Full Description
Bradt's Dordogne & Lot, with Bordeaux & Toulouse is the most detailed guide to the entire region, with coverage that includes the Lot-et-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne in addition to Dordogne, Lot and Bordeaux. Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (authors of the original Cadogan guide to the area) have lived in the Lot valley for over thirty years and are the perfect guides to the region's landscapes, towns, food, art, architecture and, of course, wine: Bordeaux's 8,800 wine châteaux produce on average 650 million bottles a year!
Their guide starts with Bordeaux, the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region as well as the world capital of wine, along with the départements of the Gironde, Dordogne, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, and Tarn-et-Garonne in between. This is a land of great wines and stunning rivers, encompassing long sandy beaches along the Côte d'Argent (with Europe's biggest sand dune on the south end), forests and rolling hills. Here, too, are the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley, and extraordinary Palaeolithic masterpieces (Lascaux, Font de Gaume and Pech Merle). History has been made here, evidenced in medieval castles and bastides, and beautiful old cities such as Sarlat, Périgueux, St-Émilion, Cahors and Figeac. Hundreds of unspoiled villages dot landscapes that are among the most idyllic in France, while Romanesque churches, including the great abbey at Moissac, are a feast for art lovers.
Outdoor activities are well covered, too, including cycling, sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking and walking the numerous Grand Randonnées (including three main routes of the Camino de Santiago) that pass through here, along with scores of other paths. And last but not least, the food is good: think truffles, oysters, duck, saffron, strawberries and melons, walnut groves and orchards. The weekly markets are gorgeous, and the summers are filled with wine, music and theatre festivals.
All of this and more is covered by expert authors Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls in this new title from Bradt, offering all the information you need both prior to departure and while on the road.
Contents
CONTENTS
Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics,
Economy, People, Culture, Sports and activities
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Health and safety, Women travellers, LGBTQ+ travellers, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Festivals and annual events, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Media and communications, Travelling positively
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 3 Bordeaux
History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where
to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports and activities, Other
practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 4 The Médoc, Côte d'Argent and Bassin d'Arcachon
The Médoc, its wines and châteaux, The Côte d'Argent, Arcachon and its Bassin
Chapter 5 Landes, Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers
Parc Naturel des Landes de Gascogne, Northern Graves, Southern Graves and the Bazadais, Entre-Deux-Mers
Chapter 6 The Libournais and Haute Gironde
Libourne and around, St-Émilion and around, East of St-Émilion, The Haute Gironde
Chapter 7 Northern Périgord
Périgueux, Southwest of Périgueux: down the River Isle, West of Périgueux, Brantôme and the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin, East of Périgueux
Chapter 8 The Vézère Valley
History, Getting there and around, Sports and activities, Montignac, Lascaux and around,
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and around, Le Bugue-sur-Vézère to Limeuil
Chapter 9 Sarlat and Périgord Noir 193
Sarlat-la-Canéda, Carlux to Domme: Pays du Fénelon, Domme to Castelnaud, St-Cyprien to
Limeuil
Chapter 10 Bergerac and the Bergeracais
Bergerac, East of Bergerac, South and west of Bergerac
Chapter 11 The Dordogne Quercynoise
Getting there and away, St-Céré and around, Down the Dordogne: Carennac to Lacave,
Rocamadour, The Causse de Gramat and Padirac, Souillac
Chapter 12 The Lot: Quercy
Cahors, The Causses du Quercy, Figeac, The Upper Lot and Célé Valleys, South of Cahors:
the Causse de Limogne and Quercy Blanc, Down the Lot: Cahors to Touzac, Northwest of Cahors: La Bouriane
Chapter 13 Lot-et-Garonne
Agen and around, The Néracais, Down the Lot, Bastide country, Pays du Duras, Down
the Garonne Valley from Agen
Chapter 14 Tarn-et-Garonne
Montauban, North of Montauban, Up the Gorges de l'Aveyron, South and west of Montauban: the Lomagne, Moissac and around, Down the Garonne, North of Moissac: Quercy Blanc
Chapter 15 Toulouse
History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to
stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports and activities,
Other practicalities, What to see and do
Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Glossary
Appendix 3 Further Information
Index
