News from Aquitaine - Spring 2013

spring 2013 • Visit Aquitaine in a vintage VW Transporter

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Wine Tourism

• Vineyards of Bordeaux aboard a Limousine • Weekend of Fine Wines

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Food

• The Saint-James cooking school in Bouliac • Cooking lessons at the Auberge Basque • Macaroon workshop between Périgord & Gascogne

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Well-Being

• Close to Bayonne and Biarritz: Makila Spa • The Serge Blanco Thalassotherapy Centre

Business Tourism

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• The new Congress Centre at the Cité Mondiale

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Accommodation

• In the Dordogne countryside • In the Lot-et-Garonne countryside • In the town of Bordeaux • Along the Gironde coast • Along the Landes coast • Along the Basque coast • Inland Basque country

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Like every odd-number year, 2013 will be the year of the River Festival. This year, it will take place earlier, from 24 May to 2 June, to coincide with the start of the Solitaire de Figaro, a unique departure from the river which will last longer than usual, with 10 days of celebrations.

The legendary race will have two stages in Gironde: Bordeaux and Pauillac. The magnificent sail boats and their yachtsman will reach the Gironde estuary after navigating the difficult waters of the Garonne, then out to high-sea, before heading towards the Iberian peninsula.

The race village will be set up in the heart of Bordeaux, along the quays between the Pont de Pierre and the Miroir d’eau, opposite the Palais de la Bourse. During the week leading up to the departure, it will be possible to meet the skippers as well as see their boats. In 2011, the River Festival received 250,000 visitors.These two events in one, a party for the people and a legendary sporting event cannot be missed if you like to have a good time, enjoy sport, incredible boats and music from around the world. www.bordeauxfetelefleuve.com

On line

• “Bike” pages at tourisme-aquitaine.fr • Something new at www.bergerac-tourisme.com • Easier access to guides-interpreters-speakers

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Bordeaux, departure town of the Solitaire du Figaro

©Alexi Courcoux

Stays / Visits

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[ STAYS / VISITS ]

Transport

• The new air routes in Aquitaine

The Living Heritage Companies route in Aquitaine.

They’re goldsmiths, cutlers, paper makers, constructors of leisure crafts, makilas, umbrellas or tiles and slates, slabs… or restorers of locks, wicker chairs, dolls…

They have all developed artisan and industrial know-how of excellence, which set their companies apart and rank them as Living Heritage Companies.

It is possible to meet these exceptional artisans by travelling the Living Heritage Companies route This route invites you to see the region in a new way, by stopping by the workshops of skilled artisans. These lovers of beautiful creations, with exceptional know-how, await visitors in the intimate setting of their workshops, showrooms or museums to share a same passion.

There are many in the Aquitaine region, especially in Dordogne, Gironde and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. www.patrimoine-vivant.com 1

NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

[ STAYS / VISITS ] Visit Aquitaine in a vintage VW Transporter

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VWs to visit the region in, as well as several holiday plans, based around surfing, yoga and vineyard visits.

For an unforgettable road trip, rent a Volkswagen Transporter and head for INFORMATIONS & adventure. With its unique vintage style, the Transporter is a car, house and «surf RESERVATIONS bus» all at once. Everyone can bring their own equipment, because the agency can equip the vehicles with bike-carriers or a roof-rack. The agency can also provide Tel. : +33 (0)5 58 09 58 34 surf boards, bikes, sheets… Holidays, weddings, events… With a Transporter, life combi@belle-vie.fr is good!

WINE TOURISM

]

Discover the vineyards of Bordeaux aboard a Limousine Prestige Organisation is a company specialized in prestigious transport offering Wine tours with a wine expert and chauffeur, aboard a Limousine.

Their clients visit the Médoc, Libournais and Graves vineyards, all prestigious appellations: margaux, saint julien, pauillac, saint-émillion, pomerol, pessac-léognan… in the most comfortable of vehicles.

Comfortably sat down INFORMATIONS & in the lovely leather RESERVATIONS seats, you’ll be able to taste three to five fine Mob. : +33 (0)6 50 33 12 90 wines that have been prestigeorganisation@gmail.com specially selected, with the www.bordeaux-location-limousine.fr comments of an expert,

before visiting the châteaux.

