Aquitaine travel guide

Gironde - north-west Aquitaine

Centred around Bordeaux, the important and impressive capital of Gironde, the department has several other notable highlights, including important coastal towns and the renowned Medoc and Saint Emilion wine regions.

Bordeaux itself has a great deal of interest for visitors: the city is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and is one of the most impressive cities in France. See Bordeaux for details.

To the west of Bordeaux the 19th century seaside resort of Arcachon is very attractive and you can also visit the highest sand dune in Europe at the Dune de Pilat (recommended - it's quite a sight!).

To the north of Bordeaux the Medoc peninsula has numerous popular coastal resorts such as Lacanau to the west, and the vineyards of the Medoc wine region such as Chateau Margaux to the east. Further east in Gironde we advise you to visit the UNESCO protected town and vineyards of Saint-Emilion, which is certainly one of the most attractive towns in France.

See our detailed Gironde travel guide for lots more information and highlights

Landes - coastal Aquitaine

The Landes department of western Gironde is best known for the many seaside resorts and long sandy beaches that line the coast, and for the extensive forests of the region.

The Landes department attracts large numbers of holidaymakers from spring until autumn to the popular resorts such as Biscarrosse, Capbreton, Hossegor and Mimizan. This coast forms part of the Cote d'Argent, an almost unbroken line of 120 kilometres of sandy beaches along south-west France.

This section of coast is especially popular with windsurfers because of the large Atlantic waves and the extensive beaches, which make it easy to avoid the more crowded areas, and for the lakes behind the coast which allow small children to escape the big waves when necessary!

Behind the beaches the large forest was planted by Napoleon III to reclaim the mosquito infested swamp area and is now the largest forest in Europe, with substantial cycling and walking opportiunities.

Although less visited than the coastal regions of the Landes, further to the west there are also some towns with interesting features such as Mont-de-Marsan and Dax.

Visit Landes for more information and Atlantic coast and beaches for coastal towns and resorts

Pyrenees-Atlantiques - south-western Aquitaine

In a setting between the western Pyrenees and the Atlantic coast, the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department can offer a morning on the beach and a visit to a mountain village in the afternoon - perhaps with lunch in Biarritz in between the two!

The lively city of Biarritz will be a highlight of your visit to the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (along with nearby Bayonne), and on the coast to the south of here be sure to visit Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

The quiet port town of Ciboure is next to Saint-Jean-de Luz and was once home to Ravel and Matisse. While in the region be sure to venture across the border into Spain to visit historical Hondarribia.

Not far from the coast a visit to the beautiful villages of Sare, Ainhoa and La Bastide-Clairence is also recommended, to see the traditional architecture of the basque region. This Basque region also has many other small traditional towns and villages to explore such as Espelette and Itxassou, set against the backdrop of the foothills of the Pyrennes.

Further away from the coast other towns of interest include Cambo-les-Bains, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Salies-de-Bearn and Sauveterre-de-Bearn, and the town of Pau is popular with visitors, particularly because of its view to the Pyrenees mountains.

The far south-east of the department is within the Pyrenees National Park and the only place in Aquitaine where you can see high mountains.

See the detailed Pyrenees-Atlantiques guide for lots more information and highlights

Dordogne and north-eastern Aquitaine

The Dordogne, the north-eastern department of Aquitaine is famous around the world for its medieval villages and castles, the countryside of hills and forests, rivers and traditional small farms, the Dordogne and Vézére rivers, and for the many prehistoric sites.

Many first-time visitors base themselves to the south of the Dordogne either near Sarlat, one of the most beautiful towns in France and with easy access to many of the most interesting villages and castles in the region, or at Montignac which is well placed to explore the prehistoric caves of the Vézère valley.

Away from this most visited area there is also a great deal to explore

To the south you can visit beautiful villages such as Monpazier and Domme, and the historic town of Bergerac to the south-west. Further north you will discover a quieter but equally beautiful region, with riverside towns such as Brantome and its abbey, castles including the famous Chateau de Hautefort, and the scenic countryside of the Perigord-Limousin Natural Regional Park.

See the detailed Dordogne guide for lots more highlights and attractions

Lot-et-Garonne: eastern Aquitaine

While the Dordogne department is a long established destination with visitors it is only in the last 15 years that the Lot-et-Garonne department immediately to the south has become more popular as its attractions have come to be discovered and recognised.

You will find that the northern part of the Lot-et-Garonne has a lot in common with its northern neighbour, with picturesque villages such as Monflanquin and Villereal, castles such as the impressive ruins of the Chateau de Bonaguil, and rolling forested hills.

Further south the countryside becomes less forested and rather flatter. Its charm lies in the traditional market towns and unspoiled rural landscape of woodlands, quiet roads and fields of sunflowers.

A perfect place to escape from the crowds and enjoy the birdsong, in a region popular with visitors who are seeking the 'real' France of 25 years ago.

See our Lot-et-Garonne travel guide for more highlights and information