Aquitaine
Nestled in the South Western Corner of France is the Aquitaine region, an area of the country that boasts some superb culture, cuisine, sporting activities, scenery, and above all, history.
If you’re looking for a beach holiday, then a visit here will bring you within touching distance of the Atlantic coastline, and popular resorts of Biarritz, and Hossegor, a haven for surfers. Along with surfing, there are a whole host of other active pursuits available throughout Aquitaine, from canoeing, to horse riding and cycling. With many hills and valleys, and part of the Pyrenees also falling within this area, hiking and winter sports are also possible.
With so many cultural and historical opportunities within this region, no visit would be complete without a bit of exploration. There are gothic churches and cathedrals, like those in Bordeaux, Medieval New Towns called Bastides, unspoilt villages, and traditional timber framed buildings, and of course Chateaux. Visit somewhere like Sarlat and you’ll come into contact with more listed buildings than anywhere else in Europe. There’s also a variety of interesting museums, which pay tribute to everything from the strong military history of the area, to the salt industry, and chocolate. Another important part of the Aquitaine story is the wine industry, which in France dates back to Roman times. Wine production in Aquitaine is famous the world over, particularly when it comes to Bordeaux wines, and no visit here would be complete without a trip to a vineyard/wine chateau, to sample the excellent vintages that come from this area.
With wine, there normally comes a fine meal, and throughout the region there are many different local delicacies to try. Sample foie gras and truffles in the Dordogne area, salt cod and chillies in Basque country, or baby eels and sea snake (lamprey) from the Gironde area. Travel at the right time and you can also mix your fine wines and cuisine, with one of the many festivals in the area, which range from Mime, to Baroque/New Orleans music, and bull fighting.
Staying in Aquitaine can also be an exciting experience, with accommodation varying from campsites and caravan parks, to traditional farmhouses and chateaux, with a range of hotels in between. There is something to suit all budgets, and travelling here from the UK is relatively easy too. There are several options when travelling to the Aquitaine region. There are motorway routes linking Bordeaux with Paris, Biarritz, Clermont Ferrand, and Toulouse for those travelling by car. High speed rail links using the TGV network are also possible from Paris (3 hours), Nantes (4 hours), and Lille (5 hours). There are also good airport links from the UK to Biarritz and Bordeaux airports, with internal/European flights also available from/to the airports at Bergerac and Pau.
If you want your holiday to be an experience, then book a trip to Aquitaine, one of the most interesting areas of South West France.