An idea for a unique stroll through the most prestigious vineyards in the world.

Rate: starting at €750 (6 persons maximum).

©Prestige organisation

©Campers Belle vie

The first minivan created by Volkswagen in 1950, is a symbol of freedom from the hippy years and worry-free travelling. It is still the vehicle of choice for plenty of enthusiasts. Belle-Vie Combi’s has a few

©Vitivinitour

Weekend of Fine Wines: A unique and exceptional event On 18 and 19 May, the 8th edition of the Weekend of Fine Wines will take place, a weekend devoted to wine tourism.

INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

VITIVINITOUR Tel : +33 (0)5 56 92 32 31

contact@lesacabailles.fr It is a unique opportunity to taste, in a single place (le Hangar 14, quai des Chartrons in Bordeaux), around a hundred fine wines presented by their creators, and to discover the finest wine of 2010. These warm encounters are prolonged with prestigious dinners and visits of the wineries.

The Finest Wines are thus reunited with the biggest wine lovers, who get the chance to have a taste in a place that is usually reserved for press and distribution professionals.Several visiting itineraries are on offer, starting in Bordeaux, to the vineyards of Gironde.

Golf enthusiasts will be able to take part in the Coupe de l’Union des Grands Crus, a tournament where wine professionals and consumers play together.

Prices:Visits to vineyards: €90 per person / Golf tournament: €85 per person / Evening of fine wines: €60 per person 2

SPRING 2013

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FOOD

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The Saint-James cooking school in Bouliac The old brasserie of the Saint James, the famous Relais & Château designed by the architect Jean Nouvel on the hills of Bordeaux, has been replaced by the «Côté cours» cooking school.

Cooking lessons at the Auberge Basque

Take part in a macaroon workshop between Périgord and Gascogne

INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

Tel : +33 (0)5 59 51 70 00

contact@aubergebasque.com www.aubergebasque.com

Do you love macaroons?

Would you like to know the secrets behind how they’re made?

Now’s your chance to discover the delicious world of these creations by taking part in a workshop in a charming guest house (5 bedrooms), located in the heart of the fortified town circuit of Lot-et-Garonne.

Just 15 minutes from Villeneuve-sur-Lot, between Périgord and Gascogne, Le Clos du Mûrier has been restored from the ruins of an old mansion dating back to the 18th century.

Rate: starting from €45 and up to €65 per person depending on the number of persons.

Room: between €80 and €85 Table d’hôtes: between €10(children under 10) and €28

©Philippe Barillet

After starting his career at the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz and the Hôtel Crillon in Paris, then a few years spent under the wing of Alain Ducasse, most notably at the Plaza Athénée where he was sous-chef to Jean-François Piège, Chef Cédric Béchade has created a dream contemporary inn in the heart of the Basque country, in Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle.

He prepares modern, simple, elegant, tasty and plentiful cuisine using local ingredients and has just started giving cooking lessons every Saturday from 9.30am to 12pm from 1 October to 30 March, during a short stay.

Rate: starting from €445 (for 2 persons – lessons in French only).

©Hervé Lefebvre

17, themed classes (for adults) such as foie gras, chicken casserole, Bourgeois cuisine, starred cuisine, but also club sandwiches, snacks…

The workshops can welcome 12 persons. It is also possible to INFORMATIONS & book private classes for a group RESERVATIONS of up to 20 persons.

Rate: Starting from €25 up to Tel : +33 (0)5 57 97 06 00 cotecours@saintjames-bouliac.com €190 per person depending www.saintjames-bouliac.com on the type of class (classes in French only).

©Hervé Lefebvre

Benjamin Bonnay, once sous-Chef to Nicolas Magie à la Cape (the current chef of the SaintJames), teaches there.

In the veranda overlooking the citrus garden, the Chef is offering to share his culinary know-how with you in a unique setting.

Pure and elegant, with resolutely contemporary design, the new school has been designed and decorated in the same fashion as the bar and reception renovated at the start of the year.

Many types of classes are offered. The schedule has classes for children between ages 7 and

INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

Tel : +33 (0)5 53 71 56 24

contact@leclosdumurier.fr www.leclosdumurier.fr 3

NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

[ WELL-BEING ] Just a stone’s throw from the ‘’Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz’’ triangle, in the Basque countryside, close to the lovely village of Bassussary and its golf course, Spa Makila’s 950 m2 establishment is entirely devoted to well-being. Two brothers, Marc (Head coach of the French rugby team) and Thomas Lièvremont, both well-known rugby players, wanted to create a place of luxury, relaxation and well-being. You’ll find four sensory worlds, each corresponding to a type of treatment: Terra Magica, Air and Light, First Waters, Lush Plants. Five beauticians also provide treatments using Terraké brand products. Sauna, Turkish INFORMATIONS & bath and Jacuzzi complete the offer… The RESERVATIONS solarium provides a magnificent view of the Tel. : +33 (0)5 59 70 43 72 Rhune (the Basque country mountain) and accueil@spamakila.com Bassussary golf course.The spa offers “sport www.spamakila.com and well-being” plans.

©Julien Clavier

A new spa close to Bayonne and Biarritz: Makila Spa

The Serge Blanco Thalassotherapy Centre has been completely renovated After more than a year of work, INFORMATIONS & the establishment has almost been RESERVATIONS completely renovated, before reTel. : +33 (0)5 59 51 35 35 opening in Hendaye, along the www.thalassoblanco.com Basque coast. The decor is new and very pleasantly designed, from the reception area to the bar, restaurant, rooms, treatment cabins and the entrance to the marine spa. The treatments – which already have a good reputation – are carried out in a completely new space.

[ BUSINESS TOURISM ] The new Congress Centre at the Cité Mondiale

Its amphitheatre and meeting rooms are equipped with new audio-visual equipment, new seats, renovated kitchens, updated technical setups, lavatories that are accessible for disabled persons.

This Congress Centre is next to a hotel and has an underground car park. www.bordeaux-expo.com 4

©T. Bertrand CEB

The Congress Centre at the Cité Mondiale – along the banks of the river in the town centre – has reopened its doors after two months of work.

SPRING 2013

[ ACCOMMODATION ] ©Les ardins de Brantôme

Brantôme Gardens in “Green” Perigord

IN THE Dordogne COUNTRYSIDE

In the heart of Brantôme, a beautiful village located to the north of Périgueux, an old 18th century coaching inn has been transformed into a charming hotel by its new owners.

Florence was inspired by the colours of the surrounding nature and garden – very soft shades of brown, beige, white, blue and green – to decorate the 6 rooms (including one for disabled persons) and the family suite, all with WiFi. In the restaurant and lounge area with white walls, the dark wood family furniture stands alongside seagrass sofas, with raw cushions. Christophe works INFORMATIONS & his magic in the kitchen. He prides himself RESERVATIONS on using in-season ingredients purchased from local producers. The garden is built Tel. : +33 (0)5 53 05 88 16 on several levels to adapt to the terrain. lesjardinsdebrantome@gmail.com

One of them has a lovely pool.

Prices: between €110 and €255 depending on the room and season – Breakfast: 12 €.

www.lesjardinsdebrantome.com

©Manoir de Bellerive

Visit the châteaux of Dordogne from the Manoir de Bellerive **** Located just a stone’s throw from the Dordogne Valley and its châteaux, in Bugue, this beautiful Empire-style Manor-house, built in 1840, is surrounded by a 4 hectare park with a river flowing through it, where 300 year-old trees coexist with green bushes and flowerbeds. Its 21 rooms, decorated by the lady of the house, are large, light and flowery. Each room has its own personality, but they all have some reference to the Second Empire through furniture, an object, or the choice of fabric. Charm, luxury, comfort and style define them. In the park, the Relaxation and Well-Being chalet is available for clients wishing to recharge their batteries by enjoying the Turkish bath and sauna. In the hotel’s restaurant, INFORMATIONS & the local chef serves dishes using ingredients RESERVATIONS that are typical of the Perigord region, cooked either in the traditional way, or with a more Tel. : +33 (0)5 53 22 16 16 contemporary touch. manoirdebellerive@gmail.com Prices: between €99 and €330 depending on the www.bellerivehotel.com room and season. Breakfast: 15 €.

