News from Aquitaine - Autumn 2011

ISSN :1767/5537

SOMMAIRE SUMMARY

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Wine tourism

• Architecture and state of the art technologies • Collection of tours at Château Soutard in Saint-Emilion • Upmarket guest rooms on the banks of the estuary • Make yourself at home at Château Latour Ségur near Saint-Emilion

New site to visit

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• Step back into the past at Manoir de Gisson in Sarlat

Cookery classes

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• Le Clos des saveurs, a delicious bed & breakfast • Cookery workshops with a chef in Bordeaux

4 Offbeat breaks and experiences in Aquitaine • Discovering the islands of estuary in a taxi-boat • Stand Up Paddle : a new way of seeing the Bay of Arcachon • Customised boat trips on the Bay of Arcachon

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• Sail away on an eco-barge • The Black Périgord in a 2CV or from the skies • Fill up with sensations at Happy Forest near Agen

Accommodation • 5-star Aquitaine • Guest rooms and terraces in a former Bordeaux winery • Bed ans Breakfast of charm in the South Gironde

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Events

• Evento, the Bordeaux arts biennial

In short 8 Transport 7 On line 7

NEWS from

AQUITAINE

[WINE TOURISM ] Architecture and state of the art technologies for cutting-edge châteaux Certain winegrowing châteaux use the services of renowned architects to refurbish or create their cellars and vat houses, transforming them into ultra-modern sites at the cutting edge of technology and architecture. Here are three examples.

While Château Lafite Rothschild was the forerunner in 1987 when Ricardo Bofill designed its avant-garde underground cellars, other châteaux have since followed its example.

Cos d’Estournel, the Médoc grand cru classé, launched into the construction of a modern winery in 2008. Designed by architect Michel Wilmotte, the building revolutionised the way wineries and vat buildings were perceived by turning them into places to visit, stunning guests with a “sea” of barrels and a glass bridge standing above them.

Unique in France, the winery also has four “elevator vats” designed for vat-to-vat drainage.

Next we go to Saint-Emilion on our tour of “stylish” wineries, with Château Faugères in 2009 and Château Cheval Blanc since June 2011.

Built as a kind of wine cathedral by architect Mario Botta, the winery building at Château Faugères stands out by its luminous tower overlooking the vineyard and its high-tech equipment designed to improve the quality of wine, for example a grape-sorting system using an optic system with a camera.

Château Cheval Blanc, Saint-Emilion premier cru classé, has recently inaugurated its new vat-house created by architect Christian de Portzamparc. With simple lines and lots of light, it looks like a futurist vessel, or a gigantic hill with, at the top, a landscaped roof garden covering more than 6 000 m2, offering an unobstructed view over the village of Saint-Emilion. You can see the winery from the road, but it is not open for visits.

These new facilities undeniably modernise the winemaking process whilst adopting an aesthetic approach which will to appeal to first-time visitors and experienced wine tourists alike. See them without fail.

© Cos d’Estournel

AQUITAINE TOURIST BOARD NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

© Château Faugères

2011

autumn

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■ Information and visits

• Château Cos d’Estournel 33180 Saint-Estèphe Tel. : +33 5 56 73 15 50 www.estournel.com estournel@estournel.com

Visits with tasting sessions are free of charge.

Appointment required.

• Château Faugères Rue Saint Etienne-de-Lisse 33330 Saint-Emilion Tel. : + 33 5 57 40 34 99 www.chateau-faugeres.com info@chateau-faugeres.com

Visits with tasting sessions are available in French and English, Monday to Friday, appointment required. Rates: €6 per adult.

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NEWS FROM AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

© Château Soutard

Collection of tours at Château Soutard in Saint-Emilion Following a series of improvements and conversions in the vineyards and the buildings, Château Soutard, SaintEmilion grand cru classé, is open to the public with a “collection” of guided or unaccompanied tours.

With the aid of an illustrated, entertaining and educational map, visitors can wander around the estate and follow any one of three themed circuits on offer: Safari trek, to observe the vineyard’s wildlife, Poetic trip, to discover and play with the names of vine plots, and Ampelographik, a walk in the footsteps of the vine-growing manager.

