Chateau de Curzay France
The Château de Curzay is a delightful 4 star hotel with just 22 rooms. There is an excellent restaurant, 'La Cédraie", with one Michelin star. A stay at Le Château is every horse rider's dream. In the heart of the 120 hectares park, L'Atelier du Cheval (the Rider's workshop) offers a tailor-made riding programme for both adults and children at all levels of experience. L'Atelier du Cheval provides a full range of equestrian activities where a total novice can ride for the sheer pleasure of it, or a champion sports person can practice and improve skills. The Château's grounds can be discovered on long walks to the river in the middle of cedar, copper beech, box and oak trees on Melusine's path alone, or as part of the fun treasure hunt. The Grounds are perhaps best enjoyed on horse back, in particular the “Enchanted Morning” ride takes guests to spot wild life in the park, and can be followed by a picnic lunch on the banks of the river. You can also explore by bike and ride to neighbouring villages. You can also enjoy just lying by the lovely heated pool and wait for lunch served under the the cedar trees, or in the Country Bistro. The Château's vegetable garden provides fresh produce for the three restaurants. French cookery and dessert course available. Also, the 'Atelier du Vin' offers wine courses. Golf, balloon flights, bicycling, pool and spa. A fantastic venue for relaxing, riding and romancing.
Accommodation:
The Chateau offers top class accommodation in a range of luxurious rooms and suites within the castle. All rooms are individually decorated and can be booked on a gourmet half board basis or B&B. Your stay can be as long or short as you wish. The rooms reflect the history of the Chateau and dinner is taken in the award winning Cedars restaurant for those on half board. Breakfast may be taken on the terrace or in your room. As the Chateau only has 22 rooms please ask us for prices for your chosen dates and length of stay as these are dependent on season. Children are welcome and there are suites suited to those with younger children or connecting double and twin rooms for those with slightly older children. There is also the Apartment Marie-Delphine offering a superb double suite for parents and a twin bedded room for the children.
The Food:
You can not visit France and not be inspired by the food of the Chateau's Michelin starred chef Nicholas Isnard. There are a choice of two restaurants serving full menus plus children's menus for the younger guests. You can opt for half board with evening meal in the flagshoip restautant La Cedraie or B&B which leaves you free to hop between the restuarnts or drive out to the local villages and explore. The choice is yours. It's what tailor made holidays are all about.
Le Cedraie serves a light, creative menu with gourmet flavours. Its name is inspired by the two-hundred-year-old cedars that can be admired from the windows of the dining rooms or the terrace. “La Table d'à Côté” has a hidden, almost secret entrance
It offers welcoming decoration, the aroma of cooking and an immense stone fireplace. Its cuisine is traditional,with Terrines, fresh farm eggs, whitebait caught in the river, casserole dishes, homemade mashed potatoes and the dessert trolley
with tarts,huge bowls of chocolate mousse.
Chef welcomes guests to a number of cookery courses so why not consider one of our ride/cook holidays for galloping gourmets!
The Riding:
- Discovery of the Estate on horseback
-Picnic by the river after a ride
-Are you riding for the First Time ? Let the staff guide you on our horses specially trained for beginners to ride. Gentle and sweet-natured, they will take you on an unforgettable ride around the estate.
Equestrian Excursions in the Estate of Curzay
and Picnic on the River side
This riding day is as perfect for beginners as for confirmed riders.
It will start from the stables and continue with the Park discovery ride and perhaps a roe deer search. The riders will have a few minutes of respite on "La Source de Mélusine"'s border. Then they will pass by the river where it is not unusual to bump into wild ducks or grey Herons. The Picnic hampers are prepared by our Michelin starred Chef, Nicolas Isnard. Rides limited to two riders at a time. Highly personal service and tailored rides.
Horseriding and Picnic on the River side: £115 per person
Childrens' Days. from aged 7 to 12 years.
If they are allowed they will sleep on the straw with thier ponies says Karim ! He will help the children develop a unique bond between them and their ponies. He will teach them to share some special moments as they learn how to look after the needs of their ponies.
This is a full day, with a break for lunch (with parents at the hotel), or half-day. They will start with preparing their ponies, then learning some dressage technicques, playing games, participating in a small competition of timed slalom to win, perhaps, a trophy. Afternoons are spent out on a lovely ride in the estate before returning to the stables and caring and feeding their pony.
Half day: £70, full day £114 (9.30 to 5pm with a break for lunch).
Accommodation:
Classic 'Charming' double rooms at the Chateau can be taken on a B&B or half board basis with prices for B&B from £112 per person per night based on 2 sharing and from £190 per person per night on Gourmet half board with meals taken in the Michelin starred Le Cedraie restaurant. Larger suites and apartments are also available upon request, please ask for availability and a tailored quote. A suite sleeping a family of 4 with breakfast from £480 per night.
Riding prices:
Recovering your confidence: A special 3 day course: from £110 per day with private trainer, 2 rides a day and handling skills.
Ride in the Park for experienced riders : £75 per person
'Passion Course' at the Atelier du Cheval £123 per rider & per day
Improve your correct seat , Recover your confidence , Progress gently in the control of the relation with the horse , Begin your initiation to jumping, dressage
Ride in the Park with Picnic hamper on the River side (beginner or experienced riders) : £115 per person
Passion & Gourmet - Cooking with the Chef: £77 per person
Discover the 15th century farm building at the heart of the Estate where you can engage in a gourmet cooking class with Michelin star awarded chef, . Learn to prepare beautiful and delicious meals which are just as easy to cook at home with the help of the recipe cards you will receive at the end of your class. Other cookery classes include a Pastries & Sweets course hosted by the Chateaux's pastry chef and a Bread Baking course where the baker will share his secrets with you on how to bake the perfect loaf
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
Children welcome for riding from aged 5. The fully qualified instructor, Caroline, will lead them on hacks on foot or ride alongside depending on their ability.
Tack: English style tack. Riding hats available but we always recommend that you take your own.
Getting there:
Air: Ryanair have flights to the local airport, Poitiers, from Edinburgh, Girona (Barcelona) and London-Stansted. We can arrange a return private car transfer upon request at a cost of £100 per car for up to 4 passengers.
Train: By TGV to POITIERS
1h30 from PARIS - 1h30 from BORDEAUX
By car: Ideal for our Channel Island Clients: From Paris
Take the motorway A10 direction BORDEAUX . Take the exit 30 : LUSIGNAN.
Take ANGOULEME direction by RN 10 then N11 direction LUSIGNAN
In COULOMBIERS, on the right, D 95 direction JAZENEUIL then Curzay-sur-vonne
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to France at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
Consumer protection
As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), an Association approved by the Department of Trade and Industry, this company has provided a Bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. These regulations apply to packages sold in the UK and this Bond provides security for the money paid over by its UK customers and for their repatriation to the UK in the event of this company's insolvency.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
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Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
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