Vacation Rentals in Aquitaine
World > Europe > France > Aquitaine
Travel destination Aquitaine.
You can choose from 1578 vacation rentals and holiday rentals.
Search within this region with detailed search options.
|
Destination
|
|
(336)
Arcachon (7), Arčs (7), Bazas (1), Bordeaux (12), Gaillan-en-Medoc (2), Hourtin (11), Lacanau (22), Lacanau-Océan (252), Le Porge (4), Le Teich (11), Ludon-Médoc (1), Montalivet-les-Bains (3), Moulon-sur-Dordogne (1), Queyrac (2)
|
|
|
(272)
Arjuzanx (1), Biscarrosse (9), Capbreton (30), Cauna (1), Hossegor (28), Laluque (1), Léon (8), Linxe (3), Messanges (8), Mimizan (143), Mimizan-Plage (5), Ondres (6), Seignosse (27), Tarnos (1), Tosse (1)
|
|
Overview of Aquitaine
|
| Size |
|
41,309 sq km (15,950 sq mi) |
|
| Population |
|
3,072,000 |
|
| Language |
|
French is the official language. |
|
| Time Zone |
|
1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). |
|
| Electricity |
|
220 V, 50 Hz. Generally, round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use. |
|
| Clothing |
|
Light- to medium weights and rainwear, according to the season. |
|
| Religion |
|
Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%. |
|
| Currency |
|
Euro (EUR)
Currency Converter |
|
Location of Aquitaine
|
|
Aquitaine forms a region in south-western France along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees
mountain range on the border with Spain. The "land of water" has Europe’s largest forest – Les Landes
is over 5,000 sq km of pine trees and longest coastline - Cote d’Argent 250 km of sandy beach.
Europe’s largest river estuary – la Gironde stretches 9 kms from north to south bank and flows a
full 70 kms before it splits into the Garonne and Dordogne rivers at Bordeaux. Aquitaine is the
world’s largest wine-growing region, producing 500 million litres per year of famous wines such as
Medoc, St Emilion, Pomerol and Sauternes.
|
Climate of Aquitaine
|
|
Aquitaine enjoys a climate moderated by the Atlantic. Warm days begin in May, while summers are
hot with the heat lingering into golden September and October to ripen the grapes. The Dordogne
has warm days beginning in mid-April, and by May the meadows are a riot of wild flowers. July and
August are hot, whilst in September and October the warm sun melts away the morning mists.
|
Best Time to Travel to Aquitaine
|
|
With its wide range of fascinating places to visit, Aquitaine is inevitably packed to the gills
in August, so unless you want to share the beaches or menhirs with thousands of French holidaymakers,
you might want to choose a different time to go. In June, September and early October the weather is
pleasing and good for walking: there's still quite a bit of warmth in the air (and the water, thanks
to the Gulf Stream) and the rain won't be quite so heavy. The winter can be bleak, particularly
along the coast, but frequent mists can add to the mystery of the interior.
|
Attractions in Aquitaine
|
Stretching some 200 km long, the coastline is, and has always been, the dominant physical feature
of the region. Let's start with the pristine beaches: they are the only ones in France where surfing
is possible - in fact, that's where the best surfing is available for the whole of Europe! The sand
dunes, including the Dune du Pyla, are the highest in Europe. The Bay of Arcachon is home to a beach
resort which became popular in the 19th century, and is very crowded and very lively in the summer.
The Bordelais is a 1000 sq km area around the city of Bordeaux and is, along with Burgundy, France's
largest wine-producing region (producing some 870 million bottles of red, white and rose wines in 1998).
Bordeaux has over 5,000 chateaux (not necessarily royal or palatial residences, but properties where
grapes are raised and wine produced). Bordelais offers a quiet retreat, and its flat layout is ideal
for golf courses, some of the best in France being located there.
Aquitaine is divided into four areas, (each assigned a colour based on its most prominent features),
Perigord is one of the country's favorist tourist spots, attracting many European tourists
some of whom end up buying secondary residences there. The Perigord Vert (green) has many forests and
fields, and lies to the north and northwest. The center, where the capital (Perigueux) is, is made of
limestone and got the name of Perigord Blanc (white). The Perigord Pourpre (purple) owes its name to
the wine-producing area in the southwest, around the city of Bergerac. And the Perigord Noir (black)
is known for its dark forests and many chateaux. It encompasses the Vezere Valley and part of the
Dordogne Valley to the south and is home to such world-class sites as the medieval city of
Sarlat-La-Caneda and the prehistoric sites around Les Eyzies.
The Pays Basque is a small world of its own. The ancestors of Basques are among the ancient
inhabitants of Europe, and their origins are still unknown as are the origins of Euskara, their
language, except it was spoken long before the Romans brought Latin to the Iberian Peninsula.
The Basque country covers some of the highest mouintains in France, and many natural parks are
the ideal place for a hike. It is also in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The coastal town of Biarritz,
became famous in the 19th century when Emperor Napoleon III and his spanish-born wife, Eugenie
and the imperial court became regular visitors.
|
Events in Aquitaine
|
|
If summer is the ideal period to have fun, you won’t be disappointed with many different festivals
the Aquitaine region has to offer. From the medieval festivals in the Dordogne and the Lot et Garonne
to the colourful feasts in the Basque Country, there is always some events which will suit your wishes.
Enjoy the May Cheese Festival in Rocamadour. Mid June-mid July awaits you with the Festival of Pau - theatre,
dance and music. July offers Jazz Festival in Soulliac, Blues Festival in Cahors and Music Festival in Sarlat.
Mid July is famous for the Biarritz Surf Festival. Mid July-mid August Summer of Music in Bergerac.
Throughout the summer months, the Landes Atlantic coast is ideal for strolling through the pine forests and
water temperature depending, dipping in the ocean for some surfing and swimming at Hossegor, one of the
numerous coastal resorts. If you are a lover of historical sites and monuments, Aquitaine has some
very special sites: from the Lascaux caves in Dordogne to the 18th-century architecture of Bordeaux,
from modern cities to charming fortified medieval villages in Lot-et-Garonne.
|
Food in Aquitaine
|
Aquitaine, in South West France, is known as the land of quality of life. It offers all the facets of its
bountiful and luxuriant nature, from its wines and gastronomy to the beauty of its heritage and the
joys of its sports. Aquitaine abounds with time-honoured recipes and new cuisine, with local specialities
like truffles and foie gras to whet the appetite of the gourmet. The South West is a top producer of Foie Gras,
Duck confit and its Blonde d'Aquitaine is one of the finest beef meats available anywhere. Let's not
forget the Bayonne ham and the Poulet Landais. And, as if this were not enough, you should not miss
the oysters produced in Arcachon, as they are truly the best you can possible have. Fortunately for you,
there is Aquitaine asperagus (a must for asperagus-lovers worldwide), the Pruneaux d'Agen (the best
dried prunes you've ever had!) and black truffle, (the finest mushroom this side of the ether).
Arguably, the world's best wines are produced in Aquitaine. A trip to the Bordeaux region is not only a
feast on the palate, it is the ultimate experience in history, gastronomy, culture, all rolled into a
cholestorol-ladden, calorie-rich, unforgettable culinary moment. And then there's the wine! Margaux,
Pauillac, Saint-Emilion, Sauterne are just a few miles apart. Lesser-known regional wines includes great
finds, such as Monbazillac, Jurancon, Bergerac, Entre-Deux Mers, Cahors, and Madiran. In fact, the whole
region is ripe with hundreds of variety of different wines.
|
Society in Aquitaine
|
|
Relax and enjoy a slower pace of life in the gently rolling countrysides of Aquitaine, the very
essence of traditional, rural France. These are regions rich in history, where fortified medieval
villages and castles dominate the hill-tops, and ancient honey-coloured farmhouses nestle amongst
fertile fields, woodland and vineyards. Take time to discover what makes these areas special, be
it the locally produced Armagnac brandy, the wonderfully rich cuisine, or the excellent Bordeaux
wines which have given Aquitaine a worldwide reputation for wine production.
|
|