For a more in-depth look at the estate (whose emblem is a pearl necklace), six visits are also on offer to wine tourists, be they alone, in groups, with friends or family. These visits are at the château, in the winery, and in the vineyard.

As well as the traditional tour and tasting session, the château organises a visit at dusk, half a day with the vine-growing manager or cellar-master, a visit exclusively for kids, and two culinary events for food-wine pairings.

Appointment required for these visits.

In the heart of the Lussac - SaintEmilion vineyards, Château Latour Ségur proposes château accommodation in fully-renovated, tastefully-decorated suites on the theme of the five elements.

■ Information and visits

Château Soutard BP 4 - 33330 Saint-Emilion Tel. : +33 5 57 24 71 41 www.chateau-soutard.com contact@soutard.com

A night for two from €250 in the low season, breakfast free for the first night.

■ Information and bookings © 123 Chemin du bord de l'eau

Château Latour Segur André Nizet et Corinne Dray 1 rue Latour 33570 Lussac – Saint-Emilion Tel. : +33 6 24 53 75 50 www.chateaulatoursegur.com contact@chateaulatoursegur.com © Château Latour Ségur

In the Médoc town of Macau by the Gironde Estuary, former winegrower Serge Teckhov is an author and the organiser of the World Sommeliers Championships. He has now opened luxury guest rooms on his estate, Château de Bayle: 123, Chemin du Bord de l’Eau.

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The suites of at least 40m2 each comprise a double room with fireplace, bathroom with walk-in shower and spa bath, kitchen, car park and private garden. In terms of facilities, guests have hi-fi equipment in their rooms, a barbecue in the garden and reversible air conditioning in all the rooms.

During their stay, visitors can also benefit from well-being courses and packages, cookery and oenology classes and wine tastings organised by the château. Or they might prefer to make the most of the spa with its Turkish bath and swimming pool (opens mid-September).

Before leaving this lovely estate, you should pay a visit to the shop and buy a souvenir.

Château Soutard is open every day between May and October, and on weekdays only from November to April.

Rate: €8 for unaccompanied walks with map and tasting session. Prices vary according to the guided tour selected.

Upmarket guest rooms on the banks of the estuary

Set in a specially refurbished outbuilding, the guest house covers some 500m2 and has four double rooms, one of which is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and a suite.

Furnished in an ethnic style, the rooms offer warm colours and materials – red, brown, wood and exotic furniture.

A charming dining room where you can book gastronomic meals and a relaxation room are both available to guests. You can take part in processing the estate’s market gardening produce, take tasting lessons given by the master of the house, and play billiards.

A swimming pool looking out over the landscaped grounds tops off the relaxing atmos-

Make yourself at home at Château Latour Ségur near Saint-Emilion

phere of this place. You can also discover the wine area in the company of one of your hosts, as well as enjoy tailored gourmet weekends and longer breaks in the Bordeaux wine region.

Rooms from €180 per night for 2 people, breakfast included.

■ Information and bookings

Château de Bayle 123 Chemin du Bord de l'Eau 33460 Macau Tel. : +33 6 28 32 71 51 www.123cheminduborddeleau.com

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AUTUMN 2011

[NEW SITE TO VISIT ] © Laugery

Step back into the past at Manoir de Gisson in Sarlat In the old town of Sarlat, the capital of Black Périgord and truffles, it is now possible to visit Manoir de Gisson, the origins of which go back to the 13th century.

A listed historic monument, this building is one of the most remarkable edifices in the medieval town of Sarlat. The manor house’s tower which joins the two buildings together houses a superb hexagonal staircase. For the first time in its history it is now open for visits.

In the first part of the tour, visitors step back

in time and discover the world of the 17thcentury bourgeoisie with a visit to the furnished apartments of the prestigious Gisson family, whose members were variously town consuls, infantry officers, knights of the Order of Saint-Louis, royal notaries and counsel for the town. The second part of the visit continues in the rest of the apartments and in the

vaulted cellars, where a temporary exhibition on the history of justice from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution is on show, displaying a collection of objects used in the exercise of justice – including some authentic torture instruments.

