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Horse Riding
France is the ideal location for a horse riding holiday - stunning castles, walled towns and ancient monasteries are everywhere. Each region varies in landscape and has its own qualities and settings; ride along the beaches in Northern France, alongside chateaux in the Loire Valley, experience the sights and smells of Provence or marvel at the vineyards in Champagne. Whether you are looking for France has it to offer. |
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The Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims
The Parc Naturel Regional de la Montagne de Reims is very famous as it encompasses the greater part of the vineyards of Champagne. There are great trails for horseriders, hikers, ramblers and cyclists, along the River Marne and the ‘Faux de Verzy’ trail is known for the twisted beech trees along its course. |
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Horse Riding in Picardy
Whether you are an experienced rider or just a day rider, Picardy's riding stables offer several possible excursions adapted to each person's pace. Regardless of your destination, you will discover untouched countryside whose beauty is enhanced by guides who speak so tenderly about these horses and this region that they love. |
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Horse Riding Auvergne
Auvergne is a great region for horses and riding and is a wonderful destination for riding holidays. The layout of the fields, the patterns of crops and woodlands, the layout of the towns and villages and the unique building structures create the perfect horse riding experience. |
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Horse Riding in Languedoc-Roussillon
There is so much to offer horse riders in Languedoc Roussillon. With the diverse landscape come different challenges and the possibility to cater for all. Trips through the mountains of the Pyrénées or a canter along a beach are possible. There are hundreds of trails through forestry and valleys, visiting castle ruins and historic sites. |
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Horse Riding in Alsace
If you enjoy trekking out in the forests and among the vineyards while discovering local fauna and flora on horseback, by pony or in a horse-drawn carriage, you'll find plenty of options when planning your horse riding trip in Alsace.
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Horse Riding in Loire (Centre)
Trails for horse riding are provided throughout the Loire Valley, allowing you to visit many places most other tourists can’t go. Ride along the Loire river banks, through the forests and by the many vineyards of the region. |
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Horse Riding in Paris / Ile-de-France
Welcome to the French capital of equestrian sports. Now is your chance to saddle up and gallop through the forests, hit the trails in a horse-drawn carriage or set your child on a pony. For those who have the riding spirit, and whatever level of expertise, there are several options available that will let you discover the region on horseback.
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On Horseback in Brittany
Brittany has 2000 km of bridle paths, using marked routes. The “Equibreiz” bridle path is marked with orange plastic markers. These are generally attached to trees or wooden posts. A dense network of equestrian centres offers rides along the coast or on the heaths. |
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Camargue is a land of men, horses and bulls
Camargue is synonymous with nature and wide open spaces. Flora and fauna have pride of place in this area which is still home to countless old ranches, tended by traditional horseback herdsman or "gardians". |
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Horse Riding in Corsica
If you like horse riding, you will enjoy Corsica. There are mountainous treks, valley and forest tracks and beach trips for all ranges of horse riders to use. The scenery is wonderful and quite diverse. The closeness of the mountains to the beaches at all times means you’re never to far away from a riding track that suits you. |
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Horse Riding in Nord-Pas de Calais
29 riding trails offer an opportunity to explore the French part of the Westhoek or to flirt with the Heart of Flanders. You could observe the countryside of Greater Lille with the trails in the Pévèle – Mélantois. |
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Horse Riding in Limousin
Far from the cities, discover Limousin’s varied landscape on horseback. It offers the change to get close to nature, as well as the rewards of getting to know your horse! |
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Horse and Pony Riding in Loire (Western)
In the forest, through the vineyards, along the coastline or the banks of the Loire are just some of the discoveries awaiting you. The local natural environment lends its paths and trails to horseback riders.
