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A normal day is breakfast around 9 a.m., ride out for 3 hours and then light lunch.  Then ride out again in the afternoon, or go wine tasting or some other interesting activities. 20.00 hrs aperitif and dinner at 20.30 depending on the time of the year and whether we eat in or out on the terrace.

At Sombrun you have the ideal place for a horse riding holiday. Apart from the local equestrian centres we offer our own horses, from pure Spanish dressage to Irish hunters. Whether you choose a gentle hack to take in the beautiful countryside, galloping in the vast open fields, cross-country or prefer jumping, we can more than satisfy you. We also offer lessons to those who may not be so confident. Whether on the plain, in the foothills or mountains, horses represent an original way of discovering this beautiful part of South West France.

South and South Western France

It is within this area that France experiences a multitude of weather conditions! The combination of inland France, the Pyrenees mountain ranges and the Atlantic coast leads to the south west being the base for three major climatic zones- Mediterranean, Oceanic and Continental.

Starting at La Rochelle, a resort town located in the coastal heart of the Poitou- Charentes region, the weather is fairly typical of a western coastal town. While it is not as warm here as its French Riviera counterparts, it certainly does experience its fair share of hot summers days. Average summer temperatures sit at 17 to 19 degrees from June to August, with temperatures in the high 20’s frequent. The summer is also when La Rochelle and neighboring areas receive the least amount of rain.

Because of the Gulf Stream influences in the region La Rochelle doesn’t generally experience winter extremes and the barometer generally hovers around 6 to 8 degrees throughout winter. Sunshine through winter stays plentiful with the region receiving about 2,600 hours of sunshine per year.

Like much of the French Atlantic coast, you can enjoy the sun set over the sea while drinking a glass of the regions best wine at 9:30 in the evening- the epitome of relaxation!

Moving further south you will find yourself in the famous Aquitaine wine region. Bordeaux experiences pleasant year round temperatures and mild but consistent rain fall throughout the year. April in the area sees an average high temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and the average low is 6 Celsius. Throughout this time the region will see an average of 13 precipitation days.

February to August will see Aquitaine at its driest, however there are still 12- 14 rain days per month which isn’t hugely different from the 15 to 17 rain days that are typical of the autumn/ winter months. December is when the region records its highest level of precipitation, averaging 109 mm.

Once you are within the Dordogne region is when the weather conditions start to go a bit haywire. Within the region the temperatures and rainfall can vary significantly within quiet a small area. This occurs because as you head from south west to north west the height above sea level rises- as a result the north receives great rainfall than the south.

In the south west of the Dordogne an annual average 750mm of precipitation is recorded, whereas an average of 1160mm annual precipitation is recorded in the north. Generally, Bergerac is the driest area of the region.

The combination of the Atlantic airstreams from the west coast with the continental conditions from the east and the north, affect the temperatures and sunshine in the region.

In the summer in the Dordogne region visitors can experience the thunderstorms which occur when the heat in the region builds to a climax and releases in a dramatic evening thunder show.

On the whole the region experiences rainfall year round, had warm to hot summers and mild winters which can occasionally get quite chilly. In the lower lying parts of the region such as Bergerac it is not uncommon for the mercury to rise above 30 degrees Celsius so it is best to pack your sunscreen along with your umbrella!

As you head even further south you will hit Bayonne and the Pyrenees mountain range which forms a natural border between France and Spain.

The Pyrenees brings winter extremes of below freezing temperatures and snow fall. As you head east along the mountain range the precipitation (rain and snow) levels decrease. For examples, the East Pyrenees, unlike the West, doesn’t have enough snowfall to support the formation of glaciers.

The higher the altitude the more extreme the climate, and the more west you head the climate becomes more maritime.

THE GUESTROOMS
There are five spacious guestrooms stylishly furnished with French antiques, each with en suite bathrooms. All of our guestrooms have tea and coffee making facilities and overlook the beautiful landscaped grounds of the Château, and some with views of the Pyrenees.
THE DINING ROOM
This room is classically decorated and boasts an open fireplace. Here you will find good food, always fresh local produce, excellent wines and the opportunity to enjoy the company of your eccentric hosts. After dinner you can sample the famous local Armagnac which is still produced according to ancient techniques. With its delicate, warm and invigorating flavours you are sure to relax and slip into the "Sombrun mood". Dinner is by reservation, but should not be missed!
THE KITCHEN
Being warm and welcoming, this country kitchen is the heart of the castle. During the winter months the large open fire creates a feeling of warmth and harmony making this a perfect place to enjoy breakfast and to discuss your plans for the day. In the evening here you will be invited to a pre-dinner cocktail with hors d'oeuvre and have the chance to chat about your day's activities.
 
