News from Aquitaine - Autumn Winter 2015 by CRTAquitaine

autumn winter 2015

IN Périgord [ ] Accommodation

Enjoy a unique experience at the Domaine de Puybeton

On the Gironde coast

In the vineyards

In the Landes

In Lot-et-Garonne

In the Pyrénées

We knew about its tree-houses, treetop châteaux, inspired by the châteaux in Monbazillac, Milandes and Hautefort, with 1 to 3 bedrooms, sleeping 2 to 6 guests. In addition to these three smart places – remember that these upmarket tree-houses are really comfortable, each fitted with a spa on the terrace - the Domaine de Puybeton now also has a château on the water with a spa. You take a cute lakeside path through the greenery to get there. The floating cabin is bathed in a unique atmosphere with the freshwater wildlife and original decoration. The terrace affords panoramic views of the estate’s lush green valleys (11 hectares with a pool). The authentic, original appeal of this concept make this a truly magical place. This « floating château-cabin » has a bedroom with

a large bed (160 x 200 cm), a bathroom with walk-in shower, bathrobes and separate WC, mini-bar, coffee machine and kettle, Wi-Fi and even an i-Pod®/i-Phone® in addition to the TV.

In and around Bordeaux

The estate is your starting point to explore the typical Périgord medieval villages known as bastides, tour the land of a thousand and one châteaux, the Dordogne valley and the prehistoric sites in the Vézère valley, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Languages spoken: FR/GB/D/E Rates: €265 a night for two guests for the lake cabin.

Reservation Contact Domaine de Puybeton 24440 Nojals et Clotte Tel: +33 (0)6 30 64 26 00 www.chateaux-dans-les-arbres.com 1

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Suggested stay

Lascaux IV: total immersion in prehistory The Centre International de l’Art Pariétal (International Cave Art Centre), known as Lascaux IV, is being built at the foot of the hill overlooking the village of Montignac, where the original cave lies. The Lascaux cave is one of the most important decorated Paleolithic caves in terms of the sheer number and aesthetic quality of the works, and is the main feature of the Centre. The future facility will feature a reproduction of the entire cave, the fourth and most comprehensive reproduction of this focal point for cave art. It will exhibit the use of new imaging and virtual technologies for innovative sets, serving mediation, for a total immersion in prehistory. The «tour companion» is a connected device which adapts the tour to the user’s age, language and any handicaps. The Montignac-Lascaux Centre International de l’Art Pariétal will be setting a new

benchmark for tourism and culture, highlighting and vulgarising cave art by way of the painted and engraved

representations in the Lascaux cave. It is scheduled to open in the coming months. www.projet-lascaux.com

In and around Bordeaux [ ] Accommodation

La Grande Maison***** joins the Relais & Châteaux network «La Grande Maison de Bernard MAGREZ» recently earned a fifth star and now another honour. Bernard MAGREZ is known as the owner of forty châteaux, four of which grow listed grands crus. His boutique hotel and the restaurant of the chef with the most stars worldwide, Joël ROBUCHON, are now part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux, the most beautiful and charming hotels and restaurants worldwide. It is a seal of excellence and the art of hospitality. © La grande Maison

Reservation Contact La Grande Maison de Bernard Magrez 10 rue Labottière 33000 Bordeaux Tel.: +33(0)5 35 38 16 16 www.lagrandemaison-bordeaux.com

The 5-star Grand Hôtel ***** is now the Grand Hôtel Bordeaux Intercontinental The Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux, a top Bordeaux hotel, has now joined Intercontinental, the top luxury chain worldwide.

Reservation Contact Le Grand Hôtel Bordeaux Intercontinental Place de la Comédie 33000 Bordeaux www.ghbordeaux.com

AUTUMN WINTER 2015

Recharge your batteries at «Prés de Joussac» on the Gironde estuary

The estate holds the promise of fabulous rambles, flamboyant sunsets, grandiose scenery with reeds, dip nets (cabins and fishing rods

typical of the estuary) hanging above the river, not to mention the egrets and grey herons taking flight. This former post house dating from the 19th century now has 2 gîtes to sleep 4 and 9 persons and 4 bed & breakfast rooms. Nature lovers will be over the moon with the wellpreserved stretches of Médoc. On-site, you can go paddle-boating, rambling and cycling and tour wine-growers’ châteaux. Comfortably installed in the dip net, known as the Eclaireur, you can spend an hour, half a day or even a whole day, enjoying the swell of the tide, the lapping of the waves and the wind, observing the birds. It’s the ideal place to recharge your batteries. Rates: Bedroom €95, gîte €150 a night for 4 guests.

