TRAVELAquitaine GUIDE
www.oliverstravels.com Aquitaine’s reputation as a varied and enchanting destination is well-earned – whether you’re looking for relaxation or excitement, this beautiful part of south-western France is a feast for every one of the senses. To make sure you’re getting the very best of your holiday (and to clue you up if you’re thinking of going) check out our wonderful travel guide – it’s full of tips, info and the things you really shouldn’t miss when you visit unforgettable Aquitaine.
AQUITAINE 101
CURRENCY EURO TIME ZONE GMT +1 ELECTRICAL TWO PIN ROUND HIGEST TEMP. 30° C LANGUAGE FRENCH LOWEST TEMP. 5° C
EMERGENCY 112 PEAK SEASON APRIL - SEPT
www.oliverstravels.com TRANSPORT TALK
BY WHEELS BY BIKE BY TAXI
Aquitaine covers such a Cyclists who hit the roads When it comes to taxi large area that your best of Aquitaine will find services Aquitaine has bet for covering a decent themselves well catered many options available. chunk of it is to rent a car. to, with many parts of the You will find ranks in Driving will also give you region equipped with town centers as well as the freedom to travel to segregated bike lanes outside train stations. the quaint rarely explored and safe cycle tracks. corners.
BY WATER BY AIR BY BUS OR TRAIN
The most direct ferry Fly directly from the UK Aquitaine has a well- ports accessible to to Bordeaux, Bergerac or functioning rail network, Aquitaine are the North Biarritz airport. There are with the main line running West ones, these include flights from other from Paris Gare Roscoff and St Malo Port, destinations to Montparnasse to which are both served by Pau airport and Agen Bordeaux, Bayonne, Brittany ferries. airport.. Biarritz and Hendaye.
www.oliverstravels.com HIDDEN GEMS AND ACTIVITIES
Brantôme Horse Sanctuary Limeuil Lacanau Meet the folks who take Limeuil might just take At Lacanau, you’ll find a workhorses at Brantôme the biscuit when it superb stretch of sandy Police Horse Sanctuary. shoreline with incoming comes to beauty and rollers crashing in. charm.
Bergerac
Bordeaux
Céou River The idyllic, refreshingly cool waters of the Céou River – a tributary of the Dordogne, provide Bayonne welcome relief on a hot summer’s day.
Espelette A pleasant Basque village in the Pyrenees foothills that’s known for its red chilli peppers.
Hidden Gems Picks for Kids Best Activities Foodie Delights TOP PICKS FOR KIDS
Spot Feathery Friends Storm the Castle Enjoy a Play Day
Aquitaine is stunningly There are plenty of There’s one thing all kids beautiful! Get the kids castles throughout the love, and that’s theme interested in nature with Aquitaine region that are parks. For a water park Le Teich Bird Reserve sure to fire up the kid’s with a difference, Located on the shores of imaginations. Bonaguil try AquaPark. Inflatables Arcachon Bay, this nature Castle has loads of stuff out in the open water reserve makes a great for young visitors to with assault courses and day trip for the whole explore, including tunnels trampolines? This water family! and dungeons! park is Kid Heaven!
Peer Into the Past Climb a Lighthouse Trot Away the Day
France is famous for For many young ones, Centre Équestre Marina gastronomy, so cooking lighthouses are what they has access to trails in with the kids using some recognise from the pages both the Landes Forest local ingredients makes a of storybooks. With and along the ocean. It’s great activity. At Cordouan Lighthouse, the 10 docile ponies await Ecomusée de Marqueze adventure to get there is your little riders, with the kids can even learn to a reason enough to sturdier steeds for adults. make delicious traditional come, let alone the 301 Choose from beginner pastries. steps to the top. lessons to more advance..
www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR KIDS
Climb a Lighthouse
Bergerac
Bordeaux Spot Feathery Friends Storm the Castle Enjoy a Play Day
Peer into the Past Trot away the Day
Bayonne CROWD-PLEASERS: BEST GROUP ACTIVITIES
Take the Handlebars Paddle Downstream Learn to Surf
Aquitaine offers varied Take to Aquitaine's water! Learn to surf! Aquitaine landscapes from coastal there’s plenty of activities has some of the best marshes to inland forests, available and if you fancy surfing in Europe, with perfect to be explored by something a bit more Biarritz in particular bike. Bike Hire Direct is a hands-on. Try Brantome proving popular with great place to hire some Canoe hire canoes out for boarders. Surf en Buch cycles from. They’ll even a trip down the river can sort you out with provide a free delivery Dronne making an equipment and lessons. and collection service. exciting day out!
Visit Forgotten Islands Test Your Mettle Watch a Basque Sport
If your friends or family Nothing bonds like a buzz In Aquitaine’s Basque have their hopes set on from the lashing of Country, Cesta Punta – utter relaxation rather adrenaline you are able also called jai alai – is the than adventure, to experience while sport of choice. Cesta Bordeaux River Cruise canyoning in the Punta in Saint-Jean-de- offer a much less Pyrenees. And With Luz is the best place to physically demanding Experience Canyon you'll watch the game which is way to exploring the be sure to keep the extremely competitive, waterways of Aquitaine. whole group entertained! but easy to understand .
www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR GROUPS
Bergerac Paddle Downstream Bordeaux Visit Forgotten Islands Learn to Surf
Take the Handlebars
Bayonne
Watch a Basque Sport
Test your Mettle BEST FOODIE DELIGHTS
Les Frères Ibarboure
Les Belles Perdrix Chateau Cantenac
Les Belles Perdrix de For a truly refined French Chateau Cantenac is a Troplong Mondot is a dining experience, Les delightful winery found in combined restaurant and Frères Ibarboure in Bidart Saint-Émilion, which as winery that excels at offers a grand 18th any good connoisseur pairing the right wine with Century dining room and knows is right at the heart your meal. Try this equally impressive food, of the world’s best wines. experience completed with a range of French Start off by learning with breath-taking views traditional classics to about the Roskam- of the local vineyards. choose from. Brunots, before a tasting.
Chez Martin Briketenia
Dishes to Try
Bayonne’s Chez Martin is Aquitaine is famed for its Fancy a little fine a pretty hip restaurant duck and goose dishes, dining? Briketenia might serving delicate dishes in so you’d be crazy not to be hidden in the hills an artisanal style – but it’s try some of the local of Guéthary, but its not so formal that the confit de canard. Michelin star and whole family won’t be The region of Périgord is superlative food is well welcome too. Be sure to where you’ll find some of worth searching out! Be book in advance to the world’s best black sure to try there tasting guarantee a table! truffles. menu.
www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR FOODIES
Bergerac Chateau Cantenac Bordeaux
Les Belles Perdrix
Chez Martin Bayonne Les Freres Ilbarboure Briketenia We’d like to think we know travel pretty well. Since we first hatched Oliver’s Travels in 2003 it’s been essentially all we’ve talked about. You could call us obsessed.
Our extensive blog, Oliver’s Journal has got tons of information and inspiration on locations across Europe and the Caribbean. It’s a one-stop shop for family-friendly holiday fun, the best group activities, foodie finds and a good dose of adventure. If you found this travel guide useful, (we hope you did!), you can find a whole host more on the blog, too!
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