THE TERRACE
With its beautiful surroundings, the terrace is wonderful for breakfast "al fresco" in the sunny mornings. It is also an ideal place in the long, warm summer evenings to dine under the stars by soft candlelight. We offer Breakfast, typically French but some days a cooked English style depending on the days riding. Lunch normally consists of a light salad and cold meats or BBQ depending on the days activity. Dinner is a varied and continental flavor.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES AT THE CHÂTEAU

BILLIARDS & SNOOKER - For those who prefer the less energetic sports, we offer a full size English Billiard table in our large fiesta room. We also have a French Billiard table for your use in the Château.

TABLE TENNIS - Table tennis is available in the fiesta room.

CARDS AND BOARD GAMES - More or less any game you can imagine is available for guest use.

TELEVISION - So that you can keep abreast of the news we have satellite television available in the fiesta room and just in case you get bored (!) we have a large selection of video films.

PIANO - For the musically talented, you are welcome to play our baby grand electronic piano.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

We can cope with almost any level of rider, from novice or first timer upwards, although we do not normally take children under the age of 14 yrs. Apart from your hosts who are both hardened horse fanatics, we also have our resident English groom (female) who is very capable of assisting at almost any level, I can assure you that there is no shortage of experience here. The tack is typically English although we do have some Spanish for those who would like to try something different. The type of riding, there is no limit; we are presently reconstructing the cross-country course on our own land, whilst there is another area for show jumping. We can offer both of these as an alternative to out riding and find it very popular. The out riding is spectacular, we are happy to offer a couple of hours active hacking or a full day, through a selection of terrain. We have fields and ditches, hills and forest. It is possible to ride for hours without crossing a road, even then it will be a country lane where it is completely unusual to find anything other than the odd tractor. We have found that our clients also enjoy passing through the local villages though, we have four within a ten-mile radius each with less than 150 habitants. The land is situated in some of the best hunting area of France, a day without seeing a few deer cross our path would be unusual, let alone lots of other wonderful wild life. We are happy to make a day riding with a picnic or BBQ style lunch out, or split the day into two sessions, depending on the standard of the rider and their requirements. We plan our riding at breakfast or dinner the night before after the clients have reminisced on the days events. There is so much fun riding here that we find the clients like to get involved in the planning.

FOX HUNTING
As a joint Master of the Pau Hunt we have an arrangement for our guests to visit the hunt, visitors can follow the hunt on horseback or foot. It will prove an interesting day out for all, followed by a meal in one of the local restaurants (not included). Enjoy the thrill of the drag hunt or perhaps a day live fox hunting.

Tack:		English
Horses:		Pure Raza Espanol (Spanish) and Irish hunters
Pace:		All paces according to riding level | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop | Jumps |
Level:		(2 to 4 out of 5)    Novice to Strong Intermediate
Riders:		Min 1 riders	Max 12 riders

We can cope with almost any level of rider, from novice or first timer upwards, although we do not normally take children under the age of 14 yrs. Apart from your hosts who are both hardened horse fanatics, we also have our resident English groom (female) who is very capable of assisting at almost any level, I can assure you that there is no shortage of experience here. The tack is typically English although we do have some Spanish for those who would like to try something different. The type of riding, there is no limit; we are presently reconstructing the cross-country course on our own land, whilst there is another area for show jumping. We can offer both of these as an alternative to out riding and find it very popular. The out riding is spectacular, we are happy to offer a couple of hours active hacking or a full day, through a selection of terrain. We have fields and ditches, hills and forest. It is possible to ride for hours without crossing a road, even then it will be a country lane where it is completely unusual to find anything other than the odd tractor. We have found that our clients also enjoy passing through the local villages though, we have four within a ten-mile radius each with less than 150 habitants. The land is situated in some of the best hunting area of France, a day without seeing a few deer cross our path would be unusual, let alone lots of other wonderful wild life. We are happy to make a day riding with a picnic or BBQ style lunch out, or split the day into two sessions, depending on the standard of the rider and their requirements. We plan our riding at breakfast or dinner the night before after the clients have reminisced on the days events. There is so much fun riding here that we find the clients like to get involved in the planning.

FOX HUNTING
As a joint Master of the Pau Hunt we have an arrangement for our guests to visit the hunt, visitors can follow the hunt on horseback or foot. It will prove an interesting day out for all, followed by a meal in one of the local restaurants (not included). Enjoy the thrill of the drag hunt or perhaps a day live fox hunting.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
France is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.