Manoir de Gisson/History of Justice is open every day of the year and offers one-hour tours with guidebooks written in six languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French.

■ Information and bookings

Manoir de Gisson Place des Oies 24200 Sarlat Tel./Fax : +33 5 53 28 70 55 www.manoirdegisson.com contact@manoirdegisson.com

[COOKERY CLASSES] Le Clos des Saveurs, a delicious bed & breakfast In the countryside of Gensac, at the gateway to the Dordogne, a renowned couple of English chefs have opened Le Clos des Saveurs: a “boutique bed & breakfast” which also offers cookery workshops and a gastronomic table d’hôtes.

In a manor house surrounded by wooded grounds with a swimming pool, the hosts have two luxury suites and two spacious, refined guest rooms boasting light, plenty of space and elegant furniture.

© Cuis’in les ateliers

They organise 5-day gastronomic breaks all year round. Guests who stay here can enjoy the creations of the chefs at the table d’hôtes, take cookery lessons (preparation of a full meal, and a lesson entirely given over to pastry cooking) in a friendly, informal atmosphere, and visit the surrounding area from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande market to the SaintEmilion wine area.

From €100 per night for two people with breakfast, and from €120 for the suite. €700 per person for the cookery workshop.

■ Information and bookings

© Clos des saveurs

Clos des saveurs Route de Sainte-Foy-la-Grande 33890 Gensac Tel. : +33 5 57 47 42 33 http://closdessaveurs.com

Cookery workshops with a chef in Bordeaux After a career as a teacher then a chef in numerous restaurants in the Bordeaux region, Jesus Hurtado organises cookery classes at his home in Bordeaux.

From Friday to Sunday and on Wednesdays, Spanish chef Jesus Hurtado offers a number of cookery workshop packages including tasting: starter/main, main/dessert, full menu, brunch

or themed workshops, cookery classes for kids, or private tailored coaching for budding chefs. For groups of five maximum, the workshops can be for individuals on request.

The dishes made during class are available in the schedule of lessons and include both fish and meat.

Cost of a 2-hour workshop making two dishes (starter + main or main + dessert) and tasting: €70 per person.

■ Information and bookings

CUIS’in les ateliers 107 rue Pelleport 33800 Bordeaux Tel. : + 33 6 99 96 25 06 www.cuisin-lesateliers.com cuisinlesateliers@orange.fr

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NEWS FROM AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

[ OFFBEAT BREAKS AND EXPERIENCES IN A © Maitetxu Etcheverria

Discovering the islands of the estuary in a taxi-boat Gens d’Estuaire are the specialists in tourism on the Gironde Estuary and now also offer taxi boat services on the Garonne to discover the estuary islands and Bordeaux wine châteaux.

The Bay of Arcachon can now also be discovered by Stand Up Paddle, standing on a long board with a paddle in hand. It is very stable thanks to the weight of the board, as well as being environmentally friendly and ideal for all the family.

Stand Up Paddle en Pays de Buch proposes four circuits for excursions between the Bay of Arcachon and the Lake of Cazaux: • The itinerary along the Dune du Pilat runs along the beach of Le Petit Nice and the

Customised boat trips on the Bay of Arcachon The pinasse is the traditional boat of the Bay of Arcachon and Gascony, initially designed for oyster farming and fishing, and now used for leisure.

Les Pinasses du Bassin d’Arcachon offer guided excursions in unspoilt natural settings on board five brightly-coloured, comfortable pinasse boats.

Several themed circuits of lasting two to three hours are available, created in partnership with the tourist offices: Villages of Cap Ferret Peninsula and the Ile aux Oiseaux, From 4

Gens d’estuaire 12 rue Charlevoix de Villiers 33300 Bordeaux Tel. : +33 5 56 39 27 66

It can moor directly at the foot of the châteaux. On board, there are two areas from which you can take in the landscape: an open

www.gensdestuaire.fr

Corniche. It offers panoramic views of the whole Bay, with the Dune du Pilat on one side and Banc d’Arguin on the other.

• To discover the oyster-farming areas, a visit along the south side of the Bay of Arcachon between Le Pyla and the oyster port of Gujan-Mestras is also possible.

