DISCOVERING
DISCOVERING NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE© L de Santerre - CRT NA© PNR MP DarriOPTIONS3 TOP ACCOMODATION PICKS• La Grande Terrasse, an exceptional 4-starhotel and spa near La Rochellewww.la-grande-terrasse.com/• Hôtel de Toiras 5*, a perfect mix of eleganceand luxury in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.www.hotel-de-toiras.comLa Rochelle towersFire on the water, Marais PoitevinIle de Ré• Hôtel Chais Monnet, a five-star luxuryresort in Cognac.www.chaismonnethotel.comSTARTING FROM LA ROCHELLE2 TO 5 DAYSLa Rochelle, the Atlantic city, boasts anabundance of culture and heritage, withthe sea and nature as its backdrop. Thereare unrivalled opportunities for sports,leisure and gastronomy. From La Rochelle,full- or half-day excursions can be madeto the islands of Aix or Oléron, or inlandto Rochefort, Cognac or Niort - MaraisPoitevin.DAY 1 - La RochelleMorning: stroll along the old port and visit thefamous towers. After a coffee break on a caféterrace, head down the cobbled streets of thetown centre on foot or by bike, to the centralmarket to sample some of the local produce.Lunch on the terrace on the quays.Afternoon: visit the Maritime Museum, the oldbunker, and the aquarium, one of the largest inEurope.Evening: boat cruise at sunset to the legendaryFort Boyard, a majestic stone fortification in themiddle of the sea.EXCURSION 1 (full day)Île de RéThe Île de Ré is linked to La Rochelle by a 2.9 kmlongbridge. The island is an 85-sq-km haven fornature, and a cycling paradise, with 100km of bikepaths.Don’t miss: the island’s charming small villages,the salt marshes, the Vauban fortifications atSaint-Martin-de-Ré, which are classified as aUNESCO World Heritage Site, and the magnificentbell tower of Ars-en-Ré.Unique experience: climbing the whalelighthouse, tasting oysters in an oyster farmer’scabin or one of the 77 flavours of the famous icecream maker “La Martinière” at Saint-Martin-de-Ré.EXCURSION 2 (half-day)RochefortAn essential stopover, Rochefort has preservedits special maritime heritage.Don’t miss: The Royal Cordery, the NavyMuseum and the frigate L’Hermione, thediscovery in 3D of the Pierre Loti house at theHèbre Museum.Unique experience: venturing into the ropes ofthe Accro-mâts.EXCURSION 3 (full day)Niort - Marais PoitevinKnown as a “Green Venice”, this protected naturalarea in the Poitou Marsh has been classified as aGrand Site de France and a regional nature parksince 2014. It’s a place to get closer to nature,observe the fauna and flora, and relax in thecountryside.Don’t miss: a boat trip or a bike ride along thepaths and canals. Visit the Ornithological Park“Les Oiseaux du Marais Poitevin” and take a tourof the Maison du Marais Poitevin, the ecomuseumof the Marais Poitevin regional park. Also worth avisit are the Halles and the Niort Dungeon.Unique experience: Take a canoe trip into theheart of the Marais, where a guide can show youthe secret of fire on the water.EXCURSION 4 (full day)Cognac and its famous housesIn Cognac, city and brandy are one.This excursion immerses the visitor in the uniqueworld of Cognac, caught between history andmodernity.Don’t miss: a visit of the old town of Cognac, avisit of the Cognac Arts Museum, and a guidedtour and tasting in the great Cognac houses(Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and Meukow).Unique experiences: a cognac and chocolateworkshop offered by the Maison Rémy Martin, avisit to a cooper’s workshop, and a tasting courseat the Maison Martell. A relaxing boat trip on theCharente river.12 SMART GUIDE ROUTES www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.com
THEMED TOURSLimoges porcelain© D Guillemain - CRT Limousin© CDT 64© S Pailloncy - CRT NAOPTIONSBECOME AN EXPERT• Tasting workshop at the Cité du Vinin Bordeau. www.laciteduvin.com• Courses in the workshops of craftsprofessionals with the ExperimentalCentre for Art Professions.https://metiersdartperigord.frEspadrilles Don QuichosseOtard cognac• Family porcelain workshopwww.musee-adriendubouche.frSAVOIR-FAIRE6 DAYSCome and meet our craftsmen, for momentsof discovery, sharing and emotion. A plungeinto the world of the hand-made, where allsubjects are in the spotlight. These craftsmenopen their doors to you to share with you theirlove of their profession.DAY 1Bordeaux wines, exceptional know-how!For 2,000 years, the men and women ofBordeaux have been making exceptionalwines. Throughout their history, they haveacquired and optimized unique know-how,which they will be delighted to share. Discoverthe secrets of the passionate winegrowers’trade, learn about wine tasting, participate inan assembly workshop. (See pages 9 and 14).DAY 2Biarritz - Pays Basque, a land of traditionDiscover the espadrilles made for 150 years inMauléon. Buy a beret in Oloron Sainte-Marie,linen, canvases and tablecloths, an umbrellafrom the Pyrenees in Pau or the Makhila,a traditional Basque walking stick made inSouraide or Larressore.DAY 3Dordogne Valley. The Nontron knife is the oldestknife in France and is still made in Nontron. Visitthe workshops and the Experimental Centre forArt Professions (PEMA), which stages thematicexhibitions and workshops all year round. Thefamous Repetto ballet shoes have been madein Exideuil for over 70 years.More than 40 art workshops invite you to crosstheir thresholds during your journey alongthe Dordogne’s “Route des Métiers d’Art deDordogne”.DAY 4Limoges, A cradle of the artsLimoges is part of UNESCO’s network ofCreative Cities in the categories of CeramicArts and Innovation (porcelain, enamel, stainedglass).To visit: the porcelain factories (Bernardaud,Haviland, Royal Limoge), the Adrien DubouchéNational Porcelain Museum, the Four desCasseaux, the Musée des Beaux Arts for itsexceptional collection of medieval enamels. Onthe leather side, take a detour to the Westonfactory outlet, luxury shoes made in Limogessince 1891.Nearby: Saint-Junien (30 mins): visit theAgnelle glove factory, which makes glovesworn by Madonna and Beyoncé. Aubusson(1h30): visit the Cité Internationale de laTapisserie to discover the fascinating world oftapestry art, registered as UNESCO IntangibleCultural Heritage.DAY 5Cognac. Discover the cellars and the ageingprocess, the “paradise” as well as the secretsof distillation during a 1-hour guided tour, aworkshop or a tailor-made visit to one of theCognac houses. Do not miss the visit of theMuseum of Cognac Arts, in the centre of theold town. (See pages 6 and 12).DAY 6The wonders of the French Atlantic CoastVisit the salt marshes on the Île de Ré, whichproduce salt and fleur de sel. During the summer,the crystals are hand picked, dried and sieved toharvest the fleur de sel. It is used as a “final touch”in all recipes.The coast, a small oyster paradise: you can visit itsparks and enjoy them on the Île de Ré, Île d’Oléron, inthe Arcachon Bay, and the Hossegor marine lake. Don’tforget the oysters flavoured with ginger, shallot, muscator raspberries in Marennes, made by the companySo’ooh.New look surf clothes: The Bascoland coast, the cradleof surfing in Europe, is home to French-brand surfproducts and clothing. The pioneers of surfwear andsnowboard clothing are Oxbow in Bordeaux, the mostimportant in the sector, and Sooruz, in La Rochelle.Did you know? Aigle-brand boots, worn bysailors, are produced in Nouvelle-Aquitaine atIngrandes-sur-Vienne, and are handmade.www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.comSMART GUIDE ROUTES 13