Sophie and her family have charming gîtes and bed & breakfast rooms on the 19 hectares of polder wetlands on the Prés de Joussac estate, located near the northern tip of the Médoc, by the Richard canal and the Gironde, north of Bordeaux.

Reservation Contact Les prés de Joussac 45, Route de Valeyrac 33590 Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac www.les-pres-de-joussac.eu

A getaway in the thick of nature in the «Cabanes de Sarah» In a 300-hectare forest in Cabanac-etVillagrains, a village in Gironde south of Bordeaux, four tree-houses await your family or friends for a weekend or a short break in a peaceful, natural setting.

You can check out the flocks of Scottish Blackface sheep, certified organic, and various other farm animals. Sarah shares this stupendous backdrop with old and young alike, and anyone who loves nature

Designed as cosy nests with all mod cons (bathroom and kitchen), you can really enjoy the natural surroundings. From the terrace, you can experience pure happiness taking in the flora and fauna in this deciduous forest, one of only a few in southern Gironde.

Rates: €235 for 2 nights (minimum) for 4 guests.

Open 1 March to 31 October. © Cabanes de Sarah

Reservation Contact La Borde 33650 Cabanac-et-Villagrins Tel.: +33 (0)6 16 70 07 56 www.lescabanesdesarah.com

Gastronomy

Philippe Etchebest at the helm of the restaurant «Le quatrième mur» in Bordeaux Further to the announcement in late 2015 of the imminent arrival of Gordon RAMSAY at the «Pressoir d’Argent», the gastronomic restaurant at the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux Intercontinental, the popular Philippe ETCHEBEST, who used to work at the Hostellerie de Plaisance in SaintEmilion, earning 2 Michelin stars in 2008, has just opened his new restaurant at the opera house just opposite, an emblematic monument in Bordeaux. The aim is to offer «three places in one» explained Philippe Etchebest, Best Worker in France in 2000, on «Non-stop people», «We have created a bar

atmosphere and homely restaurant to seat 24, alongside a small brasserie, with little tables bedecked with tablecloths, and the fourth wall, (the «quatrième mur»), featuring the theme we were aiming for, a monolithic wall projecting cave-like paintings against a more modern backdrop, a cosier area with benches». Don’t wait to check it out! (No need to book) Contact Le quatrième mur Place de la Comédie 33000 Bordeaux

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Suggested stay

Based in Bordeaux, Blacksheep rents compact camping-cars. There are VW Transporters T5, with the facilities to transport up to 6 persons

and to sleep up to 4. Tents may be supplied for the extra travellers.This van is the ideal vehicle for those going surfing, kite-flying, mountainbiking and any other road trip with friends and family. A excellent alternative holiday or a weekend. Bordeaux is the ideal starting point for a surfing trip and to explore the most famous wine region in France. Reservation Contact BlackSheep Agence de Bordeaux : 67 rue Charles Gounod 33130 Bègles www.blacksheep-van.com

And why not take a road trip in a «Black Sheep» Camper van?

Suggested tourS

The wine bar route, a self-guided circuit, to explore another facet of Bordeaux

application Cirkwi. Simply download it and set out in the streets of Bordeaux, following the various milestones in each district. If you’d rather not use your smartphone, you can also simply download the map of this Urban Wine Trail.

Following the route could hardly be simpler! An itinerary has been uploaded on the

Contact and information bordeaux-tourisme.com

In addition to guided tours of vineyards, the Bordeaux Tourist Information Office suggests exploring wine tourism in town this year, following the wine bar route. It will take you down picturesque alleyways and streets, with breaks on wine bar terraces to sample local specialities in combos with emblematic Bordeaux vintages, of course, as well as wines from other French regions and from all over the world. A sort of wine-ramble through the town and further afield, to the outlying towns of Mérignac, Gradignan and Talence, for a total of 14 selected establishments. Visitors are welcomed either in a cosy, intimate setting, where enthusiastic wine-growers will dispense their tips, or in more spacious establishments having adopted the «œnomatic» concept to introduce them to several different wines according to the formula chosen.