Located in the heart of “Black” Perigord, in Saint-Vincent de Cosse, close to Sarlat, Lascaux and Les Eyzies, le Clos des Rives is a new tourism residence owned by the Estivel group, set in a large building with architecture that is typical of Perigord, on an 8,000 m2 INFORMATIONS & estate, very close to a large hazelnut RESERVATIONS grove and the Dordogne river. It offers 2, 3 and 4 room apartments Tel. : +33 (0)5 57 14 20 88 with a fully-equipped kitchen, a pool http://www.estivel.com/residences. and a barbecue area. php?id=142 Prices: starting at €172 per week depending on the size of the apartment and the season.

©Estivel Alpha Images

Le Clos des Rives in Saint-Vincent de Cosse

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NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

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ACCOMMODATION

] IN THE Dordogne COUNTRYSIDE

Live the château life while perched in the trees

comforts. The estate covers 11 hectares with a pool. From the estate, head out to discover the fortified towns of Perigord, visit the many châteaux, head along the Dordogne valley or see the prehistoric sites INFORMATIONS & of the Vézère valley, listed on UNESCO’s world heritage list.

RESERVATIONS Prices: Starting from €90 during low season to €120 per night for 2 persons depending on the number of nights.

Tel. : +33 (0)5 53 73 57 82 www.chateauxdanslesarbres.fr

Perched on a hill, between the Lot valley and the Garonne valley, this old residence which was once the summer residence of an Empire General, War Minister to Napoleon, Count of Cessac, has kept the signs of its lustre of yesteryear. Built using the stones from the old medieval fortified square, the Lamassas estate, with its 900 m2 on 45 hectares of hilly parkland, has kept its high ceilings, mouldings, woodwork and oak beams, with two guest rooms as well as a gîte for up to 4 persons, with exceptional comfort.The high quality of the entire estate has earned it a 5 “épis” categorization, the highest given by Gîtes de France. Italian-style showers, heated walls and flooring and the large swimming pool guarantee the modern comfort of this building with its preserved original style. Its location between Villeneuve-sur-Lot and Agen is ideal for discovering all of the Lot valley’s touristic and gourmet treats.

INFORMATIONS & Prices: starting from €90 during low-season RESERVATIONS to €120 per night for 2 persons depending on the number of nights for guest rooms – Tel. : +33 (0)9 51 65 35 65 between €450 and €850 per week for the www.lamassas.fr gîte depending on the season.

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IN THE Lot-et-Garonne COUNTRYSIDE

©Olivier Allard

The Lamassas Estate, a residence with contemporary style and comfort

©Châteaux dans les arbres

©Châteaux dans les arbres

©Châteaux dans les arbres

Everyone knows what a tree-house is, but Perigord is adding to the concept: introducing châteaux in the trees.

Directly inspired by the buildings of Monbazillac, the Milandes and Hautefort, the Puybeton estate offers three châteaux in Nojals-et-Clotte, built using larch wood and pin Douglas on the grounds of an old feudal castle, of which part of the moat is still visible. They are prestigious guest cabins, with capacity for 2 (Monbazillac:1 room), 4 (Les Milandes: 2 rooms) and 6 persons (Hautefort: 3 rooms) decorated in a unique fashion.

They are all equipped with a spa on the terrace, and all the usual

SPRING 2013

IN THE Lot-et-Garonne COUNTRYSIDE

Séchoir and Grange, Bouynot’s traditional guest houses.

Stay at the Hôtel de Sèze, a historic establishment in the centre of Bordeaux

©Maison d’hôtes de Bouynot

Restored in an environmentally-friendly way, using traditional materials such as wood, stone and lime, using renewable energy, these two guest houses are decorated and laid out in a contemporary fashion. Le Séchoir (an old tobacco drying shed) and La Grange (an old barn) are located away from the main house, on a green piece of land on the edge of pine forests, thus providing an intimate setting for guests during their stay. They offer quality services including, for each house, a heated pool between May and October, and Wi-Fi Internet access. Located 2.5 km from Saint-Sauveur-de-Meilhan, their proximity to the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne regions allows you to visit the vineyards of Bordeaux, take a bike ride INFORMATIONS & or stroll along the Garonne canal or along the hiking paths, have RESERVATIONS a game of golf or take a well-being break at the Casteljaloux thermal baths.

