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Aquitaine is in southwest France. The administrative capital is Bordeaux. It comprises the departements of Dordogne,
Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The climate is extremely wet. Red wines (Margaux, St Julien)
are produced in the Médoc district, bordering the Gironde. Fishing and tourism are important industries.
From the flat, sandy plains and pine forests of the Landes to the beautiful lagoon of the Bassin d’Arcachon...
Aquitaine is immensely diverse. The coastline has 270km (170 miles) of beaches and the 30km (20 miles) or so from
Hossegor to Hendaye fall within the Basque area and offer some of the best surfing in Europe.
Landes is a region of sand dunes and pine forests. Over the ceturies Atlantic waves piled up a long coastine of dunes
- the highest in Europe - and westerly gales had whipped the sand inshore creating a treeless desert that was increasing every year threatening the
Bordeaux wine growing regions.
In the early 19th century the dunes were stablised by the sowing of gorse and pine seedlings. Now Landes is probably the richest timber area of
France.
Bordeaux is one of the best and most established wine growing regions in France, with brandy lovers
visiting the town of Cognac. Towards the Pyrenees a Spanish feel takes hold in the popular resorts of
Bayonne and Biarritz.
The valley of the Dordogne provides a sharp contrast...ideal for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horse
riding and cycling.
- Regional information for Dordogne, Aquitaine
 Northeast Dordogne is often referred to as 'le Perigord Vert' due to its green rolling hills, forests and
prairies. 'Le Perigord Blanc' or white Perigord is defined by the limestone plateaus in the centre and 'le
Perigord pourple' or purple Perigord by the vineyards of the Dordogne valley.
- Regional information for Garonne, Aquitaine
From the laid-back feel of the charming city of Agen to the Lot valley with its strong, cultural identity,
this department has great depth. The vineyards of the Duras region are worth investigating along with its excellent wines, figs & prunes,
truffle and foie gras production.
- Regional information for Gironde, Aquitaine
La Gironde is the largest department in France - 126 kms of sandy coast backed by 480,000 hectares of pine
trees to the east. Inland there are numerous lakes and rivers. The Gironde estuary is the largest in Europe and is the only place you'll find
the endangered sturgeon species.
- Regional information for Landes, Aquitaine
Two main features distinguish the Landes. The long stretch of coast and shifting sand dunes, and the vast
pine forests planted to stabilise the sand dunes. It is from these two features that the Landes derives its wealth - tourism, to the coastal resorts in the
summer months, and sales of pinewood and its derivatives.
- Regional information for Pyrenees-Atlantique, Aquitaine
With the Atlantic to the West and the Pyrenees to the South, the Pyrenees Atlantiques is a department of
outstanding natural beauty. The snow capped peaks, gorges, caves and waterfalls have inspired many poets & writers including Hugo and
Lamartine.
- Aquitaine food and drink
 Aquitaine enjoys great food and wine. Bordeaux is a major wine producing area, while the Bassin d’Arcachon, a natural inland
sea with the largest beach in Europe, produces 90% of the country’s mussels.
- Aquitaine weather and climate
 Annual precipitation exceeds 30 inches (800 mm) outside Lot-et-Garonne and southern
Dordogne and increases toward the Pyrenees. An oceanic climate prevails.
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