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Horse Riding in Franche-Comté
Equestrian excursions are readily found in Franche-Comté and can be quite a relaxing way to tour the region, whatever age or number of people. A tour of some part of the region should definitely make it into the family outing planner. |
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Horse Riding in Normandy
A discovery of Normandy would be incomplete without a mention of this region's passion for horses. Tourists are welcome to attend the numerous horse shows in Bagnoles de l’Orne or Deauville or visit the many horse breeding estates, of which the Haras du Pin and Haras de Saint Lô are the most exceptional. |
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Horse Riding in Poitou-Charentes
Horse riding is ripe in Poitou-Charentes offering differing rides for experienced and not so, young and old. There are guided group tours and also unguided for experienced riders. There are also quite a few racing venues if you’re up for a bet or two. Horse lovers will love Poitou-Charentes. |
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Horse Riding in Rhône-Alpes
Nothing is more pleasant than horse riding to discover the Southern Ardèche and Vallon Pont d'Arc region. You will pass through forests, on bridle paths and will end by crossing rivers. |
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Wonder at the Living Museum of the Horse, Chantilly
The Great Stables of Chantilly, viewed as the world’s finest, are home to the Living Museum of the Horse. Far removed from dusty, immobile museums, this Museum is perpetually developing in order to offer ever more original shows, put on by the thirty employees of the Living Museum of the Horse. |
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The Morvan Natural Park
Burgundy's green spaces are ideal for a range of leisure pursuits and getting close to nature. The beautiful landscape is ideally suited for hiking, horse riding, golf cycling and even hot air balooning for those looking for a bit of adventure. |
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Horse Riding in Burgundy
Horse riding is also very popular in Burgundy and numerous equestrian tours can be organised through the local equestrian centre. |
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Horse Riding in Aquitaine
Aquitaine is a dream for those who practice all sorts of equestrian activities or wish to include riding among other activities during their holidays. |
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Nature Parks in Auvergne
The Auvergne contains two of the largest regional nature parks in France, the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne' and it's smaller neighbour the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Livradois-Forez' - making this area the largest environmentally protected area in France.
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National and Regional Parks - Aquitaine
Aquitaine also has various National and Regional Parks such as The Pyrénées National Park, The Landes de Gascogne Regional Park, The Périgord-Limousin Regional Park. |
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Not to be missed in Languedoc-Roussillon
The Mediterranean on one side, the eastern Pyrenees to the south and Lozère to the north, Languedoc-Roussillon takes pleasure in the contrats if its stepped relief. |
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Not to be missed in Paris
Some cities call to mind lovers, others architecture, yet others an intellectual, cultural or appealing popular atmosphere. Paris has all these faces, plus lots more to discover depending on your particular interest. |
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Not to be missed in Franche-Comté
This is a region with distinct faces. In the north, the valleys of the Haute-Saône which, from the Grays region to the Saône Vosges, passing through Vesoul, back onto the region of Belfort. Châteaux and churches give added attraction to its towns and villages, and a great many museums house specimens showing the traditional craftmanship related to wood, but also to clock making. |
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Not to be missed in Poitou-Charentes
The dispute between Ancient and Modern is not on the agenda in this region where the vestiges of the past are keyed neatly into an openness to the future. |
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Not to be missed in Auvergne
If it were possible, the best way to travel in this region would be on the back of a donkey, just as the writer Stevenson did. It is indeed probably the pleasantest way to see this land of volcanoes, fashioned by their eruptions. Inactive for centuries, they gave birth to a strange and majestic landscape. |
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Not to be missed in Brittany
A land of seafaring people, and the aspect that makes Brittany the daughter of Neptune. Its thousands of kilometres of coastline, from Cancale to Saint-Nazaire, give it a prodigiously varied relief, with the strange rocks of the Pink Granite coast and the idyllic beaches of the Morbihan following on from one another. |
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Lille in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
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Not to be missed in the French Riviera
It is the blue of the south that defines this land. Its climate is so mild, its nature so filled with flowers that thousands of years after the Romans, English aristocrats, fed up with the greyness, fell in love with it. Since then, the Côte d'Azur has been entirely given over to summer pleasures. |
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Not to be missed in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Traditionally an industrial region, it has now turned to tourism, a natural choice in a landscape where forests predominate, and where the Opal Coast has a host of beaches dedicated to surfing, wind-surfing, water-skiing, and more. |
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Not to be missed in Lorraine
Bordered by the three countries, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, Lorraine is a strategic region which today exudes a peaceful charm. There is no shortage of reasons to explore it. For lovers of architecture and the arts, Mirecourt, Bar-le-Duc and Epinal possess many wonders. Enthusiasts for footpaths, will find routes dotted with lakes, forests and green valleys in the Lorraine Regional Park. Another excellent reason to come is for its springs and to stay in one of the well-known spa establishments in Contrexéville or Vittel, where the gastronomy is not to be outdone. |
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Not to be missed in Midi-Pyrénées
Few regions offer such a variety of landscapes, climates and architecture. This is because the region is huge, it runs from Aveyron to Gers and from Ariège to the edges of the Dordogne. |
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Not to be missed in Burgundy
From the vineyards of Chablis to those of the Mâconnais passing through the Côte de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits, from the luminous Loire Valley to the opulent Bresse region passing through the mysterious forests of the Morvan, Burgundy is beautiful in its natural state and in every season. |
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Not to be missed in the Loire (centre)
It is western Europe's last wild river, over 1,000 km long, that shapes the region : The Loire. On its banks the aristocracy built châteaux that are among the jewels of French architecture. Amboise, Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau are all extraordinary. |
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Not to be missed in Limousin
Nature lovers who like to punctuate their walks with seeing the old craft traditions develop an immediate attachment to this region. Green woods and forests, it is also criss-crossed by water, the Creuse, Vienne and Dordogne rivers... |
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Not to be missed in Normandy
Combining in the same land the pleasures of an extraordinary coastline and those of a green and blossoming countryside, Normandy is a very fortunate region. |
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Not to be missed in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
Everything in this region sings, even the wind, when it is called the Mistral or the Tramontana. The great poets were able to convey its music, and painters from Cézanne to Picasso, captured its light. Provence is magical, it smells wonderfully of olive oil, lavender and thyme. |
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Not to be missed in Ile-de-France
Around Paris, Ile-de-France offers the joys of discovering both nature and culture. With 9 royal towns, 400 listed gardens and châteaux including 24 masterpieces of landscape art, medieval villages or Cistercian abbeys, the Ile-de-France region boasts a unique and fascinating heritage. |
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Not to be missed in Alsace
Very long and narrow and backing onto the Rhine, Alsace has seen its borders moved on many occasions. The ups and downs of history have caused it to hang on to a very strong regional tradition. This can be seen in its language, its folk traditions and its cuisine. Its countryside beckons the walker, with its hillsides streaked with vineyards in the Munster valley and the flower-decked valleys of the Florival.
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Not to be missed in Aquitaine
If you had to define this land by one word, il would be 'generous'. A generosity that can be seen in its variety of landscapes with hills, valleys, sandy moors and a coast that is almost wild. The Bordeaux vineyards, the Basque Country, the plateaux of Périgord... |
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Not to be missed in Rhône-Alpes
A great river and a chain of mountains give the region its name and create the pattern of life here. The Alps crowned by Mont Blanc provide a skiing area that is unique in the world. Hiking enthusiasts are becoming increasingly numerous in the summertime, walking the waymarked trails through the region's nature parks (La Vanoise, Les Ecrins, Les Bauges), and around the lakes (Lake Geneva, Annecy, Le Bourget). Nearer the Rhône, the Ardèche gorges are a paradise for canoeing. |
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Not to be missed in the Loire (western)
A land of water traversed by the Loire, the region is bathed in the north by the spray of the Atlantic Ocean. While Saint-Nazaire is an important merchant navy port, Nantes is the regional capital, and Saumur, Le Mans and Angers offer visitors a cultural heritage dominated by Gothic art and the Renaissance. |
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Not to be missed in Corsica
Mountains in the sea, pierced with torrents, Corsica, an island of rare beauty, has the full spectrum of landscapes. Dry in the south, it makes up for it with long beaches of white sand, where lazing around can be enhanced by sightseeing tours. |
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Not to be missed in Picardy
With its exceptionally rich architectural heritage, this province is a preserve of Gothic art. Famous for its cathedrals, it offers the discerning an opportunity to explore its towns and their medieval wonders. |
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Not to be missed in Champagne-Ardenne
The fruit of its vineyards is so famous that the first thing you think of in this region is a glass of champagne. You can of course begin the journey underground and visit the wine cellars. Reims, its magnificient cathedral or its museum of fine arts, should not make you forget the 'vine-growers' villages spread around the region. There is also the Ardennes with its wild forests, populated by roe deer and hares. |
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Hot Air Ballooning
Floating through the air in a hot air balloon is the perfect way to take in the scenery of the region. If you have a head for heights there is no more relaxing way to see the Burgundian countryside. |
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| News |
What's happening in France? |
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| 22/09/2008 Portrayal of France in the weekend national newspaper travel sections, 20&21 September 08 |
New art exhibition in Paris, new low cost routes, luxury Spas and environmentally friendly travel options
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| 07/10/2008 Round up of the portrayal of France in National newspapers Travel sections for weekend of 4th & 5th October |
Green skiing, special offers, Cycling in the Loire, The Tran, Reims, Champagne, Activity holidays, wallabies, rugby and how to have a great holiday without going medium or long haul
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| 21/09/2009 Summary of the weekend travel sections, 19&20 September 2009 |
Ski previews, sharks, safari lodges, new flights into Geneva, Marseille, Paris and lots of train travel
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| 29/08/2008 Sea change for French wines |
Normandy's tiny island-village of Mont Saint Michel is famous for its picturesque world heritage monastery and its hordes of tourists. But it could also soon be competing as the world's most exclusive underwater wine cellar.
