|
On this ride all tracks
lead you to the once revered Christian site of
Rocamadour, which has clung to the limestone cliffs
of the Alzou Canyon for over nine hundred years.
This place of pilgrimage in a mediaeval village
claims to be the second most visited site in France
after Mont St Michel.
Your holiday begins just outside the small village
of Degagnac where you are guests of Hans and Hermina.
After an introductory ride through some of the
lovely surrounding countryside and a check that you
are suitably matched to your horse for the week, you
will then set out on the four day trail ride which
takes you on a circular ride to Rocamadour. You will
be covering approximately 15-20 miles per day at a
variety of paces, enjoying delicious picnics at
lunch time courtesy of Hermina who will come
straight from home perhaps bringing a freshly made
quiche or maybe meatloaf, still warm from the oven.
 IT-FR-ROC
Rates include 7 nights lodging, all meals
with table wine, 6 riding days
including a 4 day/ 3 night trek
8 days/ 7
nights $ 1,795
Single+ $510
-- based on € 1,150 / € 325
Non Riders: $1,100 --
€700
Dates 2008:
09/13-09/20 10/11-10/18
Dates 2009:
07/18-07/25 08/15-08/22
09/19-09/26
10/17-10/24
Meeting : Degagnac
Airport: Bergerac or Toulouse
Transfer: from Bergerac return
per group
of up to 8 pax ~ $ 400 - pay locally
Level:
Intermediate+
Pace: 4 to 7 hrs in the saddle per
riding day. You should be happy at all paces since
there is some faster paced riding. You should be fit
enough for up to eight hours in the saddle and
confident riding over difficult terrain.
Tack:
English
Horses:
Anglo Arabs, Arabs - French Saddle horses, Haflinger,
Spanish Arabs
Min/Max: 3-8 riders
Weight: Max 200 lbs
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Rendezvous at the riding center where Hans and
Hermina welcome you and present the itinerary for
the week, while drinking a home made cocktail. In
the evening Périgourdine dinner served by Hermina
and accommodation in comfortable rooms at the farm.
Day 2: Champagne
You will then set out on the four
day trail ride. Discovering the Lot and passing on
ancient Roman roads, mule paths and parts of the
road to Santiago de Compostela. All tracks lead you
to the once revered Christian site of Rocamadour, a
place of pilgrimage, which has clung to the
limestone cliffs of the Alzou Canyon for over nine
hundred years. Your first night stop is at Le Vigan
in a converted watermill, where you might like to
enjoy a soak in the outdoor pool after the day’s
exertions.
Day 3: Rocamadour
An early start so that there will be lots
of time to look around in Rocamadour. The scenery
changes from gentle grassy lands to rough country.
You pace is fast with the longest gallop of the ride
(10 -15 minutes) , The ride ends at the Swiss
Robert Domaine de Lagerdelle, on top of a calcium
stone rocky plateau in the heart of the national
park Causses du Guercy. Far below us runs the river
Alzou. In the 120 meter deep gorge lays the
magical town with golden houses clinging to the side
of a cliff over the Alzou canyon. Rocamadour is
famous for its little round goat cheeses (Cabecous)
but most of all for its historical monuments and its
sanctuary of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries
has attracted
pilgrims from every country, among them
kings, bishops, and nobles.
The story is that a follower of Jesus, Amadour who
had a vision to settle in the middle of France and
to devote himself to honor the Virgin Mary ( a
wooden statue of Maria holding Jesus in her lap
(The famous Black Madonna). Eleven hundred years
later in 1166 the body of Sint Amadours was found
entirely intact. This made Rocamadour a famous
pilgrimage.
The pilgrims are expected to climb the 217 steps on
their knees to show their devotion to the seven
little churches en chapels. Tourists are discouraged
and have the choice of taking an escalator to the
top.
Rocamadour: The exquisite natural setting and
beautiful buildings have made Rocamadour France's
second-most visited site (after Mount St. Michael,
Normandy). Rocamadour, 36 miles north-northeast of
Cahors and local to the Dordogne Valley, never fails
to make a visual impression. But this quaint village
is best known for its peerless cheese making, as
well as the religious pilgrimages made each year by
clerics and laypeople alike. But Saint
Amadour's crypt isn't the only sight of interest in
this historic burg. The Chapelle Notre Dame--Our
Lady's Chapel--contains the famous Black Madonna, a
twelfth century rendition of the virgin Mary holding
an infant Jesus. Here Rocamadour's many visitors
light candles and pray to the Madonna. A bell, which
has supposedly rung of its own accord in response to
sailors' prayers to Mary, hangs from the ceiling.
Day 4: Paradise
Another early start for the longest part of the
trip. It starts with a steep hike leading the
horses down into the gorge. Once in the forest
another long fast gallop under many low hanging
branches, after a while you pass Rocamadour but now
it is high above you hanging of the cliffs,
eventually we leave the gorge in a south west
direction up a steep hill. We are standing in the
stirrups to help the horses on this steep climb.
Once on top the nature changes to a gentler
environment. Four hours later we arrive at a sunny
meadow where Hans his wife Hermine awaits us with
yet another gourmet lunch set on a table in the
middle of the meadow. The longest day ends in
style in the paradise of Corinee and Bill. We
approached it from the back through a big hedge, We
carry our luggage through the small gardens full of
grape vines with delicious grapes and roses passing
an inviting pool and pond with goldfish. There we
are at :e Vieux Couvent the old convent. The inside
is spectacular with fresh cut flowers everywhere not
the typical convent atmosphere. In the evening we
are spoiled with another perfect dinner. We cannot
keep track of the number of courses , it all tastes
gourmet and we end up with an after dinner
digestive.
Day 6 The Wild Bunch
Today's ride brings some excitement. We pretend
we are in the Wild West and gallop up the slopes,
make lots of noises and ride with our arms up in the
air. If we stayed another day we would be riding
without a saddle. We ride through fields with
resting cows, and cannot resist rounding up some in
a wild rodeo. Overnight is back at the riding center
in Dégagnac.
Day 7: The final day’s ride is a
‘wind down’ ride, taking you in a completely
different direction from where you have come,
ensuring that in only a week you will have seen as
much as possible of what ‘Le Lot’ has to offer.
Day 8: Departure after breakfast
Centre-based Option
It is also possible to enjoy a centre-based holiday
for up to 7 nights. Every day after a leisurely
breakfast you ride out with Hans in the green
valleys and beautiful forests nearby and explore
your surroundings – taking different routes each
day. Sometimes you will take a saddle-bag lunch and
on other days Hermina will be waiting for you in a
specially selected spot with a delicious picnic
lunch. Later you ride back to the farmhouse for a
welcome four-course dinner served with a delicious
local Cahors wine.
|
 |
