Picture the South West of France and you conjure up the picturesque Dordogne, the Basque country with the rugged Atlantic coastline, the lush countryside of the Midi Pyrenees and across to the sun drenched area of the Languedoc and warm Mediterranean waters.  All of these areas are so diverse and each wonderful to visit. 

The Dordogne is filled with over 1000 enchanting castles, prehistoric sites, underground caves and the Dordogne River is perfect for kayaking.  Sarlat, the medieval town of the Dordogne has a wonderful market with excellent local duck, cheeses and wine.  Numerous vineyards abound this region from Bergerac, Pecharmant and Monbazillac.

The Midi Pyrenees which sits in between the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean is a picture book of medieval walled villages, lush countryside with market towns such as Cahors, Montauban and Moissac with its famous cloisters.  Numerous markets abounds this region filled with duