France and Spain - Brittany Ferries

Holiday Regions SECTION 3
There’s something for all ages in the Poitou
Charentes region, which lies beyond the
regional nature park of the Marais Poitevin
or ‘Green Venice’, an enchanting area
of unspoilt marshland and canals. Relax
round the bustling marina at La Rochelle
with its three historic watch towers and
quaint old streets, and take the road
bridges to Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oléron to
enjoy whitewashed villages dotted with
hollyhocks. Take the ferry across the
Gironde estuary from Royan to enter the
wine-growing area of the Médoc, gateway
to Aquitaine. From here the coast is one
long sandy beach that stretches to the
Spanish border. Learn to surf the Atlantic
waves; climb the extraordinary Dune
du Pyla near Arcachon; and take in the
colourful resorts of Biarritz and Saint Jean
de Luz in the French sector of Basque
Country, an area steeped in tradition
and atmosphere.
The Mediterranean
Mention the Mediterranean and
most people immediately think of
sophisticated resorts like Nice, Cannes
and St Tropez on the Côte d’Azur, but
France’s Mediterranean coast is just as
varied as its Atlantic shoreline, stretching
from the Pyrenees in the west to
Monaco in the east.
The Languedoc Roussillon region
includes the picturesque resort of
Collioure near the Spanish border,
historic Perpignan and the vibrant city of
Montpellier, finishing up on the western
fringes of the Camargue, a vast wetland
area that also marks the beginning of
Provence. Here cowboys on white horses
still round up black bulls beside lagoons
dotted with pink flamingos. Visit the
unpretentious resort of Saintes Maries de
la Mer where you can discover the area’s
rich folklore and traditions, relax on the
beach and climb to the church roof for a
panoramic view.
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