nouvelle-aquitaine

120 Pages·2017·7.6 MB·English

N O UVE LLE -AQ U ITAI N E
Sales Manual - 2018
www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com
Copyright :
F. Roch ; S. Charbeau ; Camus ; Le Studio Photographique ; Charente Tourisme/C.Mariot ; S. Ouzounoff ; S. Laval ; St Gelais ; Villa Claude ; OT Rochefort Océan/M. Domenici ; F. Marzo ;
Images et émotion ; Ile d'Oléron Marennes Tourisme ; Aquarium La Rochelle ; Mer et forêt ; CDCHS/V.Sabadel ; F. Giraudon ; J. Chauvet ; Montgolfière du Pinson ; Novotel ; J. Villégier ; T.
Richard ; Laurent REIZ ; Pau Pyrénées Tourisme ; Cité du vin ; OTEM ; M. Turin ; Dominique Guillemain ; Romann RAMSHORN ; Eric Roger ; CRT Limousin/Bruno Chanet ; Guillaume
Villégier; Ph. Labeguerie ; J.L. Kokel ; A. Dang ; J. Damase ; Mon nuage ; A. Pequin ; C. Marlier B. Bloch ; J.J. Brochard ; C. Fialeix ; G. De Laubier ; L. Aubergarde ; C. Boute ; Casson Mann;
A. Pequin
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Nouvelle-AquitaineTourist Board - Sales Manual 2018
Editorial
Nouvelle-Aquitaine spirit
L'esprit "Nouvelle vague"
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region in France. It is as diverse
as it is surprising, with nature, the great outdoors, vibrant cities
and legendary beaches. So, no matter what type of holidays
you’re looking for, there’s bound to be a destination for you.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine conjures up famous places, like Bordeaux
and the city of wine, Lascaux and the Dordogne Valley (which
attracted more than 500,000 visitors in its very first year after ope-
ning), Biarritz and the Basque Country, Poitiers and Futuroscope
(where visitor numbers grew by 6%), Cognac, Pau and the Pyre-
nees, or Limoges and its skilled craftsmanship.
But there is also 750 km of fine sandy coastline, with ports from
Michel DURRIEU
Bayonne to La Rochelle, or the 110-metre-high Dune du Pilat and
Managing Director of
islands like the Ile de Ré and the Ile d’Oléron. It’s increasingly
easy to get to Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Bordeaux is just 2 hours from Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional
Paris by high-speed rail link (LGV), Biarritz, 3 hours 55 min, Futu- Tourism Committee
roscope, 2 hours 20 min and La Rochelle just 2 hours 25 min. An
8% rise in international flight connections has slashed distances
and travel times even more.
All this diversity attracts more than 27 million tourists each year
and we’re aiming for 32 million by 2020! The region’s appeal is
based a spirit of sharing, fun-loving, welcoming and gourmet spi-
rit, one that embodies the quality of life that you’ll find in gastro-
nomy and fine dining.
We love sharing this inquisitive and innovative spirit with all those
who come to visit us.
So, see you soon in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
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GOOD REASONS TO DISCOVER
THE Nouvelle-Aquitaine REGION
◉
720 4
kilometres of coastline with sandy beaches and is-
lands : Ré, Oléron, Aix and Madame.
◉
Our sunny climate.
◉
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famous wine-growing areas : Bordeaux and Cognac.
◉
1 4
sizeable metropolitan area : Bordeaux and important KEY NUMBERS :
urban agglomerations : Poitiers, Bayonne, Pau and Limoges.
◉ 5.8 million inhabitants
◉ ◉ 83,339 square kilometres
Many UNESCO listed cities, monuments such as St Sa- the largest region of France
vin-sur-Gartempe abbey, the town of Bordeaux, St Emi- ◉ 10 airports including 7 international :
lion... Bergerac, Biarritz, Bordeaux, La Rochelle,
Limoges, Pau and Poitiers.
◉ ◉ 2 maritime ports : Bordeaux, La Rochelle
Great destination for arts and crafts : Aubusson tapestries, ◉ 27 million tourists
Limoges enamel, ceramics such as porcelain, leather indus- ◉ 85,334 employees in the tourism sector
try...
◉
A specific way of life and gastronomy of the South-West : foie
gras, caviar, oysters, salt, goat's cheese...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
◉
Winter sports in the Pyrénées and water sports on the At-
lantic coast.