• The Leyre Delta circuit, meanwhile, takes you further inland to discover the very particular plant and wildlife of the delta with its mix of salt and fresh water.

• On the border between Gironde and Landes, the Lake of Cazaux itinerary is the easiest, sheltered from tide and winds.

■ Information and bookings

Surf en Pays de Buch Tel. : + 33 6 80 05 46 95 www.sup-arcachon.com ecoledesurfarcachon@gmail.com © Surf en Buch

Stand Up Paddle: a new way of seeing the Bay of Arcachon

■ Information and bookings

Outings from €35 in the low season. Prices include loan of equipment, guides and transport if required.

Port to Port around the Leyre Delta and Discover the Oyster Farming Ports, also including a visit to a shipyard. © Les Pinasses du Bassin

The association has recently started organising culture and tourism excursions in taxi boats between Bordeaux and the Médoc, including visits to the islands or châteaux, meals and tastings of local produce and wines.

The taxi boat goes by the name Silnet and offers safe, fast trips (35 knots) in all weather.

terrace area to the rear and a 12-seather glazed cabin. It takes one hour to get to Pauillac in the Médoc from Bordeaux.

For an exclusive experience, it is possible to rent the taxi boat privately and board 12 people for a customised cruise.

It is an original and pleasant alternative to the car for visiting the islands in the estuary and the great vineyards of the Médoc, Blaye, Libourne, Graves and the Entre-Deux-Mers.

The pinasses have a capacity of 10 to 17 people and can be rented by the half day, day or for 2 or 3-hour sessions. Then all you have to do is decide on the route and the time for your picnic, or let your guide show the way.

Themed circuits from €30 per person. Places are limited and it is best to book with the tourist offices.

For private rentals of an 11-seater pinasse for a customised tour, count on €250 for two hours and from €600 for a day.

■ Information and bookings

Les pinasses du Bassin d’Arcachon Tel. : + 33 6 88 08 32 94 www.pinasse-bassin-arcachon.com contact@pinasse-bassin-arcachon.com

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AUTUMN 2011

] © Croisière pour tous

N AQUITAINE Sail away on an eco-barge

Since June 2011, Kevin, a solarpowered barge close to 30 metres in length, has been playing host to visitors for stays ranging from weekends to over 20 days on the River Lot, offering “zero carbon” travel.

Discover noiseless, environmentally-friendly tourism on the waterways, thanks to Dominique Renouf and a 12-person ecobarge with six double cabins. Fitted with solar panels on the roof, the hotel boat is driven by solar electric power and generates no pollution. It is also a rarity in that it offers full

accessibility for persons of reduced mobility.

The captain welcomes tourists on board this silent giant between April and November for relaxed cruises in a friendly atmosphere.

Whatever the duration of the package you choose, the schedule is organised around

Black Périgord in a 2CV or from the skies

hotel from a choice of 45 and, as you prefer, either a trip in a 2CV for those feeling nostalgia for the golden age of Citroën, or a

■ Information and bookings

SARL Croisières Pour Tous 32 quai de Lorraine 11590 Salleles Tel. : + 33 6 88 40 76 21 www.naviratous2.com

© CRTA AJ Duarte

The Pays de Sarlat Hoteliers Club is organising some original 3 day / 2 night packages to get a different view of Black Périgord and the Sarlat Region.

meals prepared with local gastronomic produce and served on board, plus tourist visits and tasting sessions in villages alongside the Lot.Those who wish may also try steering the barge.

Prices: 6 day / 5 night package departing from Villeneuve-sur-Lot from €750 per person.

Short break, full board, 3 days / 3 nights: €500 between Villeneuve and Casseneuil.

2 day / 2 night weekend package, full board: €350 on one of the three possible itineraries.

15-minute flight over the Dordogne valley and its châteaux.

Rates vary according to the accommodation category. Flight package from €222 in a twostar hotel and from €470 in a four-star hotel.

For the 2CV package, €242 for two-star accommodation and from €418 for the fourstar hotels.

