DESTINATIONS Cirque de
DESTINATIONS Cirque de Lescun IN THE PYRÉNÉES, PAU-BÉARN AN EPICUREAN DESTINATION © CDT64 - P Gaillard MUST-SEE Pau “city of art and history” With its castle that was the birthplace of Henri IV, its beautiful 19 th Century holiday homes, with “remarkable trees and species” and its panorama of the Pyrénées, Pau deserves its title. Smartphone apps, audio-guided tours, treasure hunts and interactive terminals allow you to discover this heritage. ©s.dl.moissonnière From the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean sea, this region is focused on celebrating nature, food and tradition. In Béarn Pyrénées, young people lourish with their ideas, while nature is superbly preserved. In the background, the Pyrenees hypnotise, protect and unite this territory. A TERRITORY TO EXPLORE Homeland of Gaston Fébus, the “Pyrenean sun king”, the Pyrénées has a long history. Over the centuries, many castles were built at Pau, Morlanne and Montaner, the Moncade Tower, the manor house of Laàs, the Legend Bridge in Sauveterre de Béarn or the Portalet Fort! The region features three valleys of character and castles, dubbed “Cities and Countries of Art and History”. The richness and the decoration of the landscapes is unequivocal. KNOW-HOW AND CREATIONS For centuries, weavers settled at the edge of the roads to make their famous creations that have always inspired talent with innovative ideas. A GENEROUS TERRITORY The Emblem of Béarn, the breed of béarnaise cows is recognisable by its magnificent lyre-shaped horns and the elegance of its plain wheat-coloured dress. Robust and with a strong character, she narrowly escaped extinction thanks to passionate breeders. Every year, from June to September, shepherds and herds live and celebrate transhumance in the valleys of the Bearn Pyrénées. The variety of the territory combined with such a wealth of local produce attracts renowned chefs. In the country of well-being at the Béarnaise, many good tables from the simple “Assiette de Pays” to the starry table passing through the inns of villages and the tables of “Masters restaurateurs”. SNOW BUSINESS When it comes to skiing in the Pyrénées, Gourette is the trendiest, Artouste offers an exceptional panorama in the Ossau valley and seduces snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts. Pierre Saint Martin in Barétous valley, is a superb environment, ideal for families, beginners and adapted skiing. Not to mention the nearby ski resorts of Val d’Azun, Cauterets, Hautacam, or Luz-Ardiden. EXPERIENCES Fun route, riddles and unusual accommodation in the trees of the park at Domaine and Château de Laas. “Escape Castle”: in the park and its theme gardens (bamboo rose garden), the manor lends itself to a hectic adventure – 60 minutes and two scenarios to escape from two mysterious rooms by solving puzzles. An “Art and lights” urban stroll in the Hédas district of Pau: a walk in the heart of the historic city through scented gardens. In Gan, the winery of Jurançon allows you to discover the backstage of winemaking with a guide who talks with passion about the course of the grape, from the press room to the cellar, aging through the fermentation tanks. Take part in a wine tasting in Jurançon and Béarn. ACCOMODATIONS In the region, there are 117 hotels, 58 camp sites, 202 bed & breakfast establishments, 531 gites, giving a total of 20,158 beds. KEY ASSETS • Pyrénées Regional Nature Park, 3 nature sites (the Parc’Ours, the Asson zoo, the vulture cliff) and fascinating wildlife (bears, marmots, vultures, izards, ibex ...). • 3 “cities and countries of art and history” (Bearn Pyrénées, Béarn des Gaves and Pau) and 2 sites classified by UNESCO (Oloron Cathedral and the Way of St James). • Gastronomy: 1 st French area for producing sheep cheese and second for foie gras. TRANSPORTS Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ) Berlin: 2hrs 30 mins Brussels: 1hr 45 mins London: 1hr 45 mins Paris: 1hr 30 mins Air’py - Pau Pyrénées (PUF) Pau TGV Paris: 4hrs 10mins MORE INFORMATION www.bearn-basquecountry.com http://en.lespyrenees.net www.n-py.com/en www.pau-pyrenees.com 14 SMART GUIDE Nouvelle-Aquitaine www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com
