The Aquitaine region of France
December 31, 2007
Aquitaine, whose name means “country of waters” in Latin, is located in southwestern France and is composed of five districts: the Dordogne (24), the Gironde (33), Landes (40), Lot-et-Garonne (47) and the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (64).
The county seat is Bordeaux and the area’s population numbers 3 049 000 in 2296 towns and villages. It is the 3rd largest area of the country with 41308 km2, which gives it a wealth of natural spaces and a beautiful variety of landscapes.
Indeed, here you’ll find not only mountains (the famous Pyrenees), but also lakes, forests (such as Landes), large rural areas, and a long coastline skirting the Atlantic Ocean along the entire western border of the area. This great diversity of beautiful terrain along with the sunny and temperate climate makes the area favorable to various industries and activities: tourism, agriculture (corn, wine.), oyster farming in the basin of Arcachon, harbor traffic (Bordeaux is the 3rd most important port of France) and the aircraft industry (Dassault).
Aquitaine can be regarded as a cradle of humanity, since Homo Erectus lived there more than 400 000 years ago, as the paintings left in the caves of Lascaux and Eyzies still attest; the famous Cro-Magnon cave is located in the Vézère valley of the Dordogne. Other later civilizations left their traces, still evident in the cities and villages, with a well-preserved historical heritage. The town of Périgueux, for instance, is a beautiful example of Roman architecture. The abbeys, churches and chapels that mark the way towards Saint Jacques de Compostelle recall the Middle Ages; a great example of this is the monolithic abbey of Saint-Emilion, classified a UNESCO world heritage site. The illustrious history of the area is also told through its many castles, including more than thousand in the Dordogne, such as Castelnaud la Chapelle, Montfort and Montbazillac, as well as its country homes such as Montpazier and its ramparts (Domme). Aquitaine also gave birth to many important writers: Montesquieu was born and lived in the Chateau de la Brède in the Gironde, Montaigne at Vélines in the Dordogne. In addition to its history, Aquitaine is also known for culinary specialties like the famed foie gras, its traditions (you can still hear Basque and the Occitan languages spoken there) and its sunny disposition. Admired for its energy and its friendliness, the area maintains with pride many festive events such as fairs (Saint Sever, Bayonne, Mont-de-Marsan, Hagetmau, Aire sur adour…), and bodegas, but also bullfights, country traditions as the festival of bird migration at Lourdios-Ichère, the wine festival in Bordeaux… all accompanied by songs, dancing, and great meals.
As far as its beaches go, Aquitaine has been carefully safeguarded in order to avoid excessive urbanization and is a great favorite for summer tourism, in particular on the Landes coast (Hossegor, Biscarrosse, Seignosse, Capbreton, Mimizan…) Besides its excellent surfing conditions (Lacanau hosts the world championship trials each year), the coastal zone offers chains of ponds that are true ornithological reserves. It is also famous for its immense dunes, such as the dune of Pilat, the highest dune of Europe, which tops 104 meters an offers unparalleled ocean and the forest views.
Once synonymous with marshland, the department of Landes was cleared and timbered at the request of Napoleon in 1857. The new pines then became the prize possession of the area, giving over 30 000 people a livelihood (exploiting their wood and resin) and bestowing notoriety on the district by becoming Europe’s largest forest. The scent of the pines mixed with the ocean spray makes it a pleasant place for relaxation and outdoor activities such as hiking in the Regional Natural reserve of the Landes de Gascogne, hunting for mushrooms, sweet chestnuts and truffles, and golf (the courses of Moliets, Casteljoux and Rochebois come to mind). The “natural museum” of Grande Landes de Sabres allows visitors to meet this exceptional natural environment face to face, as well as its culture and its unique wood-paneled architecture (Marquèze). On top of all this, many thermal spas (Dax, Saint-Paul-Les-Dax, Saubusse-The-Baths, Eugenie-The-Baths…) are scattered throughout the countryside, to the great pleasure of spa enthusiasts.
To the north of Landes, the Gironde makes Aquitaine along with Bordeaux the number one wine-producing area of France, with vines branching out all around its estuaries. Recognized the world over, these very old vineyards dating from Roman times made great strides in the 12th century thanks to the English market. Today, 12000 castles share the field, as well as more than 50 “appellations” or names of types of wine. Visits to the cellars and these exceptional landscapes that surround them charm wine lovers, amateurs and experts alike. Bordeaux, a city chock-full of history, is the capital of this peerless wine-producing area. Here you’ll find Chartrons, district of wine merchants, but also one of the most beautiful monuments of France, the Grand Théâtre.
Further to the east, the Lot-et-Garonne is not lacking in uniqueness. The smallest district of Aquitaine, it’s known for its famous prunes of Agen; but this country of valleys also offers very attractive surroundings, emphasized by a network of 200 km of inland waterways where one can rent boats and enjoy the fabulous natural decor at a deliciously languorous pace. Area of rolling hills, the Agenais region offers varied cultures, orchards with fields of tobacco and poplars, tailor-made for long country walks.
Lastly, Aquitaine’s majestic mountains that form a natural border with Spain are a unique and well-preserved playground boasting splendid panoramas. The Pyrenees Atlantiques extend from the ocean in Béarn, passing through the Basque Country. This last part of the coastline offers the attractions of the ocean, with its water-based villages and small fishing ports (Bidart, Guéthary, Saint-Jean-Of-Luz), and its vast beaches (Biarritz), but also the sublime landscapes of the “basse Pyrenees” gentle near the ocean’s edge but that intensify as one travels east to tall peaks (Peak of Anie to 2504 m). Of course, one cannot talk of the Basque Country without evoking its folklore, still so dynamic. Steeped in a strong identity, a specific regional language and a colorful lifestyle, the Basque traditions are honored from the churches to the grounds where men play boules, to the traditional wood-paneled houses. .
Béarn, in the west, is divided between high peaks and verdant valleys. Here one can practice sports as varied as hang gliding, paragliding, dirt biking, mountain-biking and summer hiking, enjoying to the fullest the area’s luxuriant flora and fauna, dominated by the famous brown bear. Exciting water sports on the rivers like rafting and canyoning are also a great way to discover many remarkable sites. In winter, charming ski resorts like Gourette or Arette-Pierre-Saint-Martin whose powerful and modern equipment rivals that you can find in the Alps, opens for the ski season, Lastly, the little Artouste train is a relaxing andentertaining way to explore the beautiful valley of Ossau, departing from the Peak of Sagette.
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