Aquitaine Tourism


			Grotto of Lascaux Castle of Beynac	La Dordogne This medley of different shades of nature divides the Périgord into four regional colours: The Périgord Noir (Black) in the southeast, where the landscape is characterized by the oak forests of the Sarlat region. The Périgord Vert (Green) in the north, where the "Périgord Limousin Regional National Park" stretches out its green vegetation. The Périgord Blanc (White), in the central part of the region, is distinguished by its limestone hills and its chalky earth. And finally, the Périgord Pourpre (Crimson/Purple) in the southwest represents the wine, in this region of the vineyards. Périgueux : Surrounded by the beautiful mansions of the Midde Age and the Renaissance period, the Saint-Front cathedrale of Perigueux, built in the 12th century, has been restored in the 19th century ; as a part of the ancient Roman ruins’ vestiges with the arenas, the Vesone tower dominates the town with its 27 meters high. Near the Barriere’s castle, you ought to see the city old fortifications’ vestiges and the ancient Saint-Etienne-de-la-Cité cathedrale. A gastronomic and historical journey will take you from Sarlat to Bergerac from foie gras and specialities of Perigord to wines ; the department has great density of manors and castles (1,001) as Beynac, Fages (at Saint-Cyrien), Fenelon, Montfort, Montbazillac, Eymet (museum) and many fortified villages as La Roque-Gageac or Limeuil. In the outskirts of La Bugue, do not miss the swallow hole of Proumeyssac or the prehistoric grotto of Bara-Bahau .
			Marsillac	La Gironde Bordeaux : Crossing the Pierre's bridge on the Garonne river, you reach Bourgogne’s gate (18th century) among an architectural whole of Louis XV style on Victor Hugo quay. On your left hand, the Saint-Michel tower (Place Canteloup) is a vast gothic edifice. Going up the quay, you should see the Grosse-Cloche’s (Big-Bell) gate (15th century) then by the Pasteur quay you arrive at the Pey-Berland tower (Saint-André cathedrale out-building church tower) and the cathedrale beside. As a commercial main-road, Sainte-Catherine street leads to the Great Theater, place of the Comedie. You could also walk at random on the rivers of Garonne quays. Bordeaux and its region are reputed for their great wines as Sauternes and Barsac, Medoc, Saint-Emilion, Graves, Pomerol. While a tour, you ought to discover Arcachon, the Pilat-Plage (with the highest dune of Europe) ; at Leognan do not miss the Graves vineyards, then at Labrede the castle of Montesquieu, and La Prade or Preygnac (Yquem castle) ; at Malagar, you should see the house of the writer François Mauriac, and at Verdelais make a pilgrimage on the grave of the famous painter Toulouse-Lautrec.
				Les Landes Mont-de-Marsan : In Mont-de-Marsan, you should not miss its Romanian arenas as well as its museums like Wlerick-Despiaux, Dubalen. Other site you ought to visit are Dax (spa), Mimizan, Solférino (Napoléon III museum). On the coast, you have many seaside resorts as Hossegor, Cap-Breton, Biscarosse or Contis.
			Ruffiac's castle, Casteljaloux	Le Lot-et-Garonne Agen : Capital of the plum (and the prune), Agen is the greatest food market in the region. While a trip, you should see at Nerac the castle as well as the medieval bastions, churches or cloisters at Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Bauville or Lauzun. Stop at Miramont-de-Guyenne to sample an Armagnac and at Casteljaloux to drink the wines of Buzet hillsides.
			Biarritz Saint-Jean-de-Luz	Les Pyrénées-atlantique Pau : In Pau, the birth castle of king Henri IV presents a collection of the Gobelins and Flanders tapestry works. The museum of Bearn is also located inside. At the fine-Arts museum, you could admire works of Zubarán, the Greco, Degas or Rodin. The Pyrenees’ Boulevard gives a panoramic view on pyrenean montain range from Midi peak of Bigorre to Anie peak. Do not miss to visit at Biarritz furthermore the casino, the sea museum ; at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, its citadel and ramparts ; the Edmond-Rostand museum and the villa Arnanga at Combo-les-Bains ; the Sainte-Croix church and the Sainte-Marie cathedrale at Oleron-Sainte-Marie ; the Basque and Leon Bonnat museums at Bayonne ; the Moncade’s tower, the Pont-Vieux (Old-Bridge) and the house of Jeanne d'Albret at Orthez. Beyond a promenade in Pyrenees’ national park, the region possesses many spas as Salie-de-Bearn (Bellocq castle), Combo-les-Bains, Eaux-Bonnes and for ski lovers many stations (Arette-la-Pierre-Saint-Martin, Gourette, Artouste) and for those who prefer seaside many resorts as Anglet, Biarritz, Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de Luz.