Aquitaine's vast stretch of coastline only seems to compete in most
visitors’ minds these days with the pull of the Dordogne and, for those
interested in wine, the lure of Bordeaux.
Undoubtedly these three attractions are the crown jewels of the region
but other gems such as the Basque country and the Landes regional park
shouldn’t be dismissed too quickly.
This region doesn’t lend itself well to a daily touring holiday, as if
you don’t want to stay in the countryside, the sights are too spread out to
zip round in 24 hour chunks with overnight stops.
If you wish to tour, try and narrow your choices to two or possibly three
areas, choose a base in each and stay a couple of days.
The rivers in the region are all reasonably safe for older families and
novices to try a variety of water based sports under proper professional
supervision.
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Ze Full Tour from Paris 7 days Starting from EUR 344 per person
Hop On and Hop Off as you want, meet amazing people.... and experience an unforgettable trip. Don't bother with transfers and connections, this tour will take you right there. This full tour from Paris is a trip for ... France: Makila Golf Club Resort In the heart of a superb golf course, the Makila Golf Club Resort is a unique concept, only 10 minutes away from the beaches of Biarritz and the centre of Bayonne. Built in the purest Basque style, you will find 47 apartments and a high quality ... France: Relais de Margaux- Golf & Spa Hotel The Relais de Margaux is located on the riverbanks of the Gironde peninsula, on a 55-hectare estate in the heart of the Medoc region. It is only 25 minutes away from Bordeaux city centre and 35 minutes from Bordeaux Mérignac international airport.
- ...
Silver sand and Atlantic waves bring surfers and families in the summer
months
The giant pine forest hides friendly towns like Castets in this once
marshy département (Hotels Castets)
Dax has a been a thermal spa town since Roman times
Facing the open Atlantic, the 100 kilometres of Landes beaches contain
the largest reservoir of surf spots in Europe. Some waves enjoy
worldwide fame, others, protected by the dunes and the forest, are more
confidential.
CAPBRETON - (Hotels Capbreton) The only port on the Landes coast that is really well
known in the surfing world. For more than ten years, Capbreton has hosted
the prestigious Quiksilver Pro Junior, in which most of today's top
surfers have participated. La Piste, the emblematic wave of Landes
surfing, is known the world over, particularly as the major magazines are
constantly vying with each other to find water shots of this spot with the
best surfers in action.
HOSSEGOR - (Hotels Hossegor) Europe's surfing Mecca, Hossegor owes much of its fame to
the Rip Curl Pro - the professional competition that takes place every
year from August 18 to 27. Hossegor is the home of some of surfing's major
businesses and an incredible number of surf shops.
SEIGNOSSE - Seignosse is a district with the town set 5 kilometres
inland. The extension towards the sea, Seignosse-Plage, is full of spots.
It's impossible to list them all, but 3 of them are really outstanding.
VIEUX-BOUCAU - A superb Landes-style village built round a lake,
Vieux-Boucau is a stronghold of Landes surfing. There are quality waves on
all of the beaches and the spots are a lot less crowded than those around
Hossegor. From Vieux-Boucau, you can get to Messanges and Moliets, further
north.
MIMIZAN - The home of great French champions like Didier Piter or
Nicolas Capdeville (world bodyboard champion, 1992), Mimizan is divided
into 4 beaches: Remember, Les Ailes, La Sud and Lespecier beach. Like most
beaches on this part of the Landes coast, there are no regularly defined
breaking points - you have to move about a bit to find the best spot.
Down the Leyre in a canoe
It's the same every year. From July onwards, holidaymakers rush to the
huge and magnificent Landes beaches at Biscarosse, Mimizan and Capbreton.
After 3 days, burned by the sun and exhausted by the currents, some of them
take refuge in the forest shade where they discover the Leyre - a clean,
wild and refreshing river over 100 kilometres long.
The Leyre used to be a highway for floating logs. The rafts took several
days to float down to the
Arcachon basin. Today the Leyre is a protected
river, used mainly for leisure activities.
For half- or full-day trips or week-long excursions, the descent of the
Leyre is open to everyone who can swim. There are 12 bases strung out along
the river and each has a forest gîte. You may choose to bivouac with a tent.
The extremely well-equipped base at Saugnacq is run by a group of young
enthusiasts who want to preserve the beauty of the Landes de Gascogne
Regional Nature Park. Family groups can go down the river in a 10-seat canoe
(please note the minimum age of 8). These boats are very stable, allowing
you the time to fully enjoy the scenery and the fauna. Before setting out,
you have to follow a short lesson on the basics. A state-qualified 'river
guide' will accompany you and advise on difficult maneuvers (when the river
is blocked by a tree, for example).
Tulip Inn Biarritz Louisiane
The modern 3 star hotel is located near the centre of the elegant city of
Biarritz, close to the famous casino and the beach.
The Hotel Louisiane offers an excellent opportunity for those who wish to
discover the glamour of Biarritz at reasonable prices, should it be for leisure
or business purposes.
The outdoor swimming pool with solarium and terrace invites you to enjoy sun and
relax.
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Gastronomy
Food and wine are a huge part of life in France and the area of Bordeaux is no exception. In fact, wine tasting in Bordeaux, one of the premier wine regions of France, is a truly wonderful experience and one of the most memorable of your time in this "wine tasting" hub.
For many visitors, a visit to Bordeaux is all about wine; tasting it, drinking it and savoring it. Bordeaux has over 5000 chateaux. You can visit some of them with our wine tours!
With Philippe Etchebest in Saint-Emilion and Thierry Marx in Pauillac,
Michel Portos is one of the three musketeers of the Aquitaine gastronomic
revival. His intense and understated cuisine places him among the genuine
'designers' of contemporary French cuisine.
When
you meet a chef you discover a style, in other words a manner of giving form
to matter. Great chefs are therefore characterised less by the use of superb
and rare products than by their capacity to bring together various flavours
in an unusual and tasty whole. 'The local land doesn't interest me!'
exclaims Michel Portos. 'I feel that cuisine must be creative and explore
new avenues. That's why I'm an absolute fan of Pierre Gagnaire'.
When you go to his restaurant, the Saint-James, 5 miles from Bordeaux,
you therefore won't find lamprey à la bordelaise nor grilled rib of beef on
vine shoots! No saltcellars or pepperpots are on the table either: seasoning
is done in the kitchen to the quarter of a milligramme. Served in a large
dining room overlooking the vineyards of Bouliac, above the River Garonne
and the nearby Landes, Michel Portos' cuisine is a pleasure to taste and
see.
Michel Portos is no ordinary chef but a taste adventurer who does not
belong to any school. This Marseillais, born in a humble background, dreamt
already as a youth of entering the select circle of Michelin-starred chefs.
So, once he had passed his A-levels, he rose through the ranks and learnt
the basics of the job at a few renowned chefs: Dominique Toulouzy, in
Toulouse, taught him strictness; Pierre and Michel Troisgros, in Roanne,
showed him the role of an acidic component in balancing a dish; Mr Nishi, in
Tokyo, who could weigh a dish's content by merely looking at it, made him
fanatical about lightness and refined simplicity...