Tel. : + 33 (0)5 53 83 08 24 Prices: La Grange starting at €600 for 6 nights - Le Séchoir: Starting bouynot@mac.com at €800 for 6 nights depending on the season. It is possible to book www.chateaubouynot.fr a single night, or a weekend.

IN THE TOWN OF Bordeaux

After two years of construction, the Hôtel de Sèze, awaiting its 4* categorization, is once again opening its doors. Located in the centre of Bordeaux, a 5 minute walk from the Opera house, the hotel has chosen to combine modern comfort and tradition. Throughout the hotel, you’ll find references to Advocate de Sèze, who defended king Louis XVI, and whose portrait can be found in the small lounge. The entrance to the hotel houses a “Bordelaise chest-of-drawers” made of mahogany. It is a reminder of trade with France’s islands, which made Bordeaux rich during the 18th century. The hotel offers 55 rooms in three categories (classic, superior or luxury), which differ in size and décor (flooring). One of the hotel’s three suites, with flowery tones and roses, is called Marie-Antoinette.

On site, you’ll have access to free Wi-Fi, as well as a comfortable smoking room if you enjoy a cigar (the hotel is non-smoking), a spa (in the basement with a Turkish bath and Jacuzzi), a gourmet bistrot called Le comptoir de Sèze whose Chef, Jean-Christophe Martinez, comes from the Hotel at the Palais de Biarritz (brunch on Sundays for €35).

Just 10 minutes from Bordeaux, the hotel’s clients have exclusive

INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 14 16 16 contact@hotel-de-seze.com www.hotel-de-seze.com

And coming soon in Bordeaux a Mama Shelter…

After Paris and Marseille, Bordeaux will have a Mama Shelter.

Cool design by Philippe Starck and a lounge style for this hotel located in the centre, with it due to open for summer 2013. It is being built in the offices of the old Gas company of Bordeaux, a building which dates back to 1930.The 97 rooms are spread across 5 levels, and on the roof of the building, there is a terrace offering a panoramic view of Bordeaux and a restaurant for the warmer months. A bar, year-round restaurant and lounges are found on the ground floor. Meeting and seminar rooms complete the offer.

Design, friendliness, and carefullyestablished prices are the keywords for what is currently the trendiest well-known chain.

Expected prices: between €80 and €150. ©MAMA SHELTER

©CRTA

access to Carignan de Bordeaux golf course (2 x 6 holes).

Prices: from €200 to €900 per night depending on the season and the room – Breakfast: 23 €. Free up to 3 years of age - €12 for under 12 years of age.

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NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

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ACCOMMODATION

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©TSanson

…and a suite that is unique on earth, The Steinway The Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux *****, the palace of the capital of Gironde, has planned to open a luxury triplex suite in June 2013, during the Vinexpo. This 800m2 apartment, which with a decor related to music, has 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a dining room, kitchen, conference room, reception room, lounges, fitness room, home-cinema, lap pool and large terrace.

This apartment is located right in the centre of town, next to the boutiques of well-known French brands, the Cours Clémenceau, and near the new auditorium, which gives it its name: Steinway. Hotel services.

ALONG THE

Welcoming groups in the heart of nature: the second life of the Maison de Grave

Gironde coast

A small old working village, built on the Pointe de Grave in 1840 and a Conservatoire du Littoral protected site, was turned into a stop for nature hikers.

It is located on the edge of a pine forest, 200 metres from the beach, with a pilgrim route passing through (Coastal route) and a cycling path running along it, used by the Vélodyssée.

The Maison de Grave provides an ideal setting for nature lovers, whether on foot, horse or bike. At the site’s entrance, the Maison du Pèlerin welcomes groups up to 16 persons.

