Towns & Cities of Aquitaine
Bordeaux is the main city and capital of Aquitaine. The newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 7 square miles or half of the city and recognises the beauty of the architectural heritage of Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a bustling and cosmopolitan city, with an ethnically diverse population and a lively university community of 60,000 students. Nightlife is astonishingly varied and vibrant. "Le Jimmy", for example, is the oldest concert hall in Bordeaux and features performances from some of the biggest names in the music business in France. "Le Bureau" is a popular public house, featuring simple décor in the form of polished wood and brass and a good selection of ales and lagers. "Le Bistro de la Grosse Cloche" is a traditional bistro providing classic Bordeaux fare in a pleasant environment. Bordeaux is, of course, one of the seven key wine producing regions in France and is renowned for its exceptional red wine. Biarritz in southern Aquitaine was a fashionable resort for the rich and famous in the 1930s and has recently been revived by trendy Parisians. Nowadays the Biarritz seafront opens onto a town centre that has been largely rethought and revamped with pedestrians in mind. |
 A poplar grove in Dordogne |
The Place Clemeceau and the Place Bellevue, for example, are now completely pedestrianised and there is a pleasant balance of motorised and foot traffic throughout the town. There are a number of excellent beaches within easy reach of the town centre, including the busy Grande Plage which has strict regulations for bathers and surfers; Port Vieux which is ideal for families with young children; and Cote des Basques which is good for surfing -- but only at low tide.
Pau is a lively university town and famously the birthplace of King Henry IV, arguably the most popular of the French kings. He was born in the castle, the Chateau de Pau, at the western end of the Boulvard des Pyrenees in 1553. The Chateau houses a collection of tapestries woven by Flemish weavers during the 16th century. The Boulevard des Pyrenees itself is a legacy of the British era and one of the most beautiful promenades in France. Another building of note is a house (and, nowadays, museum) in the Rue Tran which was the birthplace of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. Bernadotte was a commander in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte and later became King of Sweden.
Holiday Rental Accommodation in Aquitaine
Holiday rental accommodation in the Aquitaine region of France takes many forms. Holiday apartments, cottages, farmhouses and villas are all available and in a range of rural, urban and seaside locations. You may choose, for example, a spacious one bedroom apartment in town centre of Biarritz, perhaps in the old Palace of Biarritz itself. Alternatively, some may prefer a larger two bedroom apartment close to "La Grande Plage" beach. Apartments are generally decorated, furnished and finished to the highest modern standards even though some may be situated in charming period buildings. For larger groups or families, a luxury three bedroom villa sleeping 6 people may be more appropriate. Many villas have, for example, hardwood floors, overhead ceiling fans, private enclosed gardens and private swimming pools.
