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Aquitaine is located in southwest France and enjoys mile upon mile of uncrowded golden beaches. It is interesting to note that this region spans a quarter of the country's Atlantic coastline. The region is bounded to the south by Spain, to the east by the Midi-Pyrenees, to the north by Poitou-Charentes and the Limousin and to the west by the Atlantic ocean. Aquitaine Landscape The Aquitaine's diversity of landscape makes it an ideal place to both live and enjoy a vacation. Imagine the luminescence of the coastline where mussels and oysters are still cultivated as they have been for generations. Surfers and sun seekers enjoy the beaches and major surfing championships. Inland villages on the salt marshes maintain a life and culture unspoilt by time. In the Pyrenees hikers seek hidden mountain trails and skiers the thrill of the slopes. Aquitaine Attractions Bordeaux as the capital and main city of Aquitaine has much to offer from the visitors point of view. Take a balloon ride over wine producing vines. Marvel at its splendid architecture, visit palatial mansions and enjoy shopping and numerous cultural events throughout the year. The area around Bordeaux is renowned for producing some of the worlds finest wines. Many at very reasonable prices. As you can imagine visits to wine estates and wine tasting are very popular and may require prior booking. Enjoy skiing and hiking in the unspoilt Pyrenean Mountains, untroubled by crowds of visitors. Frolic on unspoilt beaches and go deep sea fishing. Take time to improve your golf handicap on courses that welcome both the experienced and inexperienced player. Aquitaine Weather Aquitaine is a region to enjoy all the seasons. Spring begins to blossom from March onwards when the weather tends to be warm but changeable with temperatures of 13°C. Summer bursts forth in May with temperatures ranging from 19°C to 23°C in June. During the main holiday months of July and August the temperatures can rise to 35°C. Autumn is beautiful with the climate gradually creeping down to 10°C in the winter months. A perfect opportunity to throw another log on the fire and enjoy the local wines. Over 2,200 hours have been documented in this region with rainfall being well distributed over all areas. Getting there Until recently it has been relatively difficult to fly to the Aquitaine region but with the introduction of low cost airlines this has now changed with the journey taking just 2 hours flying time. There are now seven airports serving the region and it is also possible to fly into Spain. Some travellers prefer to take the ferry and car option. After taking a ferry to the north coast port of St Malo there is a 6-7 hour drive to Bordeaux or 8-9 hours to Biarritz - which is no further than driving to Provence or the Cote d'Azur. Why not break your journey and stop at a charming family run hotel or perhaps a luxurious Chateau for the night? Another option is to take a ferry to Santander or Bilbao in Spain. Then there is a much shorter drive (1.5 hrs Bilbao-Biarritz) along the coast road and up into the Aquitaine region. Because the crossing is much longer, the ferries covering this route are bigger and have more facilities for adults and children alike. Some ferries even boast an onboard swimming pool. The trip is also an ideal opportunity for spotting dolphins, pilot, minke and sperm whales. It is also possible to travel to Aquitaine by train with your own car. Catch the Eurotunnel connection at Folkestone or Ashford terminals. Once in Calais transfer to Rail Europe's local services. Aquitaine population 2,967,000. Major Towns/Cities Bordeaux - is the capital and main city of the Aquitaine. Take time to visit palatial mansions, contemplate in a beautiful church, or just enjoy the shopping and numerous cultural events this vibrant city has to offer. Pau - is a lively university town famous as the birth place of King Henry 1V. Take time to Visit the Chateau de Pau which houses the Gobelin 16th-century Tapestries woven by Flemish weavers. Bayonne - from its inception in Roman times Bayonne first enjoyed prosperity as the gate keeper of one of the main roads to Spain as well as being a prosperous port. With its beautiful cathedral and pedestrian shopping centre Bayonne has attractions for all visitors. Biarritz - first gained favour as a whaling port but was transformed into a a resort for the rich and famous in the 19th century. It has three excellent beaches and claims to have the best surfing conditions in Europe. Perigueux - is a lively medieval market town. Dominated by its Cathedral St. Front, it has many interesting archaeological sites for exploration. Aquitaine Prices There are many property hotspots in the Aquitaine. In particular Bordeaux, Archachon, Biarritz / Bayonne and the Dordogne Valley have seen an explosion in prices. The Dordogne Valley maybe cooling but prices on the coast are still buoyant. Price Guideline Apartments: 150,000 + euros (Coast) Farmhouses: 175,000 euros (needs renovation) Townhouses: 120,000 euros Villas: 210,000 euros Land: from 20 euros per sq. m
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