Aquitaine Holiday Guide
French Holiday Property Home > Holiday Guides > Region Guides > AquitaineA diverse region offering many attractions
A holiday taken in Aquitaine can be whatever you want. Teens and active young adults can tackle the waves and party hard in some of Europe's best surf resorts, families can enjoy traditional, bucket and spade seaside holidays, wine buffs and gourmands can revel in the wines and food of Bordeaux, and lovers of spectacular countryside and heritage towns and villages will find the ideal place in the Dordogne.Top 5 things to see and do in Aquitaine
1. Surf the waves
Aquitaine is acknowledged as having some of the best surf resorts in Europe. Top international competitions are held in the region, and resorts such as Hossegor offer not only great sport but also a party lifestyle that is ideally suited to teens, twenties and thirty somethings who want an action packed holiday in every way.2. Enjoy the seaside
If you are holidaying with young children and don't want to risk the big waves, don't worry, there are still plenty of excellent beaches and resorts where kids can enjoy the beaches and the dunes in safety. Near the seaside resorts are other family attractions such as aqua parks and adventure parks, so there will be no difficulty occupying the young ones.3. Ski
Aquitaine offers a complete contrast to its seaside and surf attractions in the form of some very good mountain ski resorts in the department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques. This area is gaining popularity among skiers and fans of other mountain sports, as its beautiful scenery and less crowded resorts are becoming better known to tourism. It's not only winter that attracts holidaymakers to the mountains, either, as summer brings perfect conditions for walking, cycling, rock climbing and other activities.4. Taste the wines
Bordeaux is one of the most lauded wine regions of France, and anyone who has the slightest interest in wine will enjoy a wine touring and tasting experience, whether it be a dedicated holiday learning in depth about Bordeaux and its wines, or just a day spent looking at the vineyards and tasting a glass or two.5. See the prehistoric caves of the Dordogne
The Dordogne department, in addition to having a spectacular scenery of gorges, rivers, forests and bastides, offers the possibility of taking a fascinating glimpse of a prehistoric world. The Lascaux Caves (now sadly only accessible as a reproduction, but still very informative and interesting), are the best known, but the department is rich in age old grottoes and caves to discover.Top 5 Towns and Cities in Aquitaine
1. Bordeaux
Capital of the Aquitaine region, Bordeaux is a name that is first and foremost, perhaps, synonymous with that of fine wines. Certainly the city is a must visit attraction for wine buffs, with opportunities to learn in depth about the vineyards, the varieties of grape and methods that make these most highly acclaimed wines. That said, Bordeaux is also a wonderful heritage city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a cosmopolitan town with all mod cons and comforts, and a place with a powerful cultural identity and much entertainment for all ages.2. Biarritz
Biarritz is a seaside resort par excellence, and one which combines the charm and elegance of a bygone age with a lively modern spirit. Its attractions include an important architectural heritage, great beaches and surfing activities, a vibrant nightlife, good shopping and a renowned gastronomy.3. Agen
Agen is the principal city of the Lot-et-Garonne region. With a rich history and heritage, the city is always interesting from this point of view, but it also has a special attraction for gourmands, being the acclaimed city of the prune or plum. Duck is also popular here. Many speciality dishes originate from Agen, and the richness of its dishes are enough to tempt anyone to stay a while in this lovely city.4. Bergerac
Another capital city, this time of the Dordogne department, Bergerac is a delightful place to make a base for any holiday in this region. Once more, typically of the area, it is an important wine town, but it is also a lively cultural centre which offers an historical old town, river cruises and great shopping and dining.5. Dax
Dax is not the Lande's capital city (the honour of that goes to Mont de Marsan), but is a fabulous holiday destination, and one which offers the opportunity to try an age old way to relax and recuperate from the stress of modern life. It is the premier spa town in a department which boasts a proud heritage of spa resorts, and in addition to its health giving waters, beauty boosting mud baths and hydrotherapy treatments, offers a wealth of architectural and cultural heritage.Food and Drink in Aquitaine
The region is a wine lover's dream and a foodie's paradise. The wines of Bordeaux and Bergerac, the fiery Armagnac of Lot-et-Garonne and the Landes, the prunes of Agen and the ham of Bayonne are just some of the regional specialities that will set your taste buds and appetite on fire. Poultry dishes and truffles are also often on menus, while goose fat is used in cooking in dishes such as cassoulet (a stew with white haricot beans and a mixture of meats). Many dishes also make the most of the region’s fine wine and are cooked, "à la bordelaise" – with a wine sauce. Various cherry, plum and pear tarts and flans are popular too, in addition to the traditional chestnut cake (gateau aux châtaignes).How to get to Aquitaine
There are many ways to access Aquitaine from the UK. You can fly directly to Pau (Ryanair), Bordeaux (British Airways, Air France, Bmi Baby, easyJet, Flybe), Bergerac (Flybe, Ryanair) and Biarritz (easyJet, Ryanair). TGV services are generally good from Paris. You can get a train to Bergerac, Bordeaux, Biarritz, or you could also go by ferry to Bilbao.Holiday Guides to the Departments of Aquitaine
Dordogne Holiday Guide
The Dordogne is a department of the Aquitaine region of France, and occupies the north-west of that region. A long held favourite with British visitors, the department is one of glorious scenery, charming towns and villages and offers a wealth of attractions for tourists.
Gironde Holiday Guide
The department of Gironde is found in the north-west of Aquitaine, and incorporates a stretch of Atlantic coastline as well as the south banks of the Gironde estuary. It is also the department that claims the great wine city of Bordeaux as its capital.
Landes Holiday Guide
The Landes is a big and largely rural department that sits along the Atlantic coast in the south-west of France. Its terrain includes beaches, sand dunes, pine forests and lakes. The Landes also has its share of heritage towns like the capital, Mont de Marsan.
Lot-et-Garonne Holiday Guide
The Lot-et-Garonne department is part of the large Aquitaine region in France's lovely south-west. The department is blessed with a pretty, rolling terrain, often filled with golden fields of corn and sunflowers in summer.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques Holiday Guide
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques department sits in the south-west corner of France, bordering Basque Spain. It is a department of spectacular mountain scenery, a short but lovely stretch of coast and makes an ideal holiday spot for lovers of the great outdoors.