EDITORIAL p.3
◉ NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE SPIRIT P.5
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types of landscapes from the ocean to the mountains,
DESTINATION S
lakes to marshes and forests : - Bordeaux city, Bordeaux wine area P.10
the Pyrénées, - Atlantic Coast P.25
the Landes forests, - Biarritz and Basque Country P.41
the Pilat Sandy Dune, - Pyrénées P.49
the Marais poitevin, also named the Green Venice, - Dordogne Valley and Gascony P.52
the Dordogne Valley, - Cognac Country P.65
- Poitiers - Futuroscope P.80
Vassivière Lake.
- Limousin P.84
◉ - Marais poitevin P.92
5 Nature Parks : CYCLING HOLIDAYS P.95
Périgord Limousin, A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE P. 103
Marais poitevin, EVENTS / FESTIVALS 2018 P. 107
PRACTICAL GUIDE P. 112
Landes,
Plateau des Millevaches in Limousin,
Pyrénées national park
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Nouvelle-AquitaineTourist Board - Sales Manual 2018
Nouvelle-Aquitaine spirit
Festive and sporting spirit
There’s no end of cultural activities, with museums,
strolls in small, charming villages, visits to UNESCO
world heritage sites or a multitude of festivals. What’s
more, the people of Nouvelle-Aquitaine haven’t lost
their reputation as revellers. After-work get-togethers
are legendary, and the ferias are unmissable events
for everyone.
The quality of life in Nouvelle-Aquitaine is also down
to its surroundings. Whether you like the peace of the
mountains or crashing waves, look no further. The At-
lantic coast is the birthplace of surfing in Europe and
riding the waves is a real religion. Each year, skiers of
all levels are drawn to the region’s 3 stunning resorts,
hidden away in the Pyrenees. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is
the top destination for winter sports lovers.
The region also has 4,200 km of bike paths, 51 golf
courses, and esteemed and renowned horse racing
industry and 40 marinas.
Welcoming spirit and
Finally, Nouvelle-Aquitaine’s cultural identity also co-
mes the ultimate team game, that binds people to- ‘art de vivre’
gether and is steeped in sporting and moral values.
Yes, rugby! Nouvelle-Aquitaine has FRANCE’S biggest outdoor
tourism accommodation offer, but the region also
has unique and original places to stay, unforgettable
experiences with local people, together with char-
ming and prestigious hotels. Spending the night in a
regional nature park, experiencing life’s pleasures in
towns and villages is all about enjoying your time in
amazing places. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is synonymous
with well-being. Spa therapies, fine dining, culture,
sailing, river tourism and visiting vineyards are the re-
gion’s trump cards.
This year, nearly 28 million tourists visited Nou-
velle-Aquitaine. Many came for short breaks, summer
holidays, business meetings, conferences or trade
shows, for a cultural or sporting events, or simply to
visit their families.
Gourmet spirit
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is FRANCE’S top culinary region
for the quality or its products AND the country’s lar-
gest farming region too. There’s foie gras from the
Périgord, apples from Limousin, oysters from Ma-
rennes-Oléron or Arcachon, caviar and cannelés
bordelaise cakes. Eating is sacred in Nouvelle-Aqui-
taine! Plus, any meal in Nouvelle-Aquitaine wouldn’t
be complete without a glass of local wine. With 20%
of FRANCE’S vineyards, the region boasts some of
the most famous French AOC wines.
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Sales Manual
2018
D
Bordeaux
Atlantic Coast
E
Biarritz - Pays-Basque
Pau - Pyrenees
S
Dordogne Valley
Cognac
T
Poitiers Futuroscope
Limoges - Aubusson
I Marais Poitevin
N
A
T
I
O
N
S
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www.visit-nouvelle-aquitaine.com
Nouvelle-Aquitaine spirit, 8 essentials
1 – Bordeaux Poitevin marsh and the highest sand dune in Europe,
the Dune of Pilat). It’s no wonder that in 2017 Conde
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous
Nast Traveller named the Ile de Ré, Cap-Ferret and
the world over for its Bordeaux wine and vineyards,
Biarritz the “Best Beach Holiday in France and Eu-
especially since its heyday in the 18th century. It is
rope”!
home to the Cité du Vin, the city’s new emblem. It
lies on the banks of the Garonne and encapsulates
French lifestyle. Bordeaux was named “European 3 - Biarritz Basque Country
Best Destination 2015”, came 2nd in the New York
The town of Biarritz on the Basque coast is a stylish
Times’ list of places to go in 2016 and was on the
and glamorous sea resort. Its warm climate, beaches,
Lonely Planet’s best in travel for 2017. The city has
19th century palaces and history have sealed its repu-
become a popular tourist destination for internatio-
tation. Biarritz is now famous for its thalassotherapy,
nal visitors all year round. It is now just 2 hours from
golfing, surfing and shopping. You can soak up the
Paris on the LGV train.
