What do you know about the southwest of France? It is here that vineyards are coexisting with fruit gardens, the ocean with mountain massifs, and in picturesque villages, medieval churches and abbey are found at every step.
A journey to this region can become incredible experience and will reveal France to you, which is not like Paris or the Cote d’Azur, but is not without its provincial charm. In this material, we will talk about the new Aquitaine – the region, which is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and borders with Spain.
How to get
There are two international airports in the region: Bordeaux-Mineak and Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonna. There are no direct flights from Russia, you can fly with a transplant in Istanbul. Also, they go from Paris to Bordeaux: the road will take only two hours.
Historical cities
Bordeaux
The capital of the region and the city with centuries -old history, museums, wine bars and ancient cathedrals. There is even an exhibition center opened in Betasom base bunkers, which used to be used to park submarines. A significant part of the historical center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a “unique city and architectural ensemble of the Enlightenment” (under the name “Port of the Moon”).
Fans of wine here will especially like it-they will tell you about it in the La Cité du Vin Museum, and go to the Ar-Deco Bar with the uncomplicated name Le Bar à Vin, known for your stained glass windows and mosaics for tasting. Around the city there are a lot of wine tents where you can not only try the drink, but also look at the process of its production. And next to one of these Shato called Smith Haut-Lafitte, Les Sources de Caudalie was opened.
Where to stop at Bordeaux
In the Apartments La Sainte Catherine – Place de Parking (rating 9.7) – from 14,300 rubles per day*.
In the guest house La Maison Manège Bordeaux Center (rating 10) – from 15,500 rubles per night*.
In the five -star hotel Intercontinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel (estimate 10) – from 36,800 rubles per day*.
Nerak
A place that is once beloved by kings. In a quiet tiny town, which is more like a village, the time seemed to be frozen: there are no modern buildings here (in the villages of Aquitains many live in the homes of past centuries, and some buildings can be more than 400 years). The river Baze can cross along the arched bridge of the 16th century, and then go for a walk in the shady park La Garenn with preserved old sculptural fountains. There is also a small elegant castle of Chateau-d’anri IV, in the courtyard of which there are ruins of the Roman villa.
Where to stay in Neva
In a hotel type “Bed and Breakfast” Les Terrasses du Petit Nérac (estimate is 8.3) – from 7,800 rubles per day*.
In the three -star Henri IV hotel (score 9.3) – from 9,600 rubles per night*.
In glamping with glass spheres Chrysalide Saint Martin (rating 8.6) – from 21,500 rubles per day*.
Cognac
As you might guess, it is from here that the alcoholic drink of the same name is born. In the historical part of the town there are many unusual buildings built in the XV-XVIII centuries: the medieval castle of Valois, the Church of Saint-Lezhe and Saint-Martin and just residential buildings. They stand on narrow prayer streets and are richly decorated, including images of Salamander and Garguli. It is here that the production of such famous cognac houses is based.
Where to stay nearby
In the camping of Les Roulottes de Dilou Cerise in mat (estimate 10) – from 6,800 rubles per night*.
In the Villa-A guest house in Ruiak (9.8 rating)-from 15,000 rubles per day*.
In the LE MOULIN de Mansle vacation house in Manla (9.8 rating) – from 17,300 rubles per day*.
Lemozh
The city has been known since ancient times, but has reached its heyday in the Middle Ages thanks to the abbey of St. Martial, which in that historical era was the most important spiritual center where the literary, poetic, artistic and musical works of the Mid-Latin world were created. It was here that the famous Gregorian liturgical singing originated. Also in the city produced the famous porcelain and ceramics.
Where to stay in leptoma
In the hotel The Originals City, Hôtel Le Saint-Martial (estimate 8.9)-from 9,800 rubles per night*.
In the Best Western Plus Richelieu (score 9.0) – from 11,100 rubles per day*.
Perigo
A small commune in the Dordon Department. It is worth finding several curious buildings: the Salgurda Hotel, the Matagerr tower and the “house on the leg”, the original name of which is listed as Eschif, although the locals are often called his “old mill”. The cathedral, bearing the name of Saint-Fron, is more like Byzantine churches than French. It is said that the architect of the famous Parisian Church Basilica Sakre-Cur was inspired by this building when he created his masterpiece. If you get to Perigo, do not be too lazy to get to the Lasco cave, which is called the Sistine Chapel of Primitive Painting.
Where to stay in Perigo
In the House for Charmante Maison de Ville (estimate 8.9) – from 6,600 rubles per day*.
In the five -star hotel Mercure Périgueux Center (rating 8.8) – from 10,300 rubles per day*.