■ Information and bookings

Club Hôtelier du Pays de Sarlat Tel. : +33 5 53 30 20 87

The packages include visits of two major sites in the Sarlat area to be selected from a list (Château of Castelnaud, gardens of Marqueyssac, cliff village of La Roque SaintChristophe…), two nights half board in one

A few minutes from Agen, in the Lotet-Garonne countryside, Happy Forest has plenty of sensations on offer in the heart of the forest, along its 10 tree-top courses graded from green to black.

For all those tree-top adventure enthusiasts, Olivier and his team have devised some unusual itineraries, from climbing through barrels to surfing and cycling… and no less than 130 games to try from three years of age upwards, in the shade of age-old oak trees and under the watchful eye of State-accredited monitors.

Alongside the range of more or less acrobatic or sensational attractions, there is also a farm

where young and not-so-young can spend time with goats, rabbits, donkeys and hens... and also go for pony rides.

5 minutes from Agen with access by bus, Happy Forest is open every day from 10am to 7.30pm during the summer holidays and on Wednesdays, weekends and bank holidays from March to November.

© Happy Forest

Fill up with sensations at Happy Forest near Agen

http://hotelsdordogneperigordsarlat.wordpress.com hotels@club-hotelier-sarlat.com

Children’s rates: €11 for 3 circuits and €19 for the 7 circuits for over-thirteens.

Admission to the farm between €4.50 and €6, free for the under-threes.

■ Information and bookings

Happy Forest Lieu dit Fourtis 47240 Pont du Casse Tel. : +33 6 06 49 48 54 www.happyforest.fr happyforest47@gmail.com 5

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NEWS FROM AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

5-star Aquitaine The Aquitaine Region now has 11 fivestar rated establishments. A special mention goes to the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, one of just eight hotels in France to be distinguished as a “Palace”

[ ACCOMMODATION ]

• Hôtel Burdigala in Bordeaux city centre Tel. : + 33 5 56 20 16 16 www.burdigala.com

• The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux opposite the Grand Théâtre right in the centre of Bordeaux Tel. : + 33 5 57 30 43 22

© L'esprit des Chartrons

Guest rooms and terraces in a former Bordeaux winery A stone’s throw from the tram and a Vcub station (city cycle hire), in the Chartrons wine-trading district of Bordeaux, a former barrel warehouse has been converted into a bed and breakfast. Come and discover L’Esprit des Chartrons.

www.theregentbordeaux.com

• Hôtel Les Sources De Caudalie in the Graves vineyards Tel. : + 33 5 57 83 83 83 www.sources-caudalie.com

• Hostellerie de Plaisance in the village of Saint-Emilion Tel. : + 33 5 57 55 07

The fully-renovated apartment of 160m2 has three spacious bedrooms, each with private terrace, and also two shared areas: a lounge with bookshelves full of books on the region, hi-fi and a wood stove for long winter evenings and a large wooden terrace with flowers for summer days.

Each bedroom boasts its own individual style (urban, bourgeois or glamour) but all are cosy and comfortable. L’Esprit des Chartrons offers guests all the facilities they need for a weekend city break: wifi access, free parking, plus walk-in shower and spa bath in the Montaigne bedroom.

In the surrounding area, visitors can stroll down Rue Notre-Dame, famous for its antique dealers and designer and interior-

www.hostellerie-plaisance.com

• Hôtel Parc Beaumont in Pau, capital of Béarn Tel. : + 33 5 59 11 84 00 www.hotel-parc-beaumont.com

• Château de Brindos in Anglet on the Basque coast Tel. : + 33 5 59 23 89 80 www.chateaudebrindos.com

• Hôtel du Palais the sea-front palace in Biarritz Tel. : + 33 5 59 41 64 00 www.hotel-du-palais.com

• Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa on the coast near Biarritz Golf Course Tel. : + 33 5 59 41 30 00

decoration boutiques, visit the quaysides with their market on Thursdays and Sundays or enjoy the many café terraces and events on Place du Marché.

Prices for 2 from €100 per room on weekdays and €130 at weekends.

