|
|
GIRONDE
To the west of the Dordogne is the GIRONDE, with Bordeaux as
its capital, and one
of the world's great wine-growing regions. It is characterised by
vineyard country inland and miles of beautiful silver sandy beaches
along the Atlantic coast.
|
There are immaculately kept
vineyards and châteaux from every period to be found further
inland, and famous vintages such as Sauternes and St Emilion.
The elegant city of Bordeaux is
a splendid mixture of different architectural styles and has plenty of
good restaurants, as would be expected in one of France's leading
gourmet regions.
|
Place de la Bourse -
Bordeaux, France
|
Gironde
Deparment Hiking Map
Approximately 120 km of trails With its vine-covered hillsides and
plateaux overlooking the Dordogne valley, the Saint-emilion area is
strongly influenced by its very long viticultural tradition.
Discovering the patchwork of vineyards on foot reveals constantly
changing landscapes, blending the subtle smell of vine flowers in
spring or the flamboyant colour of vine leaves with intimate,
subjective sensations...
Man has left his mark in every
village: the Pierrefitte Standing Stone, imposing mansions, a
Romanesque church, an old wash house, a fountain or the mysterious
Ferrand Grottos ...
There will soon be a wonderful 44 km trail to discover all of this. It
will link the eight communes of the former Saint-emilion jurisdiction
with eight local loops from 4.2 km to 14 km long. The trails should be
ready this summer. A series of guides detailing each circuit will be
printed.
The DORDOGNE
The capital of prehistoric man, is one of the most picturesque
departements of France, made famous by the variety and beauty of the
landscape through which the river flows. The open rolling countryside
changes to wooded cliffs, then to neatly patterned fields of tobacco
and maize, then to idyllic pastoral valleys. Picturesque old villages
sit perched like eagles' nests on hilltops or set on sunny hillsides.
| The
Dordogne River is crowned by castles standing proudly against
remarkable backdrops of plunging valleys; most have been carefully
restored, with tall mansard roofs and high towers, and are recognised
as prime examples of military architecture dating from the 15th and
16th centuries. Beynac, Les Milandes, Bourdeilles, and Bonaguil are
just a few of the châteaux which are well worth a visit. |
 |
The valley of the river Vézère is simply the
country of mankind. In the foothills of the Périgord
plateau, the archaeological digs go back to ancient history, so to
speak. In the caves and grottoes you can gaze on drawings dating back
to 35,000 years before our times. However it’s the paintings
of the Magdalenian era that we find the most fascinating. Bison,
mammoth, reindeer, horses, wolves, elks, and rhinoceros, the list is
long.
At Montignac, the Lascaux grotto, discovered by four young boys,
in1940, is now closed to the public but its faithful replica Lascaux II
is considered today as the "Sixtine Chapel of the pre-historic era". By
no means to be missed. And at Tursac, children will appreciate the
Pre-historic Park where the life of Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal man is
re-constituted.
|
|
It is in the
Dordogne that the famous and delicious truffle is grown and 'hunted' by
dogs and pigs whose trained and sensitive snouts detect the faint odour
this 'underground mushroom' gives off. Another important element of
this region of France is its wines. The wines from Bergerac are
excellent, while Monbazillac is a good dessert wine |
The Cordouan
Lighthouse
Doubtless one of the most beautiful
constructions in France. From the beginning of the C14th, cartographers
indicated the small island of Cordouan, yet it is not until 1545 that
the first beacon signals the entry to the Gironde estuary. At the end
of the C16th the Royal Bursar, de Guyenne, asks the architect Louis de
Foix, to build a royal lighthouse to replace the towers erected there
earlier. The construction is huge. Rising to a height of almost
65metres above the highest tides, its light can be seen 21 miles away
and for centuries it has benefited from all the technical innovations
in the domain of lighting. Still, it is not simply a question of
performance. For above all, it is distinguished by the refinement of
its architecture. The ground floor has ornate Doric columns, the
king’s apartments are paved in black and white marble, there
is a chapel and the lantern room. The lighthouse has been a classified
national monument since 1862, but it is no longer used today.
Useful
Website links
www.saint-emilion.org
The Official
Website for Saint Emilion
www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com
- Tourist Office of Saint Emilion
http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/
- The Bordeaux Office of Tourism
chateau for rent
|