Find out all about the role of wine in civilisation with the opening in central Bordeaux of the Cité du Vin The Cité du Vin is the first major cultural site dedicated to wine in Bordeaux, scheduled to open in 2016. Designed by the French architecture firm XTU as part museum, part adventure park, the Cité takes visitors on a tour of civilisations with a wine-growing tradition all over the world. Audacious architecture Your first impression of the Cité is that of remarkable architecture, to showcase 4

the story of wine through the ages, in various cultures. The audacious architecture symbolises a swirl of wine in a glass, giving this outstanding building its rightful place alongside major international museums. Developed on 10 levels, bedecked with 3,000 glass panels and iridescent, lacquered aluminium, it houses a 55m belvedere and reflects the shimmering swirls of the river Garonne. The Cité has been built in Chartrons, the

historic wine-trading district in Bordeaux, beaming like a lighthouse over the river, the traditional route for shipping wine, to which Bordeaux and its wines owe their fame. An international role Inside, temporary and permanent exhibitions take visitors on a journey through time (from 6500 BC to the present era) introducing them to wine culture on all five continents. 23 20 exhibition modules each showcase an aspect

AUTUMN WINTER 2015

of wine. They were designed then approved by a multidisciplinary committee of experts (including œnologists, historians, geographer, sociologists). Ancient civilisations (Greece, Egypt and the Roman Empire) also get a mention. Experience it to the full The Cité du Vin aims to be a source of knowledge for the public as well as an

entertaining experience bursting with the taste of wine. The latest technological innovations serve to awaken your senses with 3D footage, holograms, fragrance diffusers, music and interactive tools. You can enjoy immersing yourselves in the sensorial content using a tour companion, available to all visitors. You get to fly over the incredible diversity of winegrowing areas, embark on a boat for a trip

across emblematic waters, as did generations of traders, and learn about wine-tasting in several dimensions with games involving light, sound and smell. A living place On-site, visitors can also visit the boutiques, restaurants (one of which has panoramic views of the city) and a stunning view from the top of the belvedere. A 5-star hotel with 150 bedrooms, a shopping centre and a maritime shuttle service will also grace the site, in the vicinity of the building. On the ground floor, there is a free wine tourism platform (information desk) to find out about and book tours and activities in the nearby vineyards and even further afield, as befits the international vocation of the Cité. Languages spoken: information and audioguides available in 8 languages. Rates: starting at €15 for one adult.

Online

bordeaux-travel.fr: a booking site for weekend breaks in Aquitaine Bordeaux Travel, a well-established local travel agency with staff in Bordeaux, Libourne, Saint-Emilion and Arcachon, offers made-tomeasure tours and stays for individuals and groups; it can also help professionals and firms. The new website features getaways all the way along the Atlantic coast, in Bordeaux, the Basque country, the Landes, Arcachon basin and Bordeaux and Bergerac vineyards. All stays and excursions can be booked online and at the actual agencies. www.bordeaux-travel.fr Languages spoken: FR/GB

On the Gironde coast [ ] Accommodation

The 3-star residence «L’Estuaire» in Verdon-sur-Mer a tennis court, a volleyball pitch, badminton court and hotel services. Reservation Contact L’Estuaire 21 rue Ausone 33123 Le Verdon-sur-Mer Bookings: 0892 160 500 (0,34€/min)

Located near shops, the Gironde estuary (the biggest in Europe), the village centre and 2.5 km from the beach, the residence «L’Estuaire» comprises some 40 apartments in 6 1-storey buildings, built in woodland. Open from mid-April to late October, this tourist residence has an indoor, heated pool, a paddling pool, a fitness room, a pétanque pitch,

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In the vineyards [ ] In the Bordeaux vineyards Accommodation

Located between Pauillac and Lesparre, Château la Gravière is a former wine-growing estate in Haut Médoc. There are two bed & breakfast rooms and three very comfortable, tastefully decorated suites. Four of the rooms have a private terrace, while the fifth is on the first floor, looking out onto the garden. Sylvie and Pierre Massot, the owners, have renovated the buildings to accommodate their guests, along eco-friendly lines.