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| 09/06/2009 Summary of national newspaper travel sections, 6&7 June 09 |
Possible rises in the cost of ski holidays, 20 European gems that don't cost a fortune, idyllic getaways, beach holiday alternatives, a flatulent donkey and much more
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| Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| October (Annual) |
Paris
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| Held at the world-renowned Longchamp racecourse, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe sees equine athletes from around the world competing to take away the €4 million prize fund, making it the world's most richly rewarded turf race. |
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| Horse, Donkey and Pony Fair |
| May - June (annual) |
La Prévalaye, Rennes
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| More than 700 horses pack into La Pévalaye sports centre for Rennes' international Horse Fair, one of Brittany's top equine events. |
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| Guardian Celebration |
| May |
Arles
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| Arles' traditional dialect, costumes and time-honoured celebrations have earned the city its reputation as the capital of ancient Provençal culture. |
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| La Fête des Amoureux |
| 14 February |
St-Valentin, Indre
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This Valentine's Day, take your loved one to the only French Village named after the saint himself. Each year the village of St-Valentin, in central France, celebrates romance with a festival of feasting and flowers. |
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| Poisson d'Avril |
| 1 April |
Nationwide
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| If you are in France on April Fool's Day make sure to watch your back - it 's tradition to stick paper fish (note- not the real thing!) on the backs of unsuspecting people, whether friends, family or even passers-by. |
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Newsletter
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Sign up to our newsletter for latest news, offers and deals
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| Offers |
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Download 2010 Corsica Brochure
Download Corsican Places 2010 brochure online now.
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Latest Special Offers on Villas and apartments
See our latest special offers on villas, apartments, holiday villages in many regions of France
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More Offers
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| Holiday Options |
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Accommodation
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Alan Rogers Guides & Travel
Pitch reservations & mobile home holidays across France & Spain. Pay at-the-gate prices, with a small, one-off admin fee and we'll organise it all for you. Free Child Places and Special Offers available. Alan Rogers Guides have been the market leading campsite guides since 1968. Also Camping Cheque programme (www.campingcheque.co.uk) for low season touring with savings up to 60%
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Mobile Homes in South Brittany
Pleasant parc, with pool including slide & kids club only 1000m to beach and near La Trinite sur Mer
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Headwater's Activities in Annecy
Family activity holiday with masses of watersports, tennis, walking, cycing, etc. Excellent value!
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Campotel
KelAir Campotel operates a popular Family Holiday Programme to France, Italy & Spain. Only KelAir Campotel you will not pay for the extras. We provide decking, large gas BBB's, air conditioning where applicable as standard.
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Apt for 8 in South of France, by the beach
2 bed alcove apt for 8 in Six-Fours, new, pool and spa suite, 500m from beach, w/c 31/7/10 - £1670
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The Ferry Travel Club
Excellent value 1 or 2 week holidays in bright modern fully equipped mobile homes. We offer 2 excellent sites, with all amenities including swimming pool, in the south of France
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More Holiday Options ... |
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