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Riding Through Ancient Languedoc
By Bob Fisher
This is also sublime horse country with the kind of topography and vistas that can only be truly appreciated with an equine companion. Penetrating the millennial mysteries of Languedoc aboard Listo, my noble Andalusian cross, was the most romantic journey through France I have ever taken.
The region is very atmospheric; the air is pure Mediterranean. Soft aromas from the vegetation are released as the sun climbs in the sky, and warm breezes from the sea sweep up the rising land, creating updrafts on which Royal Eagles – three at one count – soar majestically against a deep blue sky.
As an equestrian vacation and cultural experience, Pont de Calmel is also ideal for visiting some of the most inspiring sites in France: the Roman town of Nimes, Montpellier (“Paris without the pressure”), the Mediterranean marshes and beaches, the ancient walled city of Carcassonne, the Pyrénées, Toulouse, and even Barcelona – all within easy driving distance.
Our first all-day trek was an experience in sensory enrichment. We began by casually making our way through the nearby town of Riussec, meeting and greeting the locals, stopping for a brief chat with the baker, and beginning a non-stop photo op. Before long we were in the middle of a forest and climbing ever so gradually, eventually reaching 850 meters.
On the last morning of my stay at Pont de Calmel, I awoke early in order to climb to the mountainside pasture where the herd was quietly grazing. Equally at peace, I wandered among them listening to the reassuring sounds of contented horses in the still morning air. From somewhere below a cuckoo called. Above me a Royal Eagle drifted in lazy circles. I felt like a king.
To learn more about this and other riding adventures, visit the Equestrian Adventurer web site at www.EquestrianAdventurer.com
Copyright 2006 Equestrian Adventurer Media, LLC Photo Credits to Bob Fisher
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| Eques Horse & Rider Magazine |
I
have traveled in France more times than I can count, but I have
never felt as integrated with the landscape as I did recently at
Pont de Calmel, in the South of France, on a trip for equestrian
travel resource,
From
Pont de Calmel, you can follow on horseback various ancient routes
to the fortified town of Minerve which is delicately perched on the
banks of a deep multi-hued gorge. The essence and beauty of this
area is its wildness, with prolific forests of soaring pines and
green oaks. From Pont de Calmel, you can trek over the surrounding
hills and mountains, through high pastures and olive groves where
flocks of sheep wander at will.
The
hub of this very “value-added” vacation is Pont de Calmel. Operated
by Aviva and Nils Steenbergen, Pont de Calmel is a former sheep farm
dating from a time when this part of France was considered of little
value except strategically as a buffer zone between France and
Spain. 
Aviva
and Nils are also committed to the well-being of their horses and a
very carefully thought out breeding program. From their two
Andalusian stallions and Andalusian and Andalusian cross mares, they
have produced a working group of very sure-footed and solid animals
ideal for this diverse and rigorous terrain.