SMARTguide Nouvelle-Aquitaine

MAIN ROUTES
© S Pailloncy - CRT NA
© P Baudry - CRT NA
Cognac Otard
La Rochelle
© Brochard - CRT NA
Cathédrale St Pierre, Poitiers
OPTIONS
3 EXCLUSIVE STOPOVERS
• Stay at the Hotel 5* and spa Chais
Monnet www.chaismonnethotel.com
• Oxygenation cure at Côte Thalasso
de Ré www.cote-thalasso.fr/
ile-de-re/thalasso/les-cures/cureoxygenation.html
• Visit the majestuous Saint-Savin
Abbey and its painted walls
with a digital tablet
www.abbaye-saint-savin.fr/en
THE ATLANTIC COAST – FROM BILBAO TO MONT-ST-MICHEL
10 DAYS / 1,480 KM
DAY 1
Bilbao the creative, with the Guggenheim
Museum - the gateway to the Basque
cultural world.
Possibility to sleep over in Biarritz.
DAY 2
Biarritz Basque Country (Pau-Lourdes option)
• Morning: Stroll in Biarritz along the
waterfront, then lunch in the market hall
with products of Basque gastronomy
(see page 11 for more details).
• Afternoon: Guided tour of Pau, the
castle of Henri IV, promenade on the
Boulevard des Pyrénées with a view
of the mountains for a coffee... Or the
sportier visitor can play golf on the oldest
golf course in continental Europe, or go
kayaking in the whitewater stadium.
• Dinner and night in a guest house in the
vineyards of Jurançon.
Possible Option: Excursion to Lourdes
(50 mn from Pau).
DAY 3
Bordeaux, historic regional capital and
gateway to the vineyards.
Discover the UNESCO-listed city to admire
its historical heritage with an excursion in the
vineyards (see Itinerary page 9 for more details).
DAY 4
Cognac
• Morning: Discovery of the Cognac city
centre, where King Francis I was born.
• Afternoon: Visit and tasting of Cognac
in one of the grand houses of Cognac
(Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy-Martin,
Meukow), then embark onboard a
gabarre on the Charente river. OR ride
a bike along the river by following the
itinerary “Flow Vélo” OR discovering the
vineyards while driving a classic car.
• Late afternoon: Return to Cognac to
start your own Cognac collection.
• Evening: Go to the Martell rooftop bar for
a drink and to admire the old town.
DAY 5
La Rochelle-Ile de Ré-Marais Poitevin
• Morning: Discover La Rochelle, the old Port
and its three towers by foot or bicycle, then
visit the aquarium, one of Europe’s largest.
Lunchtime tasting of oysters and a seafood
platter.
• Afternoon: Discovery of the Île de Ré
by bicycle OR boat trip in the Marais
Poitevin, the “Green Venice”, to study the
fauna and flora.
• End of the day: After a busy day, relax in
one of the Thalasso / Spa centres.
DAY 6
Poitiers Futuroscope
• Morning: Guided tour of Poitiers’ historic
city, the city of 100 steeples, classified
City of Art and History.
• Afternoon: Head for Futuroscope to enjoy
France’s second-largest amusement
park… OR family visit to the Vallée
des Singes OR visit of Rochefort, the
Hermione and the Corderie Royale.
• Evening: Nearby Poitiers Futuroscope,
night in unusual accommodation at
DéfiPlanet’ OR in the heart of nature in the
Center Parc le Bois aux Daims.
OPTION 1 (3 DAYS)
Travel to Mont-St-Michel, high place of
pilgrimage.
OPTION 2 (3 DAYS)
Visit of the castles of the Loire, treasures
of French history.
DAY 10
Paris, an eternal and surprising city...
magical, sometimes secret! It is also
the capital of gastronomy, fashion and
shopping.
6 SMART GUIDE ROUTES www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.com