Aquitaine Culture, Heritage and Tradition
- The South West of France is very famous for its rich heritage of the past and warm traditions.
- In the region Aquitaine, you can combine art, tradition, culture, history and heritage by discovering and visiting many places of interest across the Gironde, the Landes, the Pyrenees Atlantiques, the Lot et Garonne and the Dordogne departments.
- Fortified towns, castles, cathedrals, museums are worthwhile to be seen as much as food specialities, delicious wines and traditional sports and festivals are worthwhile to be tried.
- All of these monuments and historical places are the best witnesses of the life in Aquitaine through the centuries, across vineyards, Landes and rivers.
| Aquitaine Gastronomy | |
|---|---|
| Drink | World renowned vineyards in the Gironde department around Bordeaux and mainly situated in the Medoc, the west of the River Gironde, and around Saint-Emilion. There are also Jurançon in the Pyrenées Atlantiques, Armagnac in the Landes, Buzet and Duras in Lot et Garonne and Bergerac in Dordogne. The world's most famous Bordeaux wines being: Margaux, Medoc, Sauterne, Saint-Emilion, Jurançon, Bergerac, Monbazillac, Côtes de Buzet, Côtes de Duras, Madiran. |
| Food | South West of France is well known for its delicious farm products and specialities: truffles, Foie gras, Cassoulet, Magret and Confit de Canard, Agen Prunes, Asparagus, Cèpes mushrooms, Bayonne Ham. |
| Aquitaine Leisure and Festivals | |
| Leisure | Basque Pelota (precursor of tennis), Rugby (linked to the British presence in the region), Skittles "Quilles" (needing sleight and concentration) and Basque Power games "Jeux de Forces" (from farm work) are famous in Aquitaine. |
| Festival Celebrations | “Ferias”, the red and white tradition from June to August. Bullfighting taking place throughout the streets or among the 92 bullrings in Aquitaine. |
| Language | French is obviously the predominant language of the region. But other native languages are still used like: the Gascon patois or the Béarnais dialect. The most famous being the Basque Language in the far south of the region. |
| Places of interest in Aquitaine | |
| Fortifications | Several Aquitaine Castles including Château de Monbazillac, Château de Beynac, Chateau de Cadillac, Château des Milandes, Château de Castenaud, Château de Jumilhac and Chateau de Pau. Touristic circuits throughout the medieval fortified towns in Aquitaine. Gironde: Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Monségur, Créon, Cadillac and Blasimon. Dordogne: Domme, Monflanquin, Monpazier, Eymet, Villeréal. Landes: Labastide d’Armagnac, Saint-Justin Lot et Garonne: Vianne, Puymirol, Caudecoste. Pyrénées Atlantiques:Navarrenx, Geaune, Grenade-sur-l’Adour, Sorde-l’Abbaye and Montfort-en-Chalosse. |
| Palaeolithic sites | The Vézère valley in Perigord, also called the "Valley of Mankind" including the famous cave of Lascaux, cave of Pair-non-Pair, cave of Isturitz or cave of Oxocelhaya. Also the sites of La-Roque-Saint-Christophe, Le Moustier or Le Thot. |
| Religious monuments in Aquitaine | The cathedral of Agen, the cathedral of Perigueux, the Church of Sainte Engrâce, the Church of Le Moulleau, the painted churches in Casseneuil and Pujols, the Church of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Augustinian Monastery and Monolithic Church in Saint Emilion, regarding to pilgrimage to Compostella. Aquitaine itinerary is the crossing of the 4 main roads added to the Atlantic road from via Soulac, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. |
| “Beautiful Aquitaine Villages” | Thirteen charming villages in Aquitaine have been awarded of the“ Loveliest Villages of France” label. Dordogne: La Rocque Gageac, Limeuil. Lot et Garonne: Monflanquin, Pujols-le-Haut. Pyrénées Atlantiques: Ainhoa, Sare |
| Museums | 120 museums including National Museum of Prehistory, Beaux-Arts museum in Agen, Sea museum in Biarritz, Aquitaine museum in Bordeaux. |
| Wine Routes | Degustation of "Grands Crus" on several kilometres through the Bordeaux winegrowing villages, from Bergerac and Saint Emilion to Jurançon and Buzet. |
| Historical Routes | The historical route "Châteaux et Cités au Coeur d'Aquitaine", gather all the famous historical places including cathedral, chapel, ramparts, manors and gardens. |
