R E G I O N A L AT T R A C T I O N S
Don’t forget our
REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS
There are many reasons why we could be tempted to buzz off and take a day trip or enjoy a weekend away, without ever leaving this part of France. Here are just a few of our “regional attractions”.
GIRONDE
DORDOGNE
Gironde is named after the 70km, tidal Gironde Estuary, the largest estuary in Europe. With the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay to the west, it is also home to the gigantic 105m high, 2.7km long sand Dune du Pilat (Pyla). The Parc Ornithologique du Teich has welcomed over 300 species of birds in the last 43 years and, of course, oyster farms populate the Bassins. A visit to Bordeaux will have you enthralled with its history, art galleries and stunning architecture, especially in the Place de la Bourse, Esplanade des Quinconces and around the impressive Pont de Pierre. In contrast, the vine-filled, rocky limestone hillside of St Emilion also invites you to enter its 8th and 10th-century catacombs. Other world famous winegrowing areas include the Médoc, Graves and Entre Deux Mers.
“The land of 1001 châteaux”. The Benedictine Abbey de Brantôme, 500-years of knife-making at Nontron, and even panning for gold in the Musée de l’Or can be found in the lush green valleys of Périgord Vert. Colombage buildings, a military museum, and Le Jardin des Arènes amphitheatre are some of the treasures in Périgord Blanc with its limestone plateaux. The vineyards and rolling hills of Périgord Pourpre give way to medieval towns like Issigeac, beautiful Monpazier and its 30 national monuments, and Bergerac with its Cyrano legend. Thick woods line the Dordogne and Vézère rivers flowing beneath spectacular fortified settings such as Domme in Périgord Noir. For caves visit Les Eyries de Tayac, or go back in time at Musée National de la Préhistoire.
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