Aquitaine
is one of the great historic regions of France; it is also one of the
largest and most varied regions of France, stretching from the
foothills of the Massif Central in the north, to the Spanish border in
the south, a distance of over 300 km. In the Middle Ages, Aquitaine was
allied with the Plantagenet kings of England, and the region has many
historic connections with the British Isles, notably through the wine
trade.
On account of its size, Aquitaine is a very varied
region; the northwest part of Aquitaine, comprising the departments of
the
Dordogne (24) and the
Lot et Garonne
(47) is made up of gentle hill country, with large areas of vineyards
in the lower lying areas, and woodland and mixed farming in the hillier
north east. The Dordogne area is famous for its rurality, its gentle
valleys and villages, which seem to outsiders to be lost in time, and
have become very popular with second-home buyers from the UK and the
Netherlands in particular. The area is also famous as one of the oldest
centres of known human habitation in Europe, and many prehistoric sites
can be found round the area of Lascaux (remarkable caves, a UNESCO
world heritage site) and Les Eyzies. Within France, the Dordogne
department is more famous for its gastronomic specialities, truffles,
foie-gras, walnuts and other mouth-watering delicacies, and is often
rerferred to as "le Périgord", the area around the departmental
capital of
Périgueux.
The middle band of the region,
following the line of the Gironde estuary, is low-lying land, and one
of the most famous wine-producing areas in France.
Bordeaux, regional capital and capital of the
Gironde
(33) department, is a magnificent city lying at the lowest
bridging point on the Garonne river. it is one of France's great
seaports, and its historic wealth is reflected in the many fine
buildings of the old city, such as the unique eighteenth-century
theatre. North of Bordeaux, to the west of the Gironde estuary, lies
the area of Médoc, the most prestigious of the regions
wine-producing areas; other famous vineyard areas can be found all
round Bordeaux, and notably along the valley of the Garonne and its
tributaries. The area around the small historic city of
St. Emilion
is another famous vineyard area. Further inland, the area between
Marmande and Agen supports a busy fruit and vegetable industry. On the
coast, the resort of
Arcachon
is very popular, on account of its sheltered anchorage, favoured by
yachtsmen, and the proximity of the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand
dune in Europe.
The southern part of Aquitaine is
made up of two distinct areas, the departments of les Landes (40)
and the Pyrénées Atlantiques (64).
Les Landes is
the most heavily forested area of Europe; a low lying area with sandy
soil, almost the whole department is covered with pine forests
interspersed with small areas of heath and farmland. The forests are
popular with nature lovers, ramblers and hunters, and support a major
timber industry. Outside the few towns and seaside resorts, the
department of les Landes is one of the least densely populated areas of
France. It is also a department where almost a quarter of all dwellings
are second homes. The coastline of les Landes is a long almost unbroken
stretch of sandy beach, much of it virtually empty.
The department of
Pyrénées Atlantiques (64)
is essentially composed of the former province of Bearn and the Basque
country. It is a very attractive department, offering everything
from Atlantic surf on the beaches around
St Jean de Luz and
Biarritz,
to good skiing on the slopes high up in the Pyrenees. The foothills of
the Pyrenees are a delightful area, benefiting from a very mild
climate, and sufficient rainfall to remain green and luscious through
many months of the year.
Pau,
the departmental capital, is an elegant city that was very popular with
the British in the nineteenth century as a thermal resort, and even
boasted at one time an English hunt, complete with hounds and redcoats.
Access: by
TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse, or from Lille; train from Toulouse or
Marseille. By motorway from the Channel ports via Rouen and
Tours, or from Paris. By air to airports at Bordeaux, Bergerac, Pau and
Biarritz - or (peripheral) Toulouse.
Main
tourist attractions and sites in Aquitaine
Vineyard at St. Emilion - photo Wolfiewolf
Sand dunes above the bay of Arcachon
Photos:
licence CC
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Gironde - Garonne area:
- Bordeaux : regional
capital, a UNESCO world heritage site; remarkable 18th century
and earlier architecture, including the theatre, bridge over the Garonne, and other buildings. Riverside,
streets and markets.
- St Emilion: small wine-making city with narrow streets and unique underground 'monolithic' church.
- The Aquitaine vineyards; the chateaux of the Bordeaux, Médoc and St Emilion vineyards.
- The Canal du Midi (UNESCO world heritage site) Europe's oldest canal, linking Atlantic and Mediterranean.
North east of the Garonne:
- Dordogne: river valley , small villages and towns, prehistoric sites.
- Lascaux: UNESCO world heritage site : Remarkable prehistoric caves with paintings. Reconstruction.
- Perigueux: capital of gastronomy, St Front Cathedral, old streets and buildings.
- Rocamadour: A major pilgrimage and tourist site, this small town clings to the side of the Alzou canyon, in the Lot department.
- Sarlat; one of the most attractive small towns in France.
South west of the Garonne:
- Arcachon: popular Atlantic coast resort, with marina and beaches.
- Atlantic coast: many long sandy beaches, stretching over 100 km from Bayonne to the Gironde
- Basque country: where the Pyrenees meet the Ocean - bracken covered hills, and villages in the distinct Basque style
- Béarn: area in the foothills of the Pyrenees
- Biarritz: popular seaside resort near the Spanish border.
- Dune du Pilat, highest sand dune in Europe, near Arcachon.
- Les Landes: largest forested area in Europe, pine forests and heath. Hiking, natural environment.
- Pau: elegant city near the Pyrenees.
- Pic du Midi d'Ossau, 2884m, highest point in western Pyrenees. Skiing, hiking.
- Pyrenees: high mountains on the Spanish border, hiking, climbing, winter sports, scenery.
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