nearby French Basque Country and everything it has
to offer
2 - Atlantic coast
Nouvelle-Aquitaine’s coastline runs over 720km and 4 - The Pyrenees - Pau
is staggeringly beautiful with sandy dunes lapped by
The Pyrenees National Park straddles France and
the Atlantic Ocean and a huge maritime pine forest
Spain and is world-famous for its peaks and signa-
in the background. Here you’ll find classic sea resorts,
ture stages in the Tour de France. Visitors to Pau can
magical islands (île de Ré, île d’Aix etc.), amazing
explore the château where Henri IV, King of France
cultural heritage (La Rochelle, Rochefort, Bayonne
and Navarre, was born and sample the city’s signa-
etc.) and fabulous natural landscapes (Arcachon Bay,
ture “poule au pot” served with local Jurançon wine.
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Nouvelle-AquitaineTourist Board - Sales Manual 2018
5 – Lascaux – Sarlat 7 – Poitiers - Futuroscope
An hour from Bordeaux and 80 minutes from Paris,
The dordogne valley
explore the beloved city of Eleanor of Aquitaine who
The UNESCO-listed Dordogne is one of the largest was Queen of France then Queen of England in the
biosphere reserves in the world. Its unique lands- 13th century. Poitiers has a fantastic variety of Roman
capes with steep cliffs dotted with stunning châ- art sites and monuments that reflect its vibrant me-
teaux, prehistoric caves, listed picturesque villages dieval past. Don’t miss the nearby UNESCO-listed
and more make it an amazing destination. The new Saint Savin Abbey! Get your adrenalin pumping at
Lascaux site near the Vézère Valley takes visitors back Futuroscope, a top French theme park with fun for
18,000 years to meet history’s first artists. all the family.
6 - Cognac 8 – Limoges – Aubusson
The city is where King François I was born and it is Limoges is listed as a UNESCO Creative City because
the place to experience its amber nectar 90 minutes of its porcelain that adorns the world’s best tables.
from Bordeaux. The king of spirits is a high standard Whilst here you can visit the Musée National de la
product made using age-old expertise. Learn the se- Porcelaine Adrien Dubouché and famous factories
crets behind it with a trip to the biggest brands such such as Bernardaud and Haviland. Aubusson’s wor-
as Henessy, Martell and Courvoisier. ld renown for tapestries has been set in stone by its
expertise being made UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage. Make sure you visit the Cité internationale
de la tapisserie!
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Bordeaux city and wine area
B C
ORDEAUX ITY
Among the vineyards, near the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyre-
Bordeaux
nees mountains, Bordeaux proudly raises its splendid facades
on the banks of the Garonne river.
Bordeaux is the first urban area to be distinguished by the
BORDEAUX Tourist Office
UNESCO with such a vast and complex boundary. Its clas-
Mrs Caroline GUÉRIN
sic and neo-classic architecture has seen barely and stylistic
Group department
change for over two centuries and the city has over 350 buil-
[email protected]
dings classified or listed as Historical Monuments. A city of
www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk
art, trade and history, the capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine lives
at the pace of the new century without losing any of its fondness
for culture, food, sport, nature and everything which creates a
good city lifestyle. It is classed within the top most attractive A
CCESS
and most dynamic cities in France. Come and explore it in all
its splendour and its diversity through the many visits offered
by the Tourist Office.
BY TRAIN BY CAR
2.00 from Paris 1.00 from Arcachon
2.00 from Biarritz
-
MUST SEE BY PLANE 1.40 from Cognac
1.10 from Paris 2.30 from Poitiers
1.40 from Londres
SAINT ANDRÉ CATHEDRAL - PEY-BERLAND BELL TOWER
World historic heritage UNESCO classified site.
A royal cathedral: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII, the future
king of France, were married here in 1137, as were Anne of Austria
and Louis XIII.
From the Cathedral of Saint-André bell tower, a flamboyant Gothic
structure built in the 15th century, enjoy the outstanding view of
Bordeaux and its monuments. The bell tower is open every day of
the week except Monday.
GRAND THEATER - OPERA
Build by Victor Louis and inaugurated in 1780. Along with the ope-
ras of Versailles and Turin, the Grand-Théâtre has one of the most
beautiful 18th century concert halls in the world!
[email protected] www.bordeaux-tourisme.
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