Aquitaine is in South-Western France and offers 250 km of coastal stretch with long, fine, sandy beaches with waves that are perfect for surfers. Lakes that are ideal for yachting and fishing. Mountains on the border of Spain that offer walks with incredible panorama views, spa resorts, skiing resorts and canoeing, kayaking or rafting on the rivers as well as Europe’s largest forest which invites to horseback riding or trekking, where you can find truffles, mushrooms and chestnuts.
Aquitaine is also known for its festivals, hospitality and large châteaux in Bordeaux.
A holiday in Aquitaine is ideal for culture, sports and relaxation.

The landscape of Aquitaine

The landscape of Aquitaine is very varied and offers forests and lakes as well as mountains and coast. The tide makes the coast vary between long, fine sandy beaches and steep rocks.

The Pyrenees have rich fauna and flora, and depending on the time of year, are dressed in white, green, blue or yellow. Here, you will meet free-range sheep and cows that block the roads and give drivers an unavoidable, but pleasant, small break. 

In Aquitaine’s Northern parts, the fields are dressed with vines that provide some of the best wine in the world.

Large cities in Aquitaine: Bordeaux and Biarritz

The great wine city, Bordeaux, is located by the River Garonne. The city has a vivid cultural life with museums, restaurants, cafes and shops as well as elegant 18th century buildings. The greatest attractions in the city are the theatre ”Grand Théâtre”, the great area ”Esplanade des Quinconces” with wooden esplanades, statues and fountains as well as ”Place de la Bourse”, the elegant square with a view of the River Garonne.

Biarritz is a true holiday and beach town with a folkly summer atmosphere and nine beautiful beaches. Life is best lived by sitting in the waterline of the old harbour, observing the life and the tide while eating clam, shrimp, octopus and sardines from the grill and drinking cold white wine.
On Rue Gambetta, there is a vivid market hall where you find a lot of delicious specialities.

Tourist attractions in Aquitaine

In Aquitaine, there are many beautiful and famous vineyards that produce some of the best wine in the world. When you are on holiday in Aquitaine, you should not miss a tour of the many vineyards of Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion, Pauillac, etc., where you can gain insight into the wine production as well as taste their wine.

The long coastline between Pointe de Grave and Bayonne is called the Silver Coast. It is a long beach with wandering sandhills. The coast is filled with beautiful beaches as well as old and modern holiday resorts. Bassin d’Arcachon is on the Silver Coast and is a preserved area which is famous for its natural beauty. The area is perfect for holiday guests, yachting enthusiasts and oyster-lovers. South of Arcachon is the largest wandering sandhill of Europe ”La Dune du Pyla”.

The city Roque-Gageac is one of the most beautiful cities of France. It is located between the River Dordogne and mountainsides. Along the River, you also see many beautiful castles.

Sports activities in Aquitaine

In the mainland, there are a wide number of lakes that are popular for sailing and fishing when you are on holiday in Aquitaine. Along the beaches and the mountains, you will find long cycling paths, and the great waves make the coast a true paradise for surfers.
In the mountains of the Pyrenees, you can canoe or kayak or raft on the rivers, and further to this, there are a number of possibilities of trekking in the mountains with fascinating panorama views.
In the wintertime, there are plenty of skiing resorts in the Pyrenees.

Gastronomic characteristics of Aquitaine

The area offers some of the world’s best wine. The food of the region excellently matches its wine with eel, clam and oyster from the coast, and from the pastures in the country, you will find salty lamb meat and goat cheese.
In the hinterland of Gascogne, you should taste Armagnac, the oldest French aquavit, the famous goose pate, also from Gascogne, truffles from Périgord and smoked ham from Bayonne.

The climate in Aquitaine

Normally, Southwestern France is favoured by a sunny climate from the early spring until late autumn. In the Pyrenees, summers are dry and not too hot. The areas of the mountains have their own micro climate, where one town can have clear sunshine, and merely 10 km away, it may be cloudy. The coastal area is often favoured by wind from the Atlantic Ocean which freshens it up a little.
The average temperature is about 10 degrees in the wintertime and 22-25 degrees in the summertime.

Some of the photos are kindly lent out from Maison de la France. Photographers: Jean-François Tripelon and Jean Malburet.