The Spa and well-being centre are where you need to go to wind down and evacuate any stress. Emilie and Shivranee perform various types of massage, foot reflexology and beauty care there. For parents staying with their baby, Shivranee, who is Indian, also runs Shantala workshops to teach parents how to massage their baby according to time-honoured Indian tradition. It is suitable even for new-borns. Here, you can taste an experience - accompanied - of total digital liberation, abandoning your smartphone and tablet on arrival. You can also take advantage of your stay to take part in a cooking workshop and try out a couple of easy, tasty and often stunning recipes. The meals served are traditional or local, occasionally enhanced with a touch of exotica. They are prepared using as much garden produce as possible, as well as organic and/or local produce.

Savour the sophisticated atmosphere at Château la Gravière

Languages spoken: FR/GB/D Rates: €112 a night for one guest – €131 for two guests – €37 per adult meal – €27 per junior meal - €15 for children aged 3 to 10. Reservation Contact Sylvie et Pierre MASSOT Château La Gravière 33180 Vertheuil Tel: +33(0)6 95 00 32 79 www.chateaulagraviere.com

This neo-Gothic château stands on a biodynamic wine-growing estate, in the Côtes de Bordeaux area, on the right bank of the Garonne, 25 kilometres to the south-east 6

of Bordeaux. It was built according to the plans of a Scottish abbey back in 1864. The farm buildings and barn date from the 18th century. Built on the highest point of the town, the lodgings comprise a 2-storey building, decorated according to medieval inspiration. It is flanked by a pavilion on one side and a polygon tower on the other. Against a stunning backdrop, Château Fauchey provides charming, top-rate hospitality in its three luminous bed & breakfast rooms, tastefully restored in a contemporary style. The estate is ideally located for a tour of the Gironde, its châteaux and vineyards, villages and bastides (typical medieval villages), Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion. It is a recommended stopover on the major vineyards route. Rates: Starting at €90

Delight in the medieval and contemporary styles at the «Château Dit Castel Fauchey» bed & breakfast

Reservation Contact M. et Mme EMMANUELLI 33550 Villenave-de-Rions Tel.: +33 (0)5 56 94 85 21 www.chateaufauchey.fr

AUTUMN WINTER 2015

Suggested stayS

A stay at Plaisance/Cordeillan-Bages, an up-market vineyard getaway Emilion Grand Cru. The Château CordeillanBages is a luxurious home dating from the 17th century among the Pauillac vineyards. It belongs to the Cazes family, who also own the Château Lynch-Bages, a Pauillac Grand Cru. On the agenda:

Right bank:

Two Relais & Châteaux properties, the Château Cordeillan-Bages in Médoc, and Hostellerie de Plaisance in Saint-Emilion, have joined forces for a combined offer called the «Saut de l’Estuaire». This stay involves a getaway at two prestigious Bordeaux vineyards, one on the right bank and the other on the left, to enjoy the Relais & Châteaux star-studded gastronomy, legendary villages and tours of vineyards producing listed grands crus: L’Hostellerie de Plaisance in Saint-Emilion belongs to the Perse family, who also own Château Pavie, top «A»-listed Saint-

2 nights at the Hostellerie de Plaisance, breakfast included and 1 dinner for two guests (drinks not included) at Cédric Béchade’s Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant, a tour of Château Pavie, top «A»-listed SaintEmilion Grand Cru, with tasting session. Rate: €629 the stay for two guests.

Available from 15 April to 30 November 2015 Reservation Contact • Hostellerie de Plaisance Place du Clocher 33330 Saint-Émilion Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 55 07 55 www.hostelleriedeplaisance.com • Château Cordeillan-Bages Route des Châteaux 33250 Pauillac Tel.: +33 (0)5 56 59 24 24 www.cordeillanbages.com Hostellerie de Plaisance

Left bank: 2 nights at Château Cordeillan-Bages, breakfast buffet included, 1 dinner for two guests (drinks not included) at Jean-Luc Rocha’s 2-star gastronomic restaurant, a tour of Château Lynch-Bages, a listed Pauillac Grand Cru, with tasting session.

