From the lighthouse at Cordouan to Arcachon Bay, there's happiness for everyone along the 120 km of beaches on the Gironde coast: swimming, surfing, windsurfing on the Grands Lacs, cycling in the forest of maritime pines or even climbing the famous dune at Pyla... Unless you prefer a canter along the beach or in the nearby vineyards... Walkers, anyone who loves nature and heritage, all are welcome in Gironde. And all year round there are events and local festivals to enjoy.
Ruled by the tides, Arcachon Bay lives in rhythm with the oyster farmers, with its many oyster farms and small, traditional harbours, where you can enjoy the local oysters washed down with a glass of Entre-Deux-Mers.
The recently created "Route de l'Huître" [Oyster Trail], which can be experienced on foot or by pinasse (a local flat-bottomed boat) is the best way to savour the exceptional landscapes and colours that make this "inland sea", cradled by the Atlantic, so special: the Ile aux Oiseaux, a bird reserve, the "tchanquées" or cabins on stilts, the Arguin sandbank, the Pyla dune...
And a stop in the Arcachon winter resort is a must, for a journey into the heart of an old-fashioned resort town!
Châteaux, bastide towns, abbeys, mills, mediaeval villages: in Gironde, history is never far away. Wherever you are, you will see the pale yellow stone which gives its monuments a special majesty. A stroll through Saint-Emilion, Saint-Macaire or Bazas, or a tour of Bordeaux, and you'll be convinced.
Nature in Gironde has its own treasures: in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park you can take a canoe trip up the river Leyre – known hereabouts as the "little Amazon", or a mini-cruise up the estuary in a barge...
Almost 1000 km of cycle trails and 2750 km of footpaths are open to the public, and golf enthusiasts have plenty on offer as well: with the "Bordeaux-Gironde golf-pass" you can try a number of different courses!
Its mild climate and very fertile soil make Gironde a land where good living finds its full expression.
Don't miss the colourful markets and their fresh produce (shad and lamprey from the Estuary, beef from Bazas, lamb from Pauillac) highly valued by gourmets who maintain the weekly tradition of a pre-dinner snack of white shrimp in aniseed or the local sausage, grenier médocain.
A tasting in the intimate atmosphere of a wine estate's cellars is proof enough, if proof were needed, of how wine is celebrated in Gironde. Don't even think of enjoying a plate of foie gras, an entrecôte steak, a canelé bordelais pastry or a few Saint-Emilion macaroons without a glass of wine as well!
Marne
( 51 )
An holyday rental for 200 €
A trip low price
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Tarn
( 81 )
From the Montagne Noire, the southern tip of the Massif Central, to the wide, tranquil plains of the Agout and Tarn rivers, and from the rugged unspoilt Ségala region to the rounded hills of the Vaurais, gateway to the sprawling plains of the Lauragais, the Tarn offers an enormou...
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Destination:
Gironde
