Aquitaine

From the endless shimmering beaches and dunes and the fragrant pine forests of the Atlantic coast to the historical and beautiful Dordogne with its gastronomic delights, it’s easy to see the attraction of this popular holiday region.

The history of Aquitaine goes back many thousands of years to when man lived in the caves of the Périgord and left cave paintings at sites such as Les Eyzies and Lascaux. The ancient dukedom of Aquitaine was ruled by the English for 300 years following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet, the future king, in 1154. The fortified villages and castles of the area bear evidence of the resulting conflict between the French and the English for control of Aquitaine and today add character to the countryside.

This is a diverse region of mountains and vineyards, vast beaches, fertile river valleys, rolling grasslands and dense forests. Within its boundaries are the beautiful valleys of the Dordogne and Vézère, the forests of the Landes and the beaches of the Atlantic, which stretch from the Gironde estuary to the Basque Country and the rocky Pyrénées mountains on the Spanish border. Some of the world’s most famous vineyards are around Bordeaux, the capital of the region. These are especially famous for their Médoc, Sauternes and St. Emilion wines, and most châteaux allow visits to their cellars and wine tastings.

Coupled with the lure of the region’s prestigious wines, it is an intriguing place to explore. The vineyards and their châteaux, stately in their magnificence, dominate the northwest around the Garonne River and provide lovely scenery for a day’s walking or cycling, punctuated by the odd tasting. In contrast, the sea and sands of the Landes have a laid-back feel that secures their popularity with surfers and sunseekers from all over Europe. Foodies will love the variety, too, from fattened duck in the south to oysters on the coast and escargots in the north.

With so much to explore, visitors to Aquitaine can become effortlessly immersed in its charms, and there’s no better way to do so than on foot or by bike.

Places of interest

Biarritz: A cosmopolitan seaside resort with surfing beaches and a sea museum.

Bordeaux: Riverside, streets and markets; art gallery; Grand Theatre.

Les Eyzies: Pre-history museum and troglodyte houses.

Sarlat: attractive Small town with a preserved historic centre and medieval houses.

St Emilion: Visit the castle ramparts or drink ‘premier cru’ at St Emilion at pavement cafés.

St Jean-de-Luz: Seaside resort and fishing village.

St Jean-Pied-de-Port: Ancient city with citadel, bright Basque houses in steep streets.

Cuisine of the region

Local specialities include fish dishes: carp stuffed with foie gras, mullet in red wine and besugo (sea bream), plus cagouilles (snails from Charentes).

Canelé: A small fluted cake flavoured with rum and vanilla.

Cassoulet: A hearty stew of duck, sausages and beans.

Cèpes: Fine, delicate mushrooms, sometimes dried.

Chou farci: Stuffed cabbage, sometimes aux marrons (with chestnuts).

Confit of duck: Duck legs preserved with spices and herbs.

Magret de canard: Duck breast fillets.

Lamproie: Eel-like fish with leeks, onions and red Bordeaux wine.