A conference and exhibition room can host seminars for up to 30 persons. A restaurant with 60 covers, open all year, serves local dishes cooked using vegetables from the garden. Horses are sheltered in luxurious stables while the Maison de l’Ingénieur has 8 guest rooms with an unbeatable view of the site and the ocean, and a ninth will soon be opened in the water tower.

INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 41 48 40 contact@la-maison-de-grave.com www.la-maison-de-grave.com 8

Prices: From €15 to €20 per person per night in the Maison du Pèlerin – between €50 and €60 per night for two persons in a room at the Maison de l’Ingénieur.

©Villa La Tosca

©JAC / Maison de Grave

Luxury, prestige and exemplary service at Villa LaTosca

Located at the beach, surrounded by a beautifully kept garden, facing the bay of Arcachon in the small holiday resort of Taussat, Villa La Tosca is one of the best examples of Arcachon architecture from the beginning of the 20th century.

The exceptional environment and the quality of service make it an ideal setting for your holidays or events. The place is ideal for organizing seminars, work meetings, team-building exercises, workshops for painters, writers, Chefs, wine experts. The villa has 8 rooms (16 persons) and can be rented out in full for long or short stays. The services offered are worthy of the INFORMATIONS & place with a concierge, bodyguard, RESERVATIONS fly-over in a helicopter, visit of the bay of Arcachon in a sail boat, visits to Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 60 29 86 vine-making châteaux, limousine with enquiries@villalatosca.com chauffeur, massages, private Chef… www.villalatosca.com Prices: €2,000 per week.

SPRING 2013

Le Hype Hôtel in Biscarrosse Bourg

ALONG THE Landes coast

©Sophie Pawlak

14 rooms, all equipped with Wi-Fi, are spread out between the ground floor and the first floor of this beautiful contemporary building, with its white façade showing light-coloured wood and steel. Half of the rooms have a balcony-terrace. Every part of the building has harmonious shades of white, grey, black, with a touch of mauve, as well as modern and colourful paintings to decorate the walls. A lounge is located on the ground floor with an Internet area. It is worth mentioning the Landes de Gascogne pine forest, the wooden terrace is shaded by pine umbrellas made of steel-coloured metal.On site, a private parking area and closed garage for bikes are at your disposal. Biscarrosse-Plage and the ocean, just 9 km away, can be visited by INFORMATIONS & bike.

RESERVATIONS Prices: €65 to €130 depending on the category of Tel. : +33 (0)5 58 07 36 35 room and the period. Breakfast: €10, €6 for children www.hypehotel.fr under 12.

Le Bayonne Hôtel & Spa in the town-centre

ALONG THE Basque coast

©Z Studio

Le Beaumanoir is the smallest ***** establishment in France, located in Biarritz

Having become property of the Biarritz-Thalasso-Resort group, while waiting for its 4* categorization, the old Mercure Hotel has shed its skin Tel. : +33 (0)5 59 52 84 44 and now targets business men and www.biarritz-thalasso.com/fr/ women. In the town-centre and le-bayonne-hotel-spa along the banks of the Nive, the hotel offers 99 rooms, 80 parking spaces and 8 meeting rooms. A few relaxation areas to recover after a day at a seminar: the bar, heated pool, the Turkish bath and Jacuzzi.

The decor is plain and contemporary, with soft colours for the lobby’s slightly grey walls, with touches of red to add a bit of spark (sofas, chandeliers).

The rooms are quite relaxing (white walls, golden beige or almond colour bed covers). The Brasserie de la Nive has a terrace with a view of the river. Open to all types of clientele, the menu has many traditional dishes on it.

Rate: starting from €46, with breakfast not included, during the low season INFORMATIONS & RESERVATIONS

«As soon as you step off the plane… the hotel’s Rolls Royce will be waiting… Five minutes later…you’ll cross the threshold of the Beaumanoir», a hectare of richness and peace located just two kilometres from the wide beach. The smallest 5***** establishment in France welcomes you in one of its 6 rooms or suites decorated in a neo-baroque style on the first floor of the manor, an INFORMATIONS & old château from 1885, and in the old RESERVATIONS stables of Marchioness Moratalla, which have been fabulously transformed. Each Tel. : +33 (0)5 59 24 89 29 room has its own concierge. reception@lebeaumanoir.com Prices: between €250 and €2,500 www.lebeaumanoir.com depending on the room and the season.

