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Aquitaine Home to Bordeaux wine and a breathtaking coastline, Aquitaine is one of the most desired destinations for both university-age backpackers and sophisticated Europe travelers. Home to a series of medieval castles and monasteries inside which arching stone courtyards circle around magnificent fountains and statues, Aquitaine is also studded with inviting hilltop chateaus noted for their gleaming white, stucco exteriors. The natural Aquitaine region boasts a luscious, green countryside often overlaid with a colorful patchwork of vineyards nonchalantly ripening some of the world’s finest grapes.
Indeed, wine tasting is a principle pastime of those who like to call Aquitaine their second home – even if only for a few weeks out of the year. Of course, where there’s wine, there’s worldliness, making Frances southeastern Atlantic coast a delightful series of peak-season cultural events. The Theatre Festival in Sarlat brings in people from all over Europe, and is perfectly placed; Sarlat is one of France’s most well preserved medieval villages as it was taken under the wing of a prominent conservationist. It’s really only a matter of bureaucracy that it hasn’t yet been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is good for travelers who can enjoy all this historical splendor of such a place – don’t miss the Sarlat Cathedral – freer from the throngs of tourists who don’t know when not to use their flash.
To see something totally French, take advantage of the International Mime Festival in Périgueux, which is world famous. And if you find yourself watching a bull fight in Bayonne, don’t worry; you haven’t slipped over the border into Spain yet. Rather, Bayonne incorporates nod to its strongly Basque-influenced culture during the early August Bayonne Festival, which features folk dancing, cow racing, local music concerts.
There are numerous places to stay in Aquitaine. Luxury lodging has a strong presence here because of the refinement of the region. Nevertheless, those taking Europe on a shoestring will find various pensions and other lodging options. One great mixture between affordable and fashionable is an apartment. With a group of friends, you can arrange an extended rental and enjoy all the small towns of the Aquitaine region without too much stress on your pocket book or comfort level. Be aware, however, that Aquitaine destinations tend to fill up fast. For instance, Bayonne Festival alone attracts over a million visitors; even the most refined travelers will be looking where to pitch
their tent if they don’t make reservations well in advance. |
General Information
Gastronomy
Sightseeing
Culture
Weather