South West France - Places to visit?

[Adenauer]

Not wanting to hijack the other France thread currently running.

I've just booked this 'gite' for a week in July, can't bloody wait

It's in the south west near Bordueax, does anyone have any suggestions of places worth visiting in the area or around the bay of Biscay please? I've never been down that way.

[DJRC]

When are you there Ad?

How close to Bordeaux are you? Obviously the town itself, its a lovely old place these days and the harbour front now is a great place to stroll and relax.

St. Em.

Angouleme

Royan is a very classy seaside town

Cognac

Arcachon/Dune de Pyla

Cap Ferret the opposite side of Basin Arcarchon

They will do you to start. Its my part of France, Ive spent 20 yrs down there, so just give me a yell to know more.

[Adenauer]

Last week of July, near Marmande, about 40 minutes inland from Bordueax

I presume it should be nice and warm around that time?

I also want to do a daytrip into the Pyrennes, any recommendations as to where?

Thanks

[miniman]

Perhaps a little far north, but La Rochelle and Ile de Re are very pleasant.

[Adenauer]

miniman said:

Perhaps a little far north, but La Rochelle and Ile de Re are very pleasant.

Hmm, I just looked at DJRC's Royan and that is a two hour drive, La Rochelle looks even further.

[magooagain]

This site may be of some help. Check out 'whats on' when you are there. http://dordogne.angloinfo.com/

[Adenauer]

magooagain said:

This site may be of some help. Check out 'whats on' when you are there. http://dordogne.angloinfo.com/

Oooh, merci

[DJRC]

Adenauer said:

Last week of July, near Marmande, about 40 minutes inland from Bordueax

I presume it should be nice and warm around that time?

I also want to do a daytrip into the Pyrennes, any recommendations as to where?

Thanks

Good location. You have Agen, Bergerac and Perigueux within an hrs drive.

The Pyrennes are a bit of a haul from there! Its a long day to do that in a day trip. Stay overnight there?

La Rochelle is a bloody mile away and frankly Royan is nicer.

[blindswelledrat]

I cant recommend highly enough a day trip down the Dordogne with a canoe.
Basically you hire it and then just float down the river and drop it of at one of many drop off points down river. Its utterly beautiful and a wonderfully relaxing day out. Best places are over towards Sarlat which at a guess is about a 90 minute drive.

[Adenauer]

Thank you.

BSR, that sounds just the ticket as number 2 daughter is really into canoeing, so any more info would be very welcome, thanks

[Adenauer]

DJRC said:

La Rochelle is a bloody mile away and frankly Royan is nicer.

Marmande nach La Rochelle, Frankreich

Vorgeschlagene Routen
268 km, 2 Stunden 35 Minuten
Bei aktueller Verkehrslage: 2 Stunden 35 Minuten
A10 und A62

[ewenm]

St Emilion if you like your wine and medieval towns.

[Adenauer]

This is brilliant, we're going to be permenantly pissed

[magooagain]

Dont forget to try the Pineau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineau_des_Charentes

I make about 30 litres every year from my vines.

[Adenauer]

blindswelledrat said:

Best places are over towards Sarlat which at a guess is about a 90 minute drive.

Is that Sarlat-la-Canéda?

[Adenauer]

Et Wallah, or something like that

http://www.canoe-kayak-dordogne.com/en/6-prices.ht...

[Huntsman]

Gouffre de Padirac or Rocamadour?

[paulwirral]

yes he means sarlat - la - caneda , theres quite a few places to canoe down there , look on the tourist flyers in the tourist info office , take the road from bergerac to sarlat and you will pass a few on the roadside at les eyzies , theres also plenty of places to eat there and a couple of mueseums and crystal cave things , then sarlat is 20 mins down the road and is a great place to visit , i lived there for a couple of years and would recommend it to anyone .

[Adenauer]

paulwirral said:

yes he means sarlat - la - caneda , theres quite a few places to canoe down there , look on the tourist flyers in the tourist info office , take the road from bergerac to sarlat and you will pass a few on the roadside at les eyzies , theres also plenty of places to eat there and a couple of mueseums and crystal cave things , then sarlat is 20 mins down the road and is a great place to visit , i lived there for a couple of years and would recommend it to anyone .

Cheers Paul, this is sounding better and better.

Why oh why have I been blowing 5K on flights to Florida every year?

I'm even actually really looking forward to the 1100km drive

[Roo]

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread as we will be in the same area in July.

We went to the same place last year as well.

Sarlat is very nice, as is Eymet. And of course there are the obligatory vineyards and chateaux.