DESTINATIONS Futuroscope POITIERS AND FUTUROSCOPE: COME AND JOIN THE FUN! FUTUROSCOPE, A REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE Futuroscope is one of France’s most loved theme parks. In 2017, the park celebrated its 30th anniversary. You won’t find roller-coasters or carrousels at Futuroscope but dynamic cinemas, gigantic screens, dancing with robots… there are so many unusual attractions for visitors of all ages! Martin Solveig and Luc Besson are just a few of the celebrities who brought their talent to the park, for rides such as “Arthur’s 4D Adventure”, “Ice Age” or “Raving-Rabbids” – “The Time Machine” attraction that was awarded a THEA Award in 2014 for “Outstanding achievement” and a European Star Award 2015 that honours “Europe’s Best Dark Rides”. The world-famous “Cirque du Soleil” even worked on a special night show for Futuroscope called “La Forge aux Etoiles”. In 2017, great new attractions joined Futuroscope. With the Extraordinary Journey, fly like a bird! Take to the skies aboard an incredible machine for a roundthe-world journey. Challenge gravity with your legs dangling free in this all-new, thrill-filled experience. And at “IllusiO, a magic destiny”, take part in the audition and then take part in the show where magic and holograms bring a child’s dream of being a magician to life. POITIERS, THE ROMANESQUE CAPITAL Also known as “the city of 100 bell towers”, Poitiers and its 2,000 year old history and heritage are quite a contrast from Futuroscope. Bathed by the rivers Clain and Boivre, the peninsula of Poitiers is located in a historic centre of nature, embellished by the presence of an exceptional collection of sites and Romanesque monuments that evoke a rich medieval past. Stroll along the picturesque streets of the city, discover the half-timbered houses and everything that is special and charming character of this city. Do not miss the famous monuments such as Notre- Dame-la-Grande and its famous carved facade, the Saint Pierre Cathedral and murals dating from the 13th Century freshly discovered, the Palace of the Dukes of Aquitaine Poitou-Counts or the baptistery of St. John. EXPERIENCES For visitors wishing to visit the city in complete freedom and autonomy, four tours are offered. Combining pageant, interviews, excerpts of music, news, each audio-guided tour includes seven stages of between three and four minutes. On the way to Saint-James… Poitiers is a privileged passage for the pilgrims from the north of France and Europe. A tour invites you to discover in particular the church Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, World Heritage of UNESCO, under the roads to Saint-James. ACCOMODATIONS The region has 64 hotels, 10 camping sites, 61 gites and bed & breakfast establishments, offering a total of 17,626 beds. MUST-SEE Thomas pesquet’s space adventure at futuroscope (new for 2018) Ride the immersive power of 4K IMAX LASER technology and 3D audio on a journey into space with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) youngest astronaut, Thomas Pesquet, and enjoy the highlights of his six-month space mission 400 km above the Earth. During his 196- day mission, Thomas kept a daily visual diary, sharing his thoughts and feelings on the beauty and fragile nature of our planet, and man’s place in the universe. KEY ASSETS • Absorb the fantastic, fun and fairy-tale Futuroscope atmosphere with over 25 original experiences in stunning attraction theatres. • Tours offering a look at the heritage of Poitiers, “City and Country of Art and History”, through the history of monuments, neighborhoods and great characters. • Traditional and gourmet cuisine, culinary specialties: generosity and quality define the Poitevin culinary lifestyle. TRANSPORTS Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) La Rochelle-Île-de-Ré (LRH) Poitiers Biard (PIS) London: 1hr 30mins Milan: 3hrs 05mins Poitiers TGV Paris: 1hr 20mins Futuroscope TGV • Paris 1hr 50mins MORE INFORMATION www.ot-poitiers.fr https://en.futuroscope.com www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com SMART GUIDE Nouvelle-Aquitaine 15
