South West France

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The grand city of Bordeaux sits at the head of Aquitaine. A region in South West France famous for its wine, chateaux, the magnificent 'Les Landes' forest, fortified castles, gothic cathedrals, properties of great character and a long standing history between France and England.

The routes to Santiago de Compostella in Spain have crossed South West France and the region of Aquitaine in particular for centuries. And as a result, many towns like Bordeaux have monuments classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today, many still undertake this pilgr../image each year crossing the departments of the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes and Pyrenees Atlantiques.

To the North West of Bordeaux on a strip of land stretching along the Gironde estuary are the prestige chateaux of the Medoc, unarguably the home of the finest wine and hence some of the most exclusive real estate. The Medoc includes such famous wine appellations as Margaux, St Julien, Paulliac and St Estephe.

To the East of Bordeaux is one of France's largest wine producing districts (Entre-Deux-Mers - 'between two seas') and with Bergerac (a popular and historic town) a little further, the beautiful department of the Dordogne has truly opened up.

South of Bordeaux are the wine appellations of Graves and Sauternes, with Chateau Yquem being the most celebrated of all the Sauternes. For wine connoisseurs, areas like the Medoc, Graves and Sauternes are a paradise with many of the chateaux offering sumptuous wine tasting.

The river Ciron meanders through the forest just south of Sauternes and the mist it produces during the autumn near France's mighty river Garonne, helps create the famous 'Noble Rot' for the vines. Canoe and kayak trips are also available upstream on the river Ciron and these provide an opportunity to discover the tranquility of the mighty Landes forest.

To the South West of Bordeaux, along the coast is Arcachon. A Victorian town with chic boutiques and wonderful seafood restaurants. In the 19th century, Arcachon attracted France's well-healed society for its therapeutic character of a moderate climate and fresh sea air. It has now become an unavoidable stopover for sailing enthusiasts with its marina and first class yachting facilities. Just south of Arcachon, stands the Dune du Pyla. It is the highest sand dune in Europe, rising 117m above sea level, giving breath-taking views on the entrance of the Bay of Arcachon and the Landes forest.

Aquitaine is certainly famous for the ocean. Popular resorts for surfers are Biscarosse and Mimizan. This part of the Atlantic coast stretching from Cap Ferret at the tip of the Gironde estuary to Biarritz offers some of the longest sandy beaches to be found anywhere in Europe; they are never overcrowded and it is always possible to find one's own secluded stretch of fine golden sand.

The famous resort of Biarritz is a jewel in the southern department of Pyrenees Atlantiques with its Victorian Architecture and Baroque mansions. A chic town, Biarritz has understated class and is a stone throw to St Jean-de-Luz (a gateway Spain). Biarritz has everything one would desire and perhaps boasts some of the finest property in France by the ocean.

Inland from Biarritz and the surrounding Basque country is the picturesque region of the Bearn with Pau at its centre.

The Bearn offers a variety of landscapes, green hills, tumultuous mountain streams and snow covered peaks to the south. Indeed, the Bearn is the starting point of the Pyrenees National Park, a European treasure.

North East of Pau is the Gers and further to the North East again is Tarn-et-Garonne. These two departments sit within another large French region called Midi-Pyrenees.

Midi-Pyrenees is a region sharing the cradle of Gascony with Aquitaine - a land stamped by its rich history and mysticism. The history of the Gers and Gascony is reflected by the numerous castles and fortified towns such as Eauze, Mirande, Lectourne, Condom and Auch. Outside the quaint fortified towns with their meandering streets and fine churches at their centres, the spellbinding rolling landscape of the Gers provides many properties with superb views of the Pyrenees.

As such, the Gers remains a highly sought after location for those wishing to escape the more stressful aspects of modern life and overcrowding. It is a place of tranquility, reflection, space and fine cuisine. In addition, the Gers is the home the finest Armagnac brandy and the famous Jazz festival at Marciac.

North of the Gers and East of Les Landes is the department of Lot-et-Garonne which sits within Aquitaine. The Lot-et-Garonne is another unspoiled area of South West France, made up of rolling hills, pretty bastide towns which were fought over for centuries and fine produce. Agen is the principal city of Lot-et-Garonne and it brims with tradition. This area of France is famous for its prunes, Armagnac and foie gras. In fact, the whole of the South West of France is a feast of fine food and wines.

In summary, South West France is a beautiful and historically rich region. It can never be overstated as the most delightful corner of France to own a property in.