Loire Valley – “One Day, One Castle” horse trail

We meet at the riding centre at 8.30am on the first day and set off on horseback an hour later.

Each day’s ride is devoted to a long loop, with the aim of reaching one of the magnificent châteaux in the Loire Valley, where we stop for a picnic break.

At each point, you can enjoy some free time to rest, or visit the castle (entrance fees payable on site). Each castle visit lasts about an hour. Each day’s ride varies according to the weather and the ability of the riders… but they are all magnificent! Return to the stables at the end of the day.

Our different possible days on horseback:

Château de Cheverny (25 km)
Morning in the heart of the great forests of Sologne and its game parks. You may be lucky enough to spot stags, hinds or wild boars. A friendly picnic next to the Cheverny wash-house, bordering the castle’s surrounding wall. It was this estate that inspired Hergé to create the Château de Moulinsart in the adventures of Tintin. Visit the château (approx. 1 hour) or take a rest, before resuming our ride through the 2,000 hectares of the magnificent Cheverny forest.

Château de Villesavin (30km)
Morning ride through the Grande Sologne and its many ponds to arrive at one of the few Baudets du Poitou donkey farms in France. Villesavin, commonly known as the “Cabane de chantier de Chambord”, was the former home of the steward of Chambord. Lunch on the château’s lawns, followed by a self-guided tour of its exterior, and/or a guided tour of its interiors (optional). Return to the stables via the village of Fontaines en Sologne and its superb 12th-century church.

Château de Chambord (40 km version)
Today we travel to the largest and certainly the most prestigious of the Loire châteaux: Chambord. Its construction was supervised by François the First, and it boasts a superb double-revolution staircase that is unique in France.
The morning will take you to the heart of the Grande Sologne region and its many ponds. Cross the National Park, Europe’s largest, covering an area of more than 50 km², to see the silhouette of the Loire’s largest château rise up from the trees, and reach our picnic spot on the banks of the Nizeron.
Back in the saddle to see the castle “emerge” between the trees in the middle of the afternoon. Optional visit to the château (approx. 1 hour) or quiet time for a siesta, as chosen by the riders, before getting back in the saddle to head back to the stables along the traditional Chemin du Soldat.

Château de Chambord (30 km version)
In the morning, this version takes us along the paths of the Boulogne forest, before reaching the village of Bracieux at the end of the morning, with its beautiful 17th-century covered market hall. Picnic at the foot of the village church, followed by a coffee break at the Choco’Bar of the famous Max Vauché chocolate factory. In the early afternoon, enter the National Park, Europe’s largest park, covering an area of over 50 km², to see the silhouette of the Loire’s largest castle, a masterpiece of the 16th century, appear between the trees in the middle of the afternoon. Chambord, whose construction was supervised by François the First, boasts a superb double spiral staircase that is unique in France. Return to the riding centre by car after free time for an optional tour of the château.

For this second day of our ride through the Loire Valley, we will follow one of the above daily riding programs to discover another castle.

Back at the stables at 6:30pm after 2 days full of