S P E C I A L F E AT U R E
STAYCATIONS y a t s o here t We are so lucky in that we don’t need to stray too far from home to enjoy a different landscape, exceptional regional food and great hospitality. As and when we can get-away, here are some good reasons to be a tourist in our “own backyard”. What’s your priority when planning a holiday or get-away? Historical monuments? Water sports on lakes, rivers and canals? Sandy beaches? What about retreats offering courses on wine, food, music, art or yoga? Will you be looking for tours of stunning châteaux, abbeys, cathedrals and bastide towns?
GIRONDE
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How about Roman remains, pre-historic relics, medieval villages and, of course, fabulous markets? Perhaps you might want to go fishing, horse-riding, visit exquisite gardens, incredible caves or stay up late and watch the stars in a clear, unpolluted sky? Or simply go for a walk, hire a bike
or boat and enjoy the scenery? Then there’s the choice of where to stay whether it be a gîte, hotel, château, campsite or even your own secret haven high up in a tree! The really good news is that you can find all of that right here, in and around our beautiful region of France.
Bordered on one side by the Silver coast (Côte d’Argent) and covered in the vineyards of some of the world’s most famous wines, GIRONDE is a department of many treasures. Bordeaux, with its stunning architecture, famous landmarks, world-class shops and devotion to the arts is high on the list of places to see, as is Saint Emilion, a UNESCO world heritage village. To the west you will find a bird-watchers paradise, oyster beds and Europe’s largest sand dune. Inland, take a trip up the river and explore magnificent chateaux whilst enjoying oysters, canelé, macarons and, of course, the many different wines.
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