MUST-SEES: EQUESTRIAN TOURISM

All over Kentucky, visitors will marvel at the superb breeding of thoroughbreds and American Saddlebreds.

In the center of the state, Lexington is considered the Horse Capital of the World. It is the land of the horse but also a country town with an old-fashioned charm famous for its bourbon and its distilleries with ancestral methods. The rolling, horse-populated landscape surrounds the city center with a concentration of 450 thoroughbred and American trotter stud farms, many of which are open to the public. Sightseeing tours are available to visit horse farms, and a trip to Keeneland Racecourse is a must to see the spring and fall races. The Thoroughbred Center, where young thoroughbreds are trained to race, can be visited, as well as a retirement home for famous racehorses. Offering a true year-round equestrian experience, the Kentucky Horse Park is the only park in the world dedicated entirely to horses. Its 497 hectares offer a variety of horse breeds, two museums, art, and live competition and entertainment.

A little further west of Lexington, Shelbyville is a charming little town with world-class equestrian events such as the Shelbyville Horse Show. Celebrated as the Saddlebred Capital of America, it is surrounded by over 90 historic stud farms where these thoroughbreds are bred and trained. The small town also offers many home furnishing stores and the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, the factory outlet with over 100 designer stores.

Not far from there, Louisville is famous for its gastronomy pushing the limits of Southern cuisine, its famous Old-Fashioned bourbon-based cocktail and its historic hotel that inspired Francis Scott Fitzgerald to create a scene in Gatsby the Magnificent. Its most unique attraction is the legendary Churchill Downs racetrack, which hosts the Kentucky Derby every May, America’s most famous horse race.

Bluegrass And Bourbon

Kentucky is the birthplace of Bluegrass. At the origin of the development of this musical genre, Bill Monroe, a musician and composer was born in Rosine, in the southwest of Kentucky in 1911. After his passing in 1996, the “Father of Bluegrass Music” is buried in the local cemetery in Rosine, and it is possible to visit his restored family home. Bluegrass is played everywhere, including the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the only museum dedicated to this musical genre that has its roots in folk music. ROMP Fest is a four-day festival celebrating bluegrass music in June.

The north central part of the state is proud to be the birthplace of Bourbon Whiskey and today, more than 95% of the bourbon

Practical Information

POPULATION: 4.467 million

CAPITAL & MAIN CITIES: Frankfort - Lexington, Louisville, Covington, Owensboro, Paducah, Bowling Green

TIME DIFFERENCE: -7h (South and West) and -6h (North, Central and East)

CLIMATE: Summers are mild and winters are not too harsh. Each season is very distinct. Autumn is the driest season.

WHEN TO GO? Spring, summer and fall consumed worldwide is distilled and aged in Kentucky. Each distillery has its own trademark. Although the manufacturing process remains the same, the differences can be seen along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as you discover 37 of the state’s finest distilleries. Created in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers Association, this road-trip allows you to discover the secrets of bourbon production and its inherited traditions.

LOCAL TIP: Be sure to try traditional dishes such as “burgoo” (a generous stew), peasant ham and fried chicken. Many chefs prepare them with a personal touch.

The culture of bourbon is still developing in Kentucky, the proof being Boone County Distilling, which has risen from the ashes. This upstate distillery dates back to 1785 and produced up to one million gallons of whiskey until it closed in 1910. In Frankfort, the capital city, Buffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest operating distillery in the United States, having even managed to stay in business during Prohibition for “medical” purposes. The 1.5 km2 property covers five centuries of architecture and is a National Historic Landmark. Five tours are offered, each offering a unique insight into the bourbon-making process, all with a historical perspective. In the heart of Bourbon Country, Bardstown is a small historic town made famous by its bourbon distilleries. Among its eleven distilleries are such greats as Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Four Roses and Maker’s Mark.

Unique Sites

Kentucky has sites and attractions unique to the state.

The south-central part of the state holds a secret world: Mammoth Cave National Park is the largest known underground cave system in the world with 643 km of galleries. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, traces thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Often referred to as the “Niagara of the South”, people come to Cumberland State Park to admire the 125m high and 38m wide wall of water.

Bowling Green, in southwestern Kentucky, is home to the famous Corvette, which has been America’s sports car since 1953. The National Corvette Museum features a spectacular collection of over 70 Corvette models, including prototypes. In addition to the museum, visitors can also include a stopover at the General Motors Corvette assembly plant, which is still in operation, producing about 100 cars daily.

Boxer Muhammad Ali is a global icon whose first nickname was “The Louisville Lip” in reference to his hometown and his strong word. When visiting Louisville, fans will make a pilgrimage from his birthplace to the cemetery where he is buried. The Muhammad Ali Center celebrates and preserves the boxer’s story.

South of Louisville, in Hodgenville, the Lincoln Museum displays the major events in the life of the 16th president of the United States, born in Kentucky in 1809. The museum is 5 km north of Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, now the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, and 11 km west of his boyhood home at Knob Creek. All three of these sites are part of the Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail.

Getting There

GATEWAYS:

From Paris: Direct flight from Paris to CincinnatiNorthern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

From Munich: flight from Munich to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

From London: Direct flight from London to CincinnatiNorthern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:

Louisville (SDF)

Lexington (LEX)