■ Information and bookings

Maison d'Hôtes L'Esprit des Chartrons Brigitte et Pierre-Gil Gourlat 17 bis rue Borie 33300 Bordeaux Tel. : +33 5 56 51 65 87 ou +33 6 82 20 20 67 www.lespritdeschartrons.fr brigitte.gourlat@numericable.fr

www.accorhotels.com

• Le Beaumanoir in Biarritz Tel. : + 33 5 59 24 89 29 • Grand Hôtel Loreamar on the beach of the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz Tel. : + 33 5 59 26 35 36

Set in the Landes de Gascogne Regional Park in Belin-Beliet, Clos Catharina has a bedroom for two and a four-person suite in a charming stone-built house surrounded by pleasantly-shaded gardens.

www.luzgrandhotel.fr

• Hôtel Parc Victoria in Saint-Jean-de-Luz Tel. : + 33 5 59 26 78 78

© CRTA - Hôtel du Palais

www.parcvictoria.com

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© Clos Catharina

Bed and breakfast of charm in the South Gironde

www.lebeaumanoir.com

For its interior decoration, Clos Catharina has chosen a romantic atmosphere, mainly in white and wood. The spacious rooms each boast a large bathroom with bath and shower.

In the garden, a terrace and swimming pool can be enjoyed in a beautiful natural setting.

The location of the bed and breakfast is ideal for a range of activities in the forest, on the beaches or on the lakes: canoeing on the Leyre, walks and excursions in the Regional Park, water sports on the Bay of Arcachon, Lake of Sanguinet and the ocean.

Count about €120 for a night in the double room and €160 for the four-person suite, breakfast included.

■ Information and bookings

Clos Catharina 7 route de Bertrine 33830 Belin-Beliet Tel. : +33 5 56 74 86 54 ou +33 6 50 42 22 20 www.closcatharina.com closcatharina@gmail.com

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AUTUMN 2011

[ EVENTS ] Evento, the Bordeaux arts biennial After the success of the first edition in 2009, EVENTO, the multidisciplinary contemporary art biennial, is returning to Bordeaux this year, for an insight into the ties between art and city, from 6 to 16 October 2011, under the guidance of Artistic Director Michelangelo Pistoletto, the internationally-renowned Italian artist.

On the programme this year, on the theme of “urban re-evolution” a voyage of discovery in four different ways: • The Racines project comprising three exhibitions in the city’s museums will present the creative concept of EVENTO 2011.

• The Shared Knowledge Workshops are artistic creation laboratories where artists and citizens mix and create together, while also taking a look at their city.

• The Mobile Workshop is a sort of recording studio moving around the city and investigating and collecting what people have to say about the concept of urban re-evolution, to make a daily EVENTO report.

• Artistic events (concerts, installations, performances, debates…) again this year to bring together the public and personalities from the worlds of literature, urban planning, economics and politics on and around the theme of art for an urban re-evolution.

Like the artists who have been invited to offer a new insight into the city, explore it and transform it into an atypical artistic experience, visitors can make their way around the city in search of art and different visions of urban re-evolution, and thus become participants in the event.

All information about EVENTO 2011 is available on the event’s website: http://evento2011.com

[IN SHORT ] Tailored trips with 3B Voyages A new incoming agency has recently opened in the centre of Bordeaux, in an original place: the new company is based in the wine shop of its director. The former chairman of Afat Voyages and former shareholder of Bip Voyages, Pierre Creuzé has enormous experience in the travel business. His newly formed agency’s specialisation will come as no

surprise: wine tourism and wine discovery. It has another string to its bow: organisation of seminars and stimulation trips.

Luxury: a service providers club for the Basque Country

www.3bvoyages.fr

At the initiative of the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, recently accredited as a “Palace”, 15 prestige hotel and catering service providers have joined forces to form the Pays Basque d’Exception Prestige Network, in the image of the Provence d’Exception network. The two regions have comparable tourism offerings and would like to work together on their high-end foreign clientele thanks to this label that is synonymous with prestige and quality.

© 3B Voyages

Bordeaux in the top 5 congress cities Since all the work undertaken on the city and its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Bordeaux has been attracting more and more visitors each year, coming to see the city’s metamorphosis in person.

Proof is to be had in the excellent 2010 tourism results and in the return of Bordeaux to the top 5 congress cities in France, a performance that owes much to the city’s attractions, but also to its many facilities dedicated to seminars and other meetings.

Further information on the Aquitaine business tourism portal on the CRTA dedicated website for professionals: http://pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr.

Three new tourist residence complexes All Suites Appart Hotel has opened 155 apartments in Pau, the capital of Béarn, while Appart’City Cap Affaires has opened 69 in the same city and Exhore, under the Cerise name, has opened 50 in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax in the Landes area.

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NEWS FROM AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

[TRANSPORT ] Biarritz-Marseille with Air France

Brussels 2 hours 40 from Bordeaux via Nantes

From 2 October 2011, it will be possible to fly between Biarritz and Marseille on 2 weekly flights on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Flights last 1 hour 15 minutes and one-way fares will start at €50 including VAT.

Air France subsidiary Régional is launching its Brussels-Bordeaux line via Nantes on 2 October 2011, with 2 return flights Mondays to Fridays, leaving Brussels at 10am and 6.30pm, and one return flight on Sundays.

Return fares from €150 including VAT.

Ryanair is opening a Bordeaux-Rome Ciampino service on 30 October 2011 with 4 flights a week lasting 1 hour 50. Departures from Rome on Mondays and Fridays at 9.45am and on Wednesdays and Sundays at 4.15pm. Tickets are already on sale and start at €27.99 including VAT one way.

www.airfrance.fr ou www.regional.com

www.ryanair.fr

Worth noting

Budget Biarritz-Manchester flights

Bergerac Dordogne Périgord airport will be closing its runway for at least 2 months at the start of 2012 for refurbishment works.

Ryanair is set to open a new seasonal line between Britain’s second city and the famous Basque Coast resort. The line will be operational in April 2012.

www.bergerac.aeroport.fr

www.ryanair.fr

[ON LINE ] More Web 2.0 for the PyrénéesAtlantiques Béarn and the Basque Country are investing in the Web 2.0 to open the way to customised visitor circuits and preparing holidays from mobile phones.

By selecting a list of tourism service providers and must-see attractions, the Département is the first in France to join the YourTour online network allowing people to create their own personalised visitor circuits.

On the www.yourtour.com website in just a few quick questions (departure point, budget, accommodation preferences, centres of interest…), web users can create personalised tourist circuits taking account of accommodation availabilities and visit opening times, and can book online in just a few clicks. A customised, electronic travel agency, in fact.

The Pyrénées-Atlantiques have also developed three websites adapted for browsing from mobile phones: www.mon64.com, www.monbearn.com and www.monpaysbasque.fr. The sites are equipped with posi-

tion determination technologies and propose information on accommodation, visits and activities, restaurants, events, weather… and bookings will soon be possible on them.

or during your stay : from the colour of the bathing flags flying on the beach to weather conditions and the calendar of events, plus a search engine for finding the right activities to suit your preferences…

IBisca 360, meanwhile, offers a selection of 25 satellite-positioned panoramic views of the natural and cultural heritage of the town, along with full descriptions and highquality images.

Thanks to these applications, you can now slip Biscarrosse in your pocket.

Southern Périgord bastide towns on line

IBisca, the Biscarrosse application for Iphone and Ipad

Comité Régional de Tourisme d’Aquitaine Cité Mondiale 23, parvis des Chartrons 33074 Bordeaux Cedex Tel. +33 5 56 01 70 00 Fax +33 5 56 01 70 07 tourisme@tourisme-aquitaine.fr pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

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On the strength of medieval towns and and Purple Périgord bilingual website

On top of its website, the tourist office of Biscarrosse on the Landes coast has created two applications for Iphone and Ipad, designed for visitors and locals alike.

IBisca provides access to full tourist information with satellite positioning for before

their rich heritage of villages, part of Black have launched a joint in French/English: www.pays-des-bastides.com to facilitate visits of the historic villages between Limeuil to the north, Eymet to the west and Villefranche-du-Périgord to the east. As well as a list presenting the different tourist service providers and places to visit, the site boasts an interactive map which is highly useful for visits.

You can also find Pays des Bastides on Facebook, Tweeter and YouTube.

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