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Gironde, Gascony & Pyrénées Tourist Information

Just one long stretch of sandy beach, washed by the famous Atlantic waves, perfect for surfing, bodyboarding and of course sunbathing! For a spot of sightseeing, beautiful Biarritz and Pau are must-sees, as is the Cognac distillery in Royan. Gironde and Gascony Tourist Information guide from Eurocamp Independent includes fantastic campsites with busting activities and a vast amount of Gironde and Gascony sightseeing locations for the ideal holiday experience.

Eating out in Gironde, Gascony & Midi Pyrénées

While you are in Gironde, try....

Cognac the world’s most renowned eau-de-vie was described as the “brandy of the gods” by Victor Hugo. Pineau des Charentes, a fortified mixture of cognac and grape juice makes a lovely digestif.

Seafood roasted on pine needles – Eclade is a dish of mussels piled high on a plate and covered with pine needles which are then set on fire.

Gironde Wine is used extensively in the preparation of the local dishes. Regional specialities include oysters, Charentes butter (nutty flavour), and a small firm goat cheese ‘Chabichou’.

Gascony For desert you should try the famous macaroons from St. Jean-de-Luz or delicious chocolates from Bayonne. Regional cuisine to be sampled include ‘Jambon de Bayonne’ (uncooked ham) and ‘foie gras Landais’ (duck or goose pâté).

Pyrénées A traditional dessert is the ‘croustade’, a tart of apple and Armagnac. The pallet of tastes from this region include ‘daube de porc’, pork, carrots and herbs braised slowly in red wine, ‘poule au pot’, a casseroled chicken dish and ‘magret’ of duck, slices of duck breast which is generally pink in colour (very rare).

Gironde, Gascony & Pyrénées Sightseeing and Culture

Must see locations and information for tourists visiting Gironde or Gascony:

Gironde - To visit places of interest along the coast, to the south of the Gironde estuary from Royan it is best to take the car ferry service between Royan and the Pointe de Grave.

La Rochelle
A harbour guarded by ramparts and three ancient towers.

Bordeaux
A bustling port and one of the great historic cities of France. There are numerous impressive memorials and a Roman amphitheatre, with also extensive shopping centres. There are ample architectural memorials to various ages of Bordeaux’s power - a Roman amphitheatre, the vast Gothic cathedral of St. André, and the old quarter of

St. Pierre.
The ‘Place de la Comédie’ is one of the most elegant squares in Europe. Next door is the celebrated ‘Vinothèque’ which sells an enormous range of Bordeaux wines.

Gascony -

Biarritz The elegant old hotels and houses, the rather special but never over-sophisticated atmosphere and the superb setting, make this one of France’s most endearing large resorts.

St. Jean-de-Luz
St. Jean-de-Luz is a lively, atmospheric resort and fishing port, always popular with summer visitors. The beach is one of the safest in the area and boat trips can be taken around the bay.

Pyrénées -

Toulouse
The central, old quarter of Toulouse, which lies on the bank of the river Garonne, is not to be missed. The impressive town hall can be found on the Place du Capitol  and there are numerous museums. There are many châteaux producing Armagnac in the area and Château de Cassaigne offers a free guided tour and degustation.

Luz-Saint-Sauveur
There is a particularly interesting Templar church in the village. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is a well kept mountain village and spa resort surrounded by towering mountain peaks. The attractive streets house numerous shops, cafés and restaurants and the scenery is superb.

How to get there with Independent

Take a short morning crossing to Calais with a drive of around 10 to 12 hours, or sail to St Malo leaving a 6 to 8 hour drive. An overnight stop at one of our Loire sites is recommended.

Campsites around Gironde