Aquitaine
“Boasts many remarkable sites and many treasures, both natural and architectural, and you can enjoy the sea and the beach, but also the forests and ponds, the stretches of water for water activities, its pine forests with many cycling paths, the spa towns with their therapeutic waters and many hiking trails.
Lot-et-Garonne
This department gets its name from the two rivers that cross this department, the Lot (a beautiful river for canoeing, swimming, or picnicking on one of the small beaches along the shore) and the Garonne. Lot-et-Garonne is a sunny, authentic, and still peaceful region, less touristy, just south of the Dordogne. The landscape is beautiful with gentle rolling hills, cypresses, vineyards, fruit trees, and sunflower fields. Some of the most beautiful bastide towns in the Southwest are located in this region, such as the charming Monflanquin and Villeréal.
The mindset of the Southwest: rugged, joyful, and independent (the musketeers came from this part of France!). Lot-et-Garonne is proud of this local identity which is celebrated with symbols such as rugby, goose, and wine. This also reflects in the language and not just in the adorable singing accent. In Lot-et-Garonne, many of the locals prefer to say “chocolatine” instead of “pain au chocolat,” as in the rest of France. You can do beautiful hikes through the countryside and along the rivers: Lot-et-Garonne has hundreds of biking and hiking trails.
Like in Dordogne, it seems like it’s almost a party every day in the summer in Lot-et-Garonne: every small village has a pleasant night market where you can dine with live music around long tables. The famous castles of Dordogne are within driving distance, but Lot-et-Garonne also has some beautiful castles, such as the Château de Bonaguil near Fumel and the Château de Duras. Medieval villages such as Penne-d’Agenais and Pujols are also magnificent. Pujols has a nice small market where you can taste the AOC wines of the region (Buzet and Duras), pecan pies, geese, and local cheeses. It is the birthplace of the singer Francis Cabrel.
The love of the countryside that shines through in many of his songs reflects in the simple and pure atmosphere of Lot-et-Garonne. The French countryside of your dreams! And at the same time, you’ll come across nicely maintained places like the beautiful garden of Latour-Marliac, where Monet’s water lilies are the center of attention! In Lot-et-Garonne, you’ll appreciate the tranquility and authenticity, but you’ll also be close to beautiful destinations in the vicinity, such as the city of Bordeaux (ideal for a day trip!), Toulouse, the wine region of Bergerac, and the many attractions of Dordogne.
Gers
This department is one of eight departments in the Midi-Pyrenees region and is known as being the least populous department of the Midi-Pyrenees. The main cities of this department are Auch and Mirmande. The department is crossed by the Gers River, from which it gets its name, and it is known for its very hot and dry summers. This region is also known as the Tuscany of France due to its landscape. Gers has a unique nature that can be explored by foot and bike. There are many routes to follow, for example along the vineyards, where you can stop for food or a drink. One of the most beautiful forests of Gers is the Forest of Bouconne in Levignac. It’s located on the border with Haute-Garonne and is less than 30 kilometers from Toulouse.
The extensive forest has several paths that lead you through the trees. It’s ideal for hikers. Mountain bikers and horse riders also easily find their way. The forest has recreational areas and an information center. If you think of mountains, you think of mountain lakes. The department has several wonders of lakes. They are also suitable for recreation and water sports. Near Cazaubon is the Ulby Lake, where mainly water sports are practiced. The Aignan Lake in Aignan has a beautiful sandy beach. The lake is suitable for swimming. The picturesque Lupiac Lake also has a sandy beach. It’s a wonderful lake for swimming. Like at Aignan lake, there is a restaurant nearby. Unlike Aignan lake, you can walk around the Lupiac lake.
Landes
This department is one of five departments in the Aquitaine region. The region is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the departments of Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Gers, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The department is primarily covered in planted pine forests and is known for its beautiful coastal region along the Atlantic Ocean. Today, the department is known for its stretches of pines and its magnificent sandy beaches.
In addition to the beautiful landscape, this department also has many beautiful places such as the magnificent medieval Mont-de-Marsan and the famous spa town of Dax. The stretches of pines in Landes are ideal for nature lovers, hikers, and cyclists. There are indeed many hiking trails and cycling routes in this region. This region is an ideal destination for those who enjoy spending their vacations in an environment with beautiful nature, lovely places, and magnificent sandy beaches.
