no secret to anyone. At the beginning of the 19th century, it became French again, but the Scottish heritage has remained alive to this day. Overnight stay and dinner in Aubigny sur Nere.

Day 5: After breakfast, drive to the Chateau de la Verrerie in Oizon, where you will have a picnic. The Chateau de La Verrerie is a Renaissance gem built by Béraud Stuart. The grounds feature numerous paths where Alain-Fournier, author of Le Grand Meaulnes, liked to walk. The castle was owned by the Stuarts for two centuries before being given to Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, by Louis XIV. The afternoon is free to visit Aubigny sur Nère. Scotland is around every corner. From the Stuart castle, now the town hall, to the unique collection of half-timbered houses and the Aubigny Auld Alliance whisky brand, which proudly displays the colors of the region, all that's missing is the rain to make you believe you're really in Scotland! The splendor of this town, located on the historic Jacques Coeur route, is complemented by some beautiful monuments such as the Philippe Auguste site, the Gothic church of Saint-Maritn, and the Augustinian monastery. The magnificent large gardens, inspired by Le Notre, were inherited by the Duchess of Portsmouth. Overnight stay and dinner in Aubigny sur Nère.

Day 6: After breakfast, you will meet your horses and ride to La Chapelotte for a picnic. In the heathland of the Pays-Fort, between the vineyards of Menetour-Salon and Sancerre, near the pottery village of La Borne. The hilly landscape through which the Vernon River meanders is popular with hunters, anglers, and walkers. After a long lunch break, you will continue your journey through this unspoiled landscape to Sens-Beaujeu, where you will leave your horses. Sans-Beaujeu is located between the Pays Fort and the Sancerrois, just a stone's throw from the Champagne plain. The Grande Sauldre River and its tributary, the Etang de Couet stream, cut through much of the plateau, forming wet valleys in a landscape of hedge-lined fields. Overnight stay and dinner in Sancerre.

Day 7: Today you will set off for the Tour de Vesvre in the commune of Neuvy deux Clochers. This house with its massive, thick walls stands on the grounds of Vesvre. Known as a domus fortis, it is one of the rare fortified buildings of the 13th century. Take time to enjoy a picnic in these beautiful surroundings. The Tour de Vesvre was built at the end of the 12th century on the remains of an old 9th-century manor house. Its history is inextricably linked to that of the Vesvre site, which also included the neighboring castle in the 9th and 10th centuries. The tower was listed as a historic monument in 1993. The adjacent 13th-century manor house was a fortified farm with a stable, a dovecote, and a barn. The barn and dovecote have been recently restored. They bring this last day at the Bete Noire farm to a close. Overnight stay and dinner in Sancerre.

Day 8: After breakfast, departure or transfer to Tracy Sancerre train station.

Subject to change!

Accomodation
1st and 2nd night at Le Panoramic in Sancerre
3rd night at the Hotel le Cerf in Briare
4th and 5th night at the Hotel la Chaumiere in Aubigny sur Nere
6th and 7th night at the Chambre d Hotes le Cep en Sancerrois in Sancerre

Subject to change at any time!

Saddle & Tack: English bridle and trekking saddles.

Experience: 3-5 years of regular riding required. You should be able to ride other horses in all gaits without instruction and be confident in light seat . There are some nice gallops! Max. 90 kg. Group size: 5-10 riders.

Horses: Endurance trekking horses, including Anglo-Arabian and Selle Francais.

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