DESTINATIONS Gabare boat
DESTINATIONS Gabare boat tour by the bridge and Château of Castelnaud DORDOGNE VALLEY OFFERS SENSATIONS AND EMOTIONS Dordogne and Périgord are favourite destinations with food-lovers and it’s a fascinating area with plenty to see and do at any time of year. BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN THE REGION OF A THOUSAND AND ONE CASTLES Beautiful buildings such as castles, manor houses and Romanesque churches are dotted around the countryside, providing a magnet for anyone interested in culture and heritage. As they explore the Dordogne, visitors in search of old buildings and traditional villages will be in their element strolling through the typical narrow streets of our beautiful villages and towns. AN EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY It’s not by chance that Prehistoric Man chose to settle in the area 17,000 years ago. He left exceptional works of art to humanity, such as the cave paintings in Lascaux and the 15 prehistoric sites concentrated in the Vézère valley, which are now listed UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its 10 listed villages, its medieval bastides and its three “Towns of Art and History” make the Dordogne one of the richest area in France in terms of listed historical monuments. Today, there are a range of tours and experiences available. The new Centre International de l’Art Pariétal Montignac Lascaux take visitors back on a journey to the origins of human history. The area also offers numerous festivals and events dedicated to music, mime, film and food throughout the year. MANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Nature-lovers and outdoor activity enthusiasts are spoilt for choice in the Dordogne – choose from activities as diverse as canoeing, hiking and cycle touring to golf, climbing and fishing, as well as wakeboarding and pot-holing. EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES Enjoy a unique gourmet experience at the Château de Montaigne, in the Pays de Bergerac, with a unique gastronomic dinner prepared by a professional chef accompanied by 19 th century-style service when you become the Lord or Lady of the manor for the evening! A hidden treasure along the banks of the Charente: the village of Saint Aulaye Puymangou. This unusual bastide, founded in 1288, is perched on a hill overlooking the River Dronne. Thanks to its architectural heritage (listed 11 th century Romanesque church, 15 th century ramparts) and landscapes, the village has been awarded the “Petite Cité de Caractère” label. Sarlat organic night market is a must for food lovers. You can find foie gras, the famous cepe mushrooms, magret (duck breasts) & confit (conserves of duck or goose), truffles, walnuts, strawberries and countless other delicious local products.The Sarlat’s glass lift with panoramic views, housed within Sainte- Marie’s bell tower, offers a unique experience. Once at the top, the lift allows you a 360° view of Sarlat: the paved streets, the honey stoned walls, the lauze covered roofs… DORDOGNE AND PÉRIGORD OFFERS MANY ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS The area features 229 hotels and 13 tourist residences, with a total capacity of 15,203 beds, 249 camping and caravanning sites and 17 holiday villages. © Gabares Norbert MUST-SEE Lascaux cave, one of humanity’s major archaeological discoveries According to UNESCO, “its discovery was of great importance for the history of prehistoric art. The hunting scenes show some 100 animal figures, which are remarkable for their detail, rich colours and lifelike quality.” UNESCO considers that “there is no other prehistoric site in any other part of the world which equals the site in the quantity, quality and variety of the finds.” KEY ASSETS • 191 sites and monuments open to visitors. • 15 UNESCO World Heritagelisted prehistoric sites. • 556 kilometres of navigable rivers suitable for canoeing. TRANSPORTS Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) Bergerac-Dordogne- Perigord (EGC) Bordeaux Saint-Jean TGV Angoulême TGV Paris - 2hrs Libourne TGV Paris: 2hrs 45mins Périgueux, Bergerac (TER stations) MORE INFORMATION www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.fr http://dordognevalleytravel.com/ www.sarlat-tourisme.com/en www.lascaux.fr/en © Dan Courtis - CRTNA 10 SMART GUIDE Nouvelle-Aquitaine www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com
DESTINATIONS Pilat Dune THE ATLANTIC COAST, AN OCEAN OF ACTIVITIES! Discover the Atlantic Coast’s unforgettable beaches and panoramas. From Pays de la Loire to the Pays Basque, it is the kingdom of water sports, cycling paths and lively seaside resorts. PAYS DE LA LOIRE Thanks to its 133 km of coastline, the Loire- Atlantique unveils multiple facets, between broad white sand beaches and coves, dunes and rocky headlands. La Baule, Guérande and Les Sables-d’Olonne are some of the not-to-be missed destinations of this region. THE CHARMING ISLANDS OF CHARENTE Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oléron are two gems on the Atlantic Coast. Both offer visitors a preserved environment, remarkable historical and architectural heritage, lively seaside resorts, huge sandy beaches, a large range of sports and water activities, picturesque ports and famous local food products. LET’S HEAD TO LA ROCHELLE AND ROCHEFORT By the Atlantic Ocean, La Rochelle welcomes you. Culture and heritage, sea and nature, sports and leisure activities, the French way of life and gastronomy… Rochefort is home to the Hermione frigate which became famous thanks to La Fayette in the 18th Century, during the American Independence era. Do not miss guided tours of the Hermione in its homeport. ROYAN SHINES ON THE BEAUTY COAST Royan is a bold 50s style architectural ensemble, dominated by the arrow on top of the Notre-Dame church and the beautiful boulevard Garnier, and also the long sandy beach that made the resort so popular. MÉDOC ATLANTIQUE: THE MOST SPECTACULAR APERITIF IN THE WORLD! Whether with your toes in the water or at the top of the dunes, you’ll be intoxicated by the sea air, enchanted by the so-special fragrances of summer nights, and be highly impressed by the antics of the surfers, reluctant to return to shore. ARCACHON BAY, A LAGOON-LIKE INLAND SEA Arcachon Bay is a 1,500 hectare bay supplied with water from the ocean and from many waterways. An inland sea whose colours are lagoon-like, bordered by a crown of fine sand culminating at 104 metres: the amazing Pilat Dune! LES LANDES, 100 KMS OF SANDY BEACHES Unspoilt beaches, lakes dotted along the coast and the huge Landes de Gascogne pine forest: a wonderful destination for lovers of cycling, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, golf and surf-casting (angling in the ocean waves). EXPERIENCES Discover the oyster and its history. The oyster city of Marennes, a vast museum complex, covers 10 hectares, around an oyster farm teaching and five thematic cabins. Mysterra, nestled in the heart of the forest of Montendre, just minutes from the estuary of the Gironde, will open its doors in May 2018. This new park combines 11 hectares of woods at the edge of a lake with digital technologies to play and discover an environment of labyrinths. © JJ Brochard - CRTA MUST-SEE Ile de Ré, “the white island” Just a few minutes from La Rochelle, Ré “the white” – famous for its Alcea Rosea flowers, its low houses with green or blue shutters – owes its success to its wonderful “art de vivre”. Bicycles are a must here, if you wish to explore the island. Lovely cycling paths enable visitors to discover ten charming villages, pine tree forests, salt marshes… KEY ASSETS • 1,200 km of coastline from North to South including 720 km in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. • Wellness at its top with a great choice of thermal stations and thalassotherapy centres. • An ideal playground for all water sports –surfing, kite surfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, sand yachting … – and for fishing. TRANSPORTS Nantes Atlantique (NTE) La Rochelle-Île-de-Ré (LRH) Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ) La Rochelle Rochefort Paris: 2hrs 25mins Paris: 3hrs MORE INFORMATION www.atlantikkueste-frankreich.de www.paysdelaloire.co.uk www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com www.bassin-arcachon.com www.medococean.co.uk www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com SMART GUIDE Nouvelle-Aquitaine 11
