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Aquitaine, France tourist information

Aquitaine is found in the south-west corner of France. It reaches Spain at its southern frontier, and the Atlantic Ocean runs along the western edge of the region. The extended Midi-Pyrenees region is found to the east.

For visitors the region falls into three distinct regions

• the forest backed coasts of the western edge, best known for the beaches, surfing, and summer fun
• the countryside of the Dordogne / Lot-et-Garonne departments further inland, and the history reflected in the castles and medieval villages set among the verdant countryside
• the foothills and low Pyrenees, and the numerous typical Basque villages that they contain

Major cities in Aquitaine include Bordeaux, Biarritz and Perigueux.

Aquitaine - Coastline

The beautiful and long Atlantic coastline, and the areas between Arcachon on the coast near  Bordeaux, reaching down to Biarritz and on to St Jean de Luz in the south near the Spanish frontier, are backed by the enormous forests of the Landes region, and the Dune de Pilat (the largest sand dune in Europe)

This substantial coastline includes many fine, long sandy beaches and resorts including (among others) Lacanau (aka Lacanau Ocean), Arcachon, Biscarosse, Mimizan, Hossegor, Capbreton and Hendaye. See Atlantic coast and beaches for more detail of the towns and resorts along the coast in south-west France.

Gironde highlights

Bordeaux, a city that has successfuly reinvented itself over the last decade, is now an attractive and interesting destination.

Of special interest as a place to visit halfway between the Dordogne region and Bordeaux is the lovely town of Saint Emilion - famous for wine, but fascinating even if you aren't interested in vineyards!

Arcachon Bordeaux Lacanau Saint-Emilion (not coastal, but in Gironde department)

visit Gironde for more information

Landes highlights

Bayonne is found slightly inland from Biarritz. Heading from Bayonne towards Mont-de-Marsan stop also to see Dax, or staying further south be sure to see the villages at Espelette and Itxassou. Further inland, in the Pyrenees (but still officially in the Aquitaine region) is Laruns, a popular base to begin an exploration of the mountains.

Orthez, with its well known bridge, is close to the two villages of Sauveterre-de-Bearn and Salies-de-Bearn, while 40 km to the south is Pau, a town with lovely views across to the Pyrenees 

Biscarrosse  Capbreton Hossegor Mimizan 

visit Landes or more information

Pyrenees-Atlantiques highlights - a selection

The most beautiful villages of Sare and Ainhoa, and also La-Bastide-Clairence, are found in the Pyrenees Atlantiques department, a little way inland from Biarritz and St Jean de Luz.

The quiet neighbour to St Jean de Luz at Ciboure was once home to Ravel and Matisse - and while in the region be sure to venture across the border into Spain to visit Hondarribia.

Ainhoa  Bayonne Biarritz Cambo-les-Bains Ciboure Espelette Itxassou La Bastide-Clairence  Pau  Saint Jean de Luz Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Salies-de-Bearn Sare  Sauveterre-de-Bearn

visit Pyrenees-Atlantiques for more information

Aquitaine - Inland

Inland Aquitaine is best epitomised by the bastide towns, the castles and the small scale agriculture of the region along the Rivers Dordogne and Lot.

History, attractive scenery, and much more besides in one of the most popular regions of France - note: this falls into two departments, with Dordogne to the north and Lot-et-Garonne to the south

see the departments of Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne for more information

Related: see also Holiday in Arcachon and Holiday in St Jean de Luz

Visit Aquitaine - travel information

Places to visit in Aquitaine - more information

To see a larger map which shows places to visit in Aquitaine in more detail (castles, classified most beautiful villages etc) see Map of Aquitaine. (Also includes a full alphabetical list of all places in Aquitaine in France This Way.)

Visit also the dedicated Dordogne site that provided much of the material for the Dordogne section of the Aquitaine travel guide.

See also Aquitaine (version Francais)