Between ocean and mountains, vineyards and forests, Aquitaine offers an incredible range of landscapes. It also offers an outstanding heritage where prehistoric sites, castles, medieval cities and exceptional towns are revealed.
With its 240 kilometers of fine sandy beaches, Aquitaine is first and foremost an oceanic destination. A real paradise for surfers, the region has incredible, internationally renowned spots: Lacanau, Hossegor, Biarritz... But many other water sports activities await you: stand-up paddle, kite-surfing, sailing, diving... If you prefer to stay on dry land, take the many paths and greenways that criss-cross Aquitaine on foot or by bike: along the Canal des Deux Mers, on the paths of Santiago de Compostela or on the Vélodyssée. Take advantage of the most beautiful golf courses in France to learn or play golf, in Pau, for example, where the oldest golf course in continental Europe is located.
Then discover the main cities of the region and their extraordinary heritage. Start with the regional capital, Bordeaux, which impresses with its many 18th century buildings. Take the promenade along the quays to admire the Miroir d'eau, facing the Place de la Bourse, and then enjoy the Saint-André cathedral, the Pey-Berland Tower, the Grand Théâtre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. In Pau, contemplate the magnificent panorama of the Pyrenees, visit the national castle museum and the national stud farm. Then go to Bayonne for its ramparts, its Sainte-Marie cathedral and its Basque museum, to Périgueux for its Gallo-Roman remains, its medieval district and its Saint-Front cathedral, and to the beautiful resorts of the coast (Lacanau, Arcachon, Biarritz...) for their incomparable charm.
A land of wide open spaces, Aquitaine invites you to explore its unmissable natural sites: the Dune du Pilat, the Basque coastline, the Pyrenees National Park, the Dordogne Valley... It also invites you to discover numerous vineyards (Médoc, Montbazillac...), the beautiful villages of the Basque country (Ainhoa, Sare...), the magnificent bastides of the Lot-et-Garonne (Vianne, Villeréal...), the perched castles of the Perigord (Castelnaud, Beynac...), the prehistoric sites of Dordogne (Lascaux, La Roque-Saint-Christophe...), without forgetting the superb towns of Sarlat, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port... You will have understood it, in Aquitaine, you will go from surprises to wonders. The region is also famous for its irresistible local products: oysters, foie gras, Bayonne ham, Basque cheeses, wines...
