Aquitaine Things to Do

  Monument Aux Girondins
by Sambawalk
 
  • Monument Aux Girondins
      Monument Aux Girondins
    by Sambawalk
  • Hunting for oysters
      Hunting for oysters
    by PALLINA
  • The Fountain in the Square at Dusk
      The Fountain in the Square at Dusk
    by hquittner
  •   Things to Do
    by hivaoa1
  • Beach Bridge in Biarritz
      Beach Bridge in Biarritz
    by Roadquill
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The museum of the course Landaise.

by kokoryko

May be a short visit to this museum is the best introduction to the course Landaise; if you plan to stay a few days a 1-2 weeks in the Landes in summer you will have the opportunity to watch a course if you want; to understand a bit of what happens in the arena, a visit to the museum is helpful.There are 3 main display rooms and a small cinema.; in the cinema a video explains the origins of this sport, and the basic rules; history of the course landaise and glorification of the “heroes”.One of the rooms displays mainly costumes, a second room is dedicated to history and links with the corrida, the third room about links between landaise culture and course, and the fame hall!.You also can see that course Landaise and corrida inspired lots of artists, mainly poster designers like Cel Le Gaucher who is a local celebrity in Mont de Marsan (and the grand father of my sister in law!...

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Chateau des Milandes

by nhcram

Set in the beautiful countryside and overlooking the Dordogne valley is the former home of Josephine Baker. The black American singer, dancer, actress who turned her back on America to avoid the racism and took French nationality after living there for a number of years. She unfortunately lost the house due to financial collapse and was forcibly evicted in 1969. Such a terrible shame as she did so much for the French resistance and the campaigned for civil rights and equality in her native America.The chateau itself was built in 1489 and is of renaissance architecture.There are art deco bathrooms, gargoyles, stained glass windows large gardens and over 100 magnolia trees.

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Salies-de-Béarn - "Venetian" spa town

by aaaarrgh

The spa town of Salies is also known as the Venice of Béarn. Maybe because of its meandering river and the many old buildings, crowded close together like Venetian alleyways.It is also called the 'City of Salt', because of its local salt deposits, and has an annual Salt Festival.The whole town is extremely attractive, brimming full with ancient houses. Many have very distinctive Basque verandas and balconies. Others have rooftop terraces.The 14th century Eglise Saint Vincent is well worth a visit. There is a spa centre where you can have your ailments treated, bathed in the mineral waters. There is also a 'normal' public swimming pool.Maybe try the grand Hôtel du Parc for a hot drink and a cake, then marvel at its grand hall and dance floor.

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In the Southwest Edge of France

by hquittner

St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a small city (pop. 1700). It lies mostly on the right side of the river Nive (which flows north through town). The town is mostly made up of 16 &17C buildings. At the bank of the stream is the Eglise Notre Dame du Port. On the far side, a small hill heads to the porte d'Espagne which enters Spain 6 km on, first rising to the porte de Roncevaux. At the towngate the ramparts of the 17C are still in place. The pilgrim's road enters the town at the northeast.

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A Must Stop In This Part of France

by hquittner

In the 19C Pau was a resort town for rich English people. This is no longer true but it still remains pleasant. It is made relaxed by its beautiful Promenade des Pyrenees and the sight is especially enjoyable if the weather is clear to the south with views of the range of mountain peaks on view. This did not happen when we were there but luckily we were going directly east on later days and did see the display. There is a grand castle next to the Promenade in which Henri IV was born and where he lived for a while. It has many original items and more that have been returned and added so that it is a fine visit. The walk is on a bluff while below it a narrow spread of land next the Gave de Pau and a Gazebo and the lower end of a funicular up to the Promenade.

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Lescar Was Once the Population Center for Pau

by hquittner

Before the 12C Lescar was an important Cathedral center. It was only in about 1300, that Gaston Febus having taken over Bearn, decided that Pau shound be built up as head city. Slowly the importance of Lescar disappeared but the ancient church still stand s and is of interest for its age and its structure. Inside it there is a rare example of a large portion of the choir area that is a mosaic in the floor that is only seen in a few places at this time. There are also sculpted capitals atop pillars in the nave and some in the choir. Further carved figures cover the modilions around the east end on the outside. These are all 12C.

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From Jaca Spain via the Col du Somport to Oloron

by hquittner

The first city in France that we encountered as we headed north from the border was Oloron-Ste-Marie. We stayed near by. This provided us with the chance an early 12C church that had been used as a stop on the way to Compostela. At the time of its building this was the main town of Bearn. The church was started in 1102 by Gaston IV who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. There is a splendid facade under a porch on the west end that contains voussoirs with the 24 Elders of the Apocalypse and much more made with Pyrenees marble. It should be seen, as well as all the other details. It is one of the earliest examples of Romanesque monuments.