Château Cordeillan-Bages

Rate: €629 the stay for two guests

Château Léognan open a restaurant «Le Manège» Located within the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the château de Léognan provides accommodation, tours & tasting sessions, and, new this season, is rounding off its wine tourism package with a restaurant, «Le Manège», in the former stables. The venue features a magnificent terrace ringed with trees, in the former pen. © Château de Léognan

Cold meats and cheese are served at all times. For lunch and dinner, tasty tapas and a single menu is served, washed down with wines from the estate and other appellation vintages. The choice of produce and the quality of food

served has been entrusted to Flora MIKULA, a famous chef from a Michelin-starred restaurant on avenue Georges V in Paris, who now heads up «L’Auberge de Flora». The chef in the kitchen, Yvan Desconet, who works wonders to her orders, is only in his 20s! Reservation Contact Le Manège 88 chemin du Barp 33850 Léognan Tel.: +33 (0)5 56 64 14 96 www.visitechateaubordeaux.fr

«Well-being and secrets» a turnkey stay in Entre-deux-Mers

You’ll love staying at this vineyard just outside Bordeaux in the Entre-deux-Mers region. This 2-day/1-night stay at a bed & breakfast, on offer at the Tourist Information Office includes rare encounters with true wine lovers, as they share their enthusiasm, and a macaroon workshop. This customised workshop is accessible to all, however much experience you have in the kitchen. Sandie deploys a talent for teaching and generosity during the 2½-hour workshop. On the agenda: a tour of the bastide (medieval village) Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, tour of the Malagar estate, the home of French writer

François MAURIAC, dinner-cum-tasting session where you learn how to combine food and wine, another dinner in the company of a wine-grower, a special moment to share and discover Entre-deux-Mers wines. Initiation to tasting sessions and hands-on exercises with a guide to enjoy an authentic experience. Rates: €169 per person (2 to 15 persons) Reservation Contact Office de Tourisme de l’Entre-deux-Mers 33580 Monségur Tel.: +33 (0)5 56 61 82 73 www.entredeuxmers.com 7

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Learn to cook with the chef from the hotel-restaurant Cordeillan-Bages

The château Cordeillan-Bages is also the centre of the Bordeaux school teaching theory and putting it into practice to learn Bacchus’ secrets. Jean-Luc ROCHA, Best Worker in France, also runs cookery lessons,

offering an introduction to the gourmet world of great cuisine: preparing foie gras, Pauillac lamb, garden vegetables, desserts and sweet bites. Rate: €80 per person for a 2½-hour lesson (2 to 12 participants) - Supplement: €90 to enjoy lunch at the gastronomic restaurant, drinks included. Reservation Contact Château Cordeillan-Bages Route des Châteaux - BP 79 33250 Pauillac Tel.: +33 (0)5 56 59 24 24 www.cordeillanbages.com

In Pauillac, amid the vineyards, the Château Cordeillan-Bages is a great Médoc restaurant. The chef, Jean-Luc ROCHA serves inventive, tasty cuisine. His specialities include panfried foie gras with stewed peaches and port reduction, and Pauillac lamb stewed for 7-hours. The wine menu is fabulous, featuring the most prestigious of vintages.

Suggested tourS

Enjoy a private tour of the vineyards with Bordovino The Bordovino agency organises private tours for individuals. They are especially suitable for exploring the vineyards as a couple, family or small group of friends.

Chinese depending on the session

A guide takes his clients out for the day to the vineyards, touring three estates, two listed grands crus and a family estate. You get to taste pre-dinner drinks and local produce as well as participating in an assembly workshop, to create your very own vintage.

Reservation Contact Bordovino 3 rue d’Enghien 33000 Bordeaux Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 30 04 27 (0)6 86 41 95 17 www.bordovino.com

Languages spoken: FR/GB and ES/Portuguese/

Rates: €370 per person for two guests, to €180/ person for 6 persons and above.

What’s new at the château de Cérons In the village of Cérons, in the Graves region, the eponymous Château faces a beautiful 12th-century church. Listed as a historic monument, the Château is an early 18thcentury wine-growing charterhouse, built on a terrace overlooking the Garonne.The estate produces wines of three different colours: red Graves, dry white Graves and Cérons, a sweet golden Bordeaux wine which is one of the most exclusive and oldest Bordeaux appellations.