Rest at the ocean
In the West of the New Aquitaine, where France meets with the Atlantic Ocean, there are resorts that were a favorite vacation spot in the European nobility. Now in many cities on the coastline are the villas of high -ranking officials and celebrities. The water in the ocean is expected to be cool, so swimming here is comfortable for only a few months a year from June to September; The rest of the time on the coast is grinned.
Arkashon
The city stands in the bay, the water in which is much warmer than in the ocean. If you watched the popular French comedy melodrama “Little Secrets” with Marion Cotiacyar, then definitely remember the wonderful places where the main characters go on vacation. Walk around the elegant villas of the “winter town” of the XIX century or rent a bicycle (about 220 km of bicycle paths are laid at the bay). You can observe birds in an ornithological park or explore the forest of Landa – the largest green array of Western Europe.
Get the mussels in restaurants or try to independently scrape them away from the coastal stones (they say that almost the entire French elite is doing this on the holidays, so you will not feel stupid in this situation). You can conquer the snow-white dune du saw (the largest in Europe), go up to the Capferra lighthouse, relax in the centers of balneotherapy and get acquainted with the life of fishermen, visiting a sea village with huts on piles.
Where to stay in Arcash
In the apartments Joli T2 Proche de la Mer (score 9.2) – from 8,000 rubles per night*.
In the four -star hotel Hife Ville d’Hiver (score 9.0) – from 16,200 rubles per day*.
In the apartments Apartment Boulevard de la Plage (estimate 10) – from 73,600 rubles per day*.
Biscarros
Moving further south, you will fall into the commune of Biskarros, where there are airbase not far from the pure beaches. This is your choice if you have long wanted to jump with a parachute or just fly on a small plane over incredible landscapes. And here they really amaze: a thick green forest, similar to the tropics, is suddenly interrupted by a white strip of sand, which, in turn, ends with the azure infinity of the ocean.
Biarritz
The resort has long been firmly connected with Russian travelers: Chekhov, Nabokov, Blok, Aksyonov rested here, and the singer Fedor Chaliapin had a summer cottage here. Winter here is soft, and summer, as a rule, is cool due to the winds of the Atlantic. Visits deserve the Union of the Holy Virgin (Napoleon Port Rescue), a lighthouse on Cape Saint-Martin, Lake Marion and Muriscot and the Laus Garden, as well as the Miremont confectionery, which has been working since 1872 and hosted the rulers of Spain and Portugal at one time.
Where to stay in Biarrice
In the Leo Doolie’s Birritz (rating 10) – from 12,000 rubles per night*.
In the five -star hotel, Hôtel du Palais (score 9.1) – from 36,000 rubles per day*.
Saint-Jan de Luz
The charming port town, known for its sandy beaches and the center of thalassotherapy Hélianthal. You can come here from Biarris here: you will get an excellent high -hacking along the shore of the Bay of the Bay. Historical buildings (Chateen Chateen d’Artube and the Church of John the Baptist) are adjacent to a magnificent botanical garden, a busy port with fishermen selling seafood, graceful villas and expensive terrace restaurants.
Where to stay in Saint-Jan de Luz
In the three -star hotel Les Almadies (score 9.6) – from 12,600 rubles per night*.
In the Villas Belharra vacation house (estimate 10) – from 87,000 rubles per day*.
Andai
The French lands end with a picturesque Basque town of Andai. There is a port of walking ships where you can rent a yacht and go on a sea tour along the Biscay coast, and several popular golf clubs are opened near the sea on the sea. It is in Anday that beginner srferors come – to learn to get on the board “on Penka”.
Where to stay in Andai
In the three -star hotel Hotel Restaurant Santiago (score 9.3) – from 7,400 rubles per night*.
In the guest house Villa Enara (score 9.5) – from 14,600 rubles per day*.
La Rochelle
The north of Arkashon is another remarkable settlement-La Rochelle, where many medieval attractions and structures have been preserved. In the XII and XIII century, it was an important city in the network of the Templar Order, which built a large port here (trade was mainly carried out by wine and salt). The city is known thanks to the novel by Alexander Dumas “Three Musketeers”, whose heroes in 1627 participate in the siege of La Rochelles. In addition to attractions, the town has several centers of thalassotherapy, founded in the 18th century, the pools of which are filled with sea water.
Where to stop in the la-rochelles
In the Nuit Sur Un Bateau Vieux Port (estimate 10) – from 17,700 rubles per night*.
In the five -star hotel HifeS Chais Monnet (rating 9.5) – from 19,400 rubles per day*.
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication.