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NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

[

ACCOMMODATION

] The Itsas Mendia**** is a charming hotel in Bidart

By taking over management at La INFORMATIONS & Marisa, Sylvie Musset wanted to create RESERVATIONS a family home. Guests are welcomed in a lounge with a comfortable Tel. : +33(0)5 59 26 95 46 sofa and armchairs, and with a wellMob. : +33 (0)6 18 88 55 37 stocked library. The lady of the info@hotel-lamarisa.com house is thrilled when guests borrow www.hotel-lamarisa.com books, magazines or board games.

There are references to the Basque country, with red and white striped double-curtains, the tablecloth with citrus coloured stripes, and dark furniture. The 16 rooms, including one for disabled persons, all equipped with Wi-Fi, are well-lit with comfortable beds with white sheets; here, you really will feel at home.

Green and flowery southern plants grow out on the patio where you can enjoy your breakfast.

Extra: The hotel is entirely non-smoking. A quiet street in the town-centre and still…the central beach is at the end of the street, just 30 metres away.

Prices: between €90 and €172 depending on the room type and season. Breakfast: 12 €.

Built during the 1920s, this hotel with neo-Basque architecture provides a chic and relaxed atmosphere in a contemporary setting.

The 15 rooms of this old family home, now turned into a hotel, are very charming and authentic. Bathed in sunshine, the rooms are decorated with natural colours with varnished furniture on an oak parquet floor. Most rooms have a terrace or balcony, with a view of the mountains or the garden and swimming pool. Some rooms face the ocean. A large heated pool and a shaded garden are perfect for relaxing. Located just 5 minutes from the beach on foot, in the heart of the seaside village of Bidart, 6 km from Biarritz, 8 from Saint-Jean-de-Luz and 20 minutes from the Spanish border, the hotel INFORMATIONS & is also close to 10 golf courses.

RESERVATIONS Make the most of your stay to book green fees and passes at a Tel. : +33 (0)5 59 54 90 23 reduced rate. info@hotelbidart.com Prices: between €117 and €345 www.hotelbidart.com depending on the room and season.

©Séréna Lutton

La Marisa *** Hotel in Saint-Jean-de-Luz

©Azurèva Hendaye

What’s new at the Azurèva holiday village in Hendaye (64)

Overlooking the bay of Chingudy, in Hendaye, a town on the Spanish border which is located along the shores of the Atlantic and the first mountains of the Pyrenees, this holiday village is located 400 metres from the beach.

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A new bar, a new boutique as well as a panoramic 120 m² terrace off the restaurant await guests of this holiday village.

Azurèva Hendaye also offers a new indoor heated pool, for activities such as aquagym and water-polo, a fitness room as well as a room for putting on shows.

Free shuttles are on offer between the holiday village and Hendaye train station (fixed timetable).

In 2013, the kids and adolescent clubs will be open starting in the spring.

Gateway to the Basque country, Hendaye is a lively and welcoming seaside resort. The long fine sand beach is located along a 25 km long coastal passage with incredible views along the Basque coast. It is the ideal place to enjoy the invigorating properties of the ocean.

A stage of the Vélodyssée connects Bayonne and Hendaye INFORMATIONS & along special tracks. Pedal along RESERVATIONS in complete safety, as a couple Tel. : +33(0)5 59 48 26 26 or with your entire family. hendaye@azureva-vacances.com Located close to the véloroute, www.azureva-vacances.com/fr/ the village has a special label for Individuel/Village welcoming cyclists.

SPRING 2013

The Chilhar*** Hotel in Espelette

©CRTA - B. Bloch

©Hôtel Chilhar Espelette

[

INLAND

This family hotel, located Basque country inside a large Basque house in one of Espelette’s quiet streets, opposite the Rhune and Mondarrain summits, offers 12 rooms located upstairs. One is accessible for disabled persons, three are big enough for families.