To make this moment last longer and enjoy the magnificent setting of the estate, visitors can put together a picnic or Cérons pre-dinner drinks, from the local produce available in the boutique (foies gras, duck rillettes, tapenades, compotes, etc.), choose a bottle of wine from the estate, sit in the shade of the magnolias and wind down with their family or friends. The château can also host seminars, receptions and family events. Languages spoken: Tours tasting sessions in FR/ GB/DE/SP © OT Sauternes et Graves

Xavier and Caroline PERROMAT, the Château owners, welcome guests to an extraordinary tour brimming with authenticity. You start off in the Hall of Honour and get shown round all the buildings on the winegrowing estate, preserved in their original state. Visitors then tour the vineyards clustered around the château, the barrel storehouses and the former cooperage. At the end of the tour, there’s a tasting session

of the estate’s three wines in the Château dining-room.

Reservation Contact Xavier et Caroline Perromat Domaines 1, Latour, 33720 Cérons Tel.: + 33 (0)5 56 27 01 13 www.chateaudecerons.fr

AUTUMN WINTER 2015

Singular Sauternes tasting sessions at Château Rayne Vigneau The 1855 classification ranked Rayne Vigneau among the top Sauternes vintages. In 1897, a famous courtier, M. Daney, ranked it second only to Château d’Yquem. Sitting on a magnificent hump overlooking the Sauternes region, the château lays on various unusual tours, including a «tree-top tasting session» atop the 200-yearold cedar tree in the grounds.

Rates: tree-top tasting session, by appointment only: €25 / person, for 3 to 7 persons in the tree. © OT Sauternes et Graves

Supervised by a qualified instructor, visitors climb up to a hanging table to taste the succulent Château wine, an ideal venue from which to admire the panorama of vineyards. There are also tasting sessions combined with

and a tasting session of the 3 wines produced on the estate.

a sports activity. «Rayne Vigneau on horseback» involves a ride on horseback through the vineyards, followed by a tour of the Château

Rayne Vigneau on horseback, by appointment only, €55 /person, for 2 to 12 persons. Reservation Contact Clémence QUEMIN, responsable de l’accueil et des ventes directes chateau@raynevigneau.fr Tel.: +33(0)5 6 56 76 61 63 or +33(0)6 85 94 15 89 www.raynevigneau.fr

Gastronomy

The «Château d’Agassac Wine Restaurant» in Médoc

The concept: a carte blanche menu which changes daily according to inspiration at the

market. A concept focussing on world wines, serving wine by the glass, combining each dish (starter, main dish and dessert) with the best wine. Languages spoken: FR/GB/Chinese Reservation Contact La Table d’Agassac - Château d’Agassac 15 rue du Château 33290 Ludon-MÉdoc Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 88 89 50 (bookings only on the telephone). www.agassac.com

Just 15 minutes from Bordeaux, the 13thcentury château d’Agassac is one of the oldest wine-growing estates in Médoc. It’s also one of the first to have laid on a variety of tours and tasting sessions catering to old and young. Nowadays, the château had added a restaurant, La Table d’Agassac, «the wine restaurant». It is run by Giovanni Curcio (L’Arpège, La Dame de Pic, Il Vino d’Enrico Bernardo), an international wine waiter, who has created distinctive gastronomy based on the wine.

In Armagnac Accommodation

The Lassaubatju estate in Hontanx, an authentic house typical of the region

Mont-de-Marsan. Spanning 120 hectares, with both vineyards and cereal crops, it was the first Armagnac vineyard to obtain the organic label. Gers is but a stone’s throw away, the Landes forest is also nearby, and the ocean an hour away: what more could you want?

Lassaubatju is no mere bed & breakfast. It is located in the Landes forest, in the pretty village of Hontanx, a 14th-century bastide (medieval village) featuring a magnificent fortified gate. It’s in Lower Armagnac, the most noble of Armagnac appellations, 20 km from

Véronique and Frédéric Blondeau have three vast rooms for bed & breakfast, combining authenticity and all mod cons. Original furniture and a sophisticated décor lend sweet charm to the whole.There’s a warm, homely atmosphere in this elegant family home dating from the 19th century. The building is completely white, and the grounds contain centuries-old trees, a pool and spa. It’s a cool oasis in the height of summer, the perfect place for a well-deserved rest. The bedrooms are all fitted with a TV, a hospitality tray, hair-dryer, safe, telephone and radio. Guests are welcomed to this house according

to Gascon tradition, full of warmth, friendliness and simplicity. You can book Armagnac tasting sessions and meals. The couple also share their enthusiasm for wine-growing during weekends or weeks in the country, right near the vineyard, in a charming gîte ranked 4 épis, «Bacchus», known as «Machaxju», in the fully refurbished former dovecote dating from the 19th century. On the menu: a tour of the vineyard, a welcoming tasting session and workshop introducing wine. Rates: Bed & breakfast €68 for one guest – €72 for two guests. Meals €25. Reservation Contact Domaine de Lassaubatju Vignobles Blondeau, 4 rue du Métier 40190 Hontanx en Armagnac Tel.: +33 (0)5 58 03 23 01 www.armagnac-lassaubatju.com 9

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In the Landes [ ] Accommodation

Enjoy peace and quiet in the 3-star «Cottages du Lac Resort» Les Cottages du Lac is located on the Landes coast, in Parentis-en-Born, a small resort halfway between the great vineyard region of Bordeaux and the Basque country. This 3-star Tourist Residence comprises individual houses and apartments overlooking the BiscarrosseParentis lake, in the middle of the forest. Its location makes it an ideal starting point for many getaways or to tour the Aquitaine golf courses. In this beautiful, natural setting, cottages and apartments blend into the scenery and afford superb views of surrounding nature. It is thus the perfectly peaceful backdrop to recharge

your batteries with your family. The vast stretches of beach lining the Atlantic Ocean are great for outdoor activities like bathing, surfing, sailing, kite-flying, mountain biking, fishing and rambling, while the nearby lakes in the forest are fine for fishing and safe bathing. Reservation Contact Les Cottages du lac Route de Lahitte 40160 Parentis-en-Born Tel.: + 33 (0)5 58 82 04 56 www.lescottagesdulac.fr

«Le Mas»: bed & breakfast on the Way of Saint James Located right where Gers and the Landes meet, in Aire-sur-l’Adour, which boasts a cathedral listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site being on Way of Saint James, Le Mas is a charming place, akin to a large family home brimming with friendliness and hospitality. Pascale BERTHO, the owner, has preserved the spirit of the place. © Le Mas

Le Mas houses five customised bedrooms including two suites, with a bathroom in 1930s or contemporary style, a smoking lounge/ library and lounge. The floors are either in cement flagstones or parquet, there’s heirloom furniture and the walls are whitewashed. The terrace, pool and deckchairs are just waiting for guests to chill out through the summer. Le Mas also serves inventive cuisine for dinner,

Reservation Contact Le Mas 17 rue du Château 40800 Aire-sur-l’Adour Tel.: +33 (0)5 58 71 91 26 www.le-mas.net

Rates: €85 a night in a double bedroom including breakfast - €28 for dinner - €12/child under 10.

«Blanche d’Ô», bed & breakfasts and a gîte between the beach and the countryside

Located on the village square in OnesseLaharie, in the Landes pine forest, «Blanche d’Ô» is a genuine 1850s Landes home, halftimbered with red brick. It used to be a post house, then a shop and family home. It has now been fully restored and decorated by the owners, Corinne and Jean-Luc. There are now four bed & breakfast rooms including a family room. There are various chill-out areas to preserve

guests’ intimacy as they enjoy the flowers and trees in the lovely garden. Weather permitting, breakfast and other meals can be served on the terrace. Inside, a lounge/library, a billiards table and various games are available for guests to entertain themselves and wind down. Guests may dine at the restaurant dinner provided they book. If you prefer the beach to the countryside, head for a former fisherman’s house in Mimizan-

AUTUMN WINTER 2015

Plage, between the dune and the forest. Standing in a garden, it has been fully renovated and can sleep up to 6 adults and 2 children. It is ideally located to get about on foot or bicycle. The forest, the cycle lane and access to the beach are a mere 100 metres away and the

town centre is a 5-minute walk away. Languages spoken: FR/GB Rates: bed & breakfast €60 for one guest, €69 for 2 - gîte €850 a week – dinner €23 and €15 child under 12.

Reservation Contact Blanche d’Ô - Chambres et table d’hôtes 184 place des Platanes 40110 Onesse-Laharie Tel.: +33 (0)5 58 07 56 48 / +33 (0)7 87 61 91 09 www.blanchedo.com

Suggested tour

Sharing the Arjuzanx reserve with the birds

You can tour Arjuzanx by yourselves or with a naturalist guide. There are 25 km of trails for rambling, mountain-biking and horse-riding.You can also go bathing (lifeguard in the summer) on the beach of the Arjuzanx lake (147 ha). The water is beautifully clean, and there are also canoes and paddle boats for hire. The Visitors Centre is the starting point for all itineraries and the new entrance to the reserve. The 400-sq.m centre dispenses information

With its vast stretches of water and very special ecosystem, ponds known as «bassines», dry lawns which grow naturally on the clay and sand terrain, humid pine forests and the vestiges of what Gascogne used to look like, the Arjuzanx reserve is a former mine, now rehabilitated. There are many natural habitats of great value in terms of heritage. Located on the principal migration corridor, the Arjuzanx reserve is home to many rare species, and is a major site for migrating birds and biodiversity. It is actually the largest site in France for grey cranes, with 25,000 coming to hibernate.

and puts on educational exhibitions as well as affording superb views of the lake. The history and natural heritage are explained via a circuit featuring an immense fresco, large mock-ups, visual animations, tactile tables etc. A boutique and snack bar are available to visitors.

Reservation Contact Maison Barreyre 40110 Arjuzanx Tel.: +33 (0)5 58 08 11 52 www.reserve-arjuzanx.fr

IN LOT-ET-GARONNE [ ] Accommodation

Stay with artists at the Château de Lagravade in Layrac Château de Lagravade is located just outside Layrac, a village with a Tuscan feel, 10 km from the Agen railway station and 10 min from AgenLa Garenne airport. Now fully renovated, the building housing four bed & breakfast rooms stands amidst 2 hectares of greenery, in the shade of centuries-old cedar trees. The room have been decorated with modern touches without spoiling the château’s 19th-

century charm. Some bedrooms have a four-poster bed and all have free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms all have a bathtub or walk-in shower. You can admire the works of the artist owners in the park and the common areas of the château. David VANORBEEK is a professional sculptor using recycled metal, whereas Natalie MAGNIN works with textiles to create dainty fashion accessories and artistic textiles, wall 11

NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

Languages spoken: FR/GB/NL Rates: €80 a night for one guest – €135 a night for two.

Reservation Contact Château de Lagravade Lieu-dit Lagravade 47390 Layrac Tel.: +33(0)6 17 77 17 58 +33(0)5 40 40 15 32 chateau-de-lagravade.com

decorations and ornaments, using recycled fabrics and natural dyes.

IN THE PYRENEES [ ] Accommodation

«Le Cap de la Hont» in Laruns, a pastoral house in a rural setting

Paul is a craftsman, and has made all the furniture to measure in order to fit it into the ancient volumes. Converted into a gîte for groups, this lovely building affords a stunning view of the mountains. It can house up to 15 persons in 5 bedrooms, all fitted with bathrooms.

Comité Régional de Tourisme d’Aquitaine 4 Place Jean Jaurès - CS 31759 33074 Bordeaux Cedex Tél. : +33/(0)556 017 000 Fax : +33/(0)556 017 007

There is also kitchen in the comfortable The décor is throughout.

a large dining-room, a living room and a vast, lounge with jacuzzi. understated and sober

This house is truly peaceful, with walls over a metre thick! The gîte is

well located for all sorts of activities: watching the shepherds move their flocks of sheep, visit the pastures or climb the peaks with a mountain guide. Pierre and Sarah have their own flock of sheep that they continue to breed. The bedrooms can be rented for a night or a week. Languages spoken: FR/ES Rates: Starting at €2,100 a week – weekend €600 - €52 for two guests for one night. Reservation Contact Le gîte du Cap de la Hont 33 rue du Bialé 64440 LARUNS Tel.: +33 (0)6 89 25 06 74 www.gites64.com

tourisme@tourisme-aquitaine.fr pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr aquitaine-bordeaux.fr

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Document imprimé sur du papier certifié PEFCTM avec des encres végétales par KORUS EDITION (IMPRIM’VERT® - PEFC/10-31-1118).

Le Cap de la Hont is a former stronghold dating from 18th century, in a stupendous setting just above the church in Laruns, a village in Ossau valley. Owners Sarah and Paul VIDAL have renovated it.