Pony rides are a popular activity on camping holidays. France offers a number of opportunities to explore the countryside from the saddle and many areas have a longstanding cultural connection to horses. Take a look at some of the places to enjoy equestrian activities when camping in France.
The Camargue is a good place to enjoy horse riding if you go camping in France s south coast départements. It is not far from Montpellier in the Languedoc Roussillon region, where the Rhone meets the Mediterranean Sea. Native to the marshes, grasslands and lagoons, Camargue horses are small but sturdy and strong, with long tails and manes. They are bred to handle walking in the wetlands along narrow tracks.
The horses were traditionally used for herding the bulls that are farmed here. The bullfighting tradition is still celebrated locally, but with a more humane design to the events. Rather than the swords that are used over the border in Spain, the Camargue bullfighters show their skill by stealing flowers from between the bull s horns.
Finding a good place for camping in France s Camargue region is easy. One option is the campsite called Yelloh! Village la Petite Camargue in Aigues Mortes. In the town of Aigues Mortes you can book horseback outings on a local steed, riding down along the lagoons to Port Camargue on the coast. You will often encounter pink flamingos in this part of the South of France. Camping holiday activities at the Yelloh! Campsite includes horse riding too and it always proves popular with the children. From Aigues Mortes you can also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, and the town’s huge fortress.
Two and a half hours to the East, near the glamorous town of Cannes, is the hilly region of Pic de l Ours. This is a good landscape for walking or mountain biking, and many holiday makers choose to enjoy the amazing views from the saddle. Pic de l Ours is a rural area close to the French Riviera, a famously beautiful coastal region of France. Camping holidays in the Côte d’Azur are well provided for at Camping Douce Quiétude, St. Raphaël and the Camping la Baume, Fréjus, as well as many more quality sites down the coast.
It is not just the South of France where you can enjoy equestrian pastimes. There are horses to be found on Camping holidays in France’s north coast département of Normandy, the region famous for the Bayeux Tapestry and the D Day Beach landings. Festyland is a fun park with a Norman history theme, aimed at young children. One of the many attractions is the medieval horse show, which will entertain all the family.
While camping in France you can also take pony rides at the Camping la Grenouillére, Blois, in the Loire Valley. Nearby is the beautiful The Château de Chambord overlooking the forest of Boulogne. There are horse shows and Son et Lumière shows at the Chateau, and you can hire horses to explore the grounds from the vantage point of the saddle.
Author Resource:
Lorraine Waddell is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, a leading European camping operator that provides the best selection of holidays camping holidays France can offer (http://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/destinations/france-604-0.aspx )