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Tarbes Is a Good Rest Stop

by hquittner

If you are traveling through Tarbes and wish to have a short stop, you will find a fine park in the northern part of the city called the Jardin Massey. Within it, they have reconstructed a cloister originally in St.-Sever-de-Rustan whose church still stands some 20km northeast of town which has a pond full of various ducks and peacocks. Also one can clearly view a large stretch of the Pyrenees to the South while driving by the area.

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Start At Bordeaux

by hquittner

Bordeaux is the fifth most populous French city and the second largest. It has an active intellectual life with a Grand Theater, site of all sorts of performing activities and a Museum of Fine Arts. There are interesting buildings and open spaces. The famous vineyards are nearby. We used it as a starting point for a car tour of the regions.

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In Perigueux Stop at St.-Front Cathedral

by hquittner

Perigueux (pop. 29.6K) has one of the few cathedrals utilizing a Greek Cross plan to dome vault its interior. This occurred in the 12C. In the 19C Paul Abadie remodeled the cathedral while adding thin minaret-like towers. This inspired him a little later to create Sacre-Coeur atop Montmartre in Paris which echoes this building

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Fun things to do in Aquitaine

Top 3 Hotels in Aquitaine

Quality Hotel St. Catherine  Bordeaux

 3 Reviews and 243 Opinions  Hotel is situated just off the main shopping street and close to many bars & restaurants, so very... 

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Kyriad Prestige Pau Centre  Pau

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Hotel Alcyon  Biarritz

 1 Review and 163 Opinions  this hotel is a small modern hotel situated in the heart of biarritz it is a lovely hotel and i... 

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1,017 Hotels in Aquitaine
 
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Things to Do: Cities in Aquitaine
  1. Bordeaux Things to Do
  2. Biarritz Things to Do
  3. Pau Things to Do
  4. Arcachon Things to Do
  5. Sarlat-la-Canéda Things to Do
  6. Saint-Émilion Things to Do
  7. Bayonne Things to Do
  8. Bergerac Things to Do
  9. Beynac-et-Cazenac Things to Do
  10. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Things to Do
  11. Saint-Jean-de-Luz Things to Do
  12. Hossegor Things to Do
  13. Duras Things to Do
  14. Domme Things to Do
  15. Bourdeilles Things to Do
  16. Monségur Things to Do
  17. La Roque-Gageac Things to Do
  18. Périgueux Things to Do
  19. Hourtin-Plage Things to Do
  20. Orthez Things to Do
  21. Les Eyzies-de-Tayac Things to Do
  22. Soulac-sur-Mer Things to Do
  23. Nérac Things to Do
  24. Sauveterre-de-Guyenne Things to Do
  25. Salies-de-Béarn Things to Do
  26. La Réole Things to Do
  27. Bazas Things to Do
  28. Brantôme Things to Do
  29. Nay Things to Do
  30. Libourne Things to Do
  31. Laruns Things to Do
  32. Castelmoron-d'Albret Things to Do
  33. Anglet Things to Do
  34. Saint-Jean-de-Côle Things to Do
  35. Hendaye Things to Do
  36. Cénac-et-Saint-Julien Things to Do
  37. Oloron-Sainte-Marie Things to Do
  38. Vitrac Things to Do
  39. Vertheuil-en-Médoc Things to Do
  40. Saint-Julien-Beychevelle Things to Do
  41. Lescun Things to Do
  42. Saint-Ferme Things to Do
  43. Saint-Amand-de-Coly Things to Do
  44. Preignac Things to Do
  45. Pellegrue Things to Do
  46. Pauillac Things to Do
  47. Lascaux Things to Do
  48. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont Things to Do
  49. Lescar Things to Do
  50. Beaumont-du-Périgord Things to Do
  51. Arthez-de-Béarn Things to Do
  52. Siorac-en-Périgord Things to Do
  53. Margaux Things to Do
  54. Calais Things to Do
  55. Ascain Things to Do
  56. Capbreton Things to Do
  57. Borce Things to Do
  58. Saint-Girons-en-Marensin Things to Do
  59. Montignac Things to Do
  60. Le Bugue Things to Do
  61. Fronsac Things to Do
  62. Cadouin Things to Do
  63. Buzet-sur-Baïse Things to Do
  64. Fort Médoc Things to Do
  65. Salignac Things to Do
  66. Saint-Geniès Things to Do
  67. Saint-Avit-Sénieur Things to Do
  68. Léognan Things to Do
  69. Dieulivol Things to Do

More Cities in Aquitaine

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  There are four of us who plan to spend four days in the Bordeaux area before setting off to Italy by road. We have only four days... 

Roadquill profile photo

A: "Best" depends on what you are most interested in. Cultural events, architecture, mountains, museums? This is also a bookmark as it will be interesting to see some of... 

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