Refined wall-paper and double curtains give each room its own colour and personality, while maintaining a soft atmosphere.

The Italian-style showers add real comfort to the bathrooms. The restaurant room, on the ground floor, extends out onto a large protected balcony with a view of the Mondarrain. The restaurant serves traditional cuisine with a touch of modernity.

The family purchase their ingredients from local and organic producers.

The hotel gets its name INFORMATIONS & from the old owners RESERVATIONS of the house: Chilhar, a well-known Basque Tel. : +33 (0)5 59 93 90 01 pelota player. chilhar@hotel-espelette.fr Prices: between €77 and www.hotel-espelette.fr €92.

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Something new at www.bergerac-tourisme.com Four years after the first version went live, the Bergerac Tourism Office wanted to simplify navigation and make the site easier to use. Information is updated almost daily for certain sections.

Expect more innovation for 2013.

Better “bike” pages at tourisme-aquitaine.fr To find out all there is to know about biking in Aquitaine, a menu with images will guide you through 6 pages of tourist information about cycling tracks, via verde and véloroutes with maps that you can download, six themed itineraries and the addresses of tour-operators and agencies specialized in organizing biking holidays (agencies listed by language spoken).You’ll also find a list of festivities related to biking as well as lists of rental companies and labelled accommodation with photos. And of course, there is a link to the bike flyer that is published by the CRTA. http://www.tourisme-aquitaine.fr/fr/tourisme-aquitaine/86/ m1_E6B8AF96/velo.html

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NEWS from AQUITAINE pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr

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ON LINE

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Easier access to guides-interpreters-speakers

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Are you looking for an interpreter-guide? Check the database on the brand new AGICA website, the association of interpreter-guides and speakers of Aquitaine. All useful information is available there, presented by sector, availability and languages spoken.

All guides hold a professional card given out by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, authorizing them to take people on guided tours in historic museums and monuments. www.agica.info

TRANSPORT

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©Photo aéroport de Bordeaux

Association Guides Interprètes Conférenciers Aquitaine

Lille-Bordeaux with Easyjet Easyjet offers 4 weekly flights to Lille since 2 December 2012. www.easyjet.com

Ryanair is launching a new route between Eindhoven in Holland and Bordeaux, with 2 weekly flights, on Tuesdays and Saturdays starting on 2 April 2013. Flights start at €35 for one way.

The Irish company is also launching a new route from Düsseldorf to Bergerac starting on the same date, with 2 weekly flights. www.ryanair.com

Comité Régional de Tourisme d’Aquitaine 4/5 Place Jean Jaurès - CS 31759 33074 Bordeaux Cedex Tel. +33(0)5 56 01 70 00 Fax +33(0)5 56 01 70 07 tourisme@tourisme-aquitaine.fr pro.tourisme-aquitaine.fr aquitaine-bordeaux.fr

Join us on :

Routes between Casablanca-Biarritz – Moscou-Biarritz – Istanbul-Biarritz and Rome-Biarritz… with Air France Starting from 31 March 2013, Air France will serve Casablanca, Moscow, Istanbul, Moscow and Rome with 10 flights per week (for Casablanca, depending on the period), 11 (for Moscow and Istanbul), 12 (for Rome), and 14 (for Casablanca depending on the period), from Orly, which will increase possibilities for connections from Orly.These four new routes will be flown by Airbus A320, A319 or A318, with a single «Economy» cabin. www.airfrance.fr

Biarritz-Lille with Volotea Volotea is renewing its Lille-Biarritz route starting on 28 March 2013, with 2 weekly flights. www.volotea.com

Bruxelles-Biarritz with Thomas Cook Airlines Thomas Cook Airlines is already selling tickets for its weekly flights between Biarritz and the Belgian capital. Flights are planned for each Saturday in July and August. The discount price for tickets is €49 for one way. www.biarritz.aeroport.fr

Copenhague-Biarritz with SAS Scandinavian Airlines During the summer period, from 28 June to 16 August 2013, SAS Scandinavian Airlines will operate two weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays between Biarritz and Copenhagen. www.flysas.com 12

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

Eindhoven-Bordeaux and Düsseldorf-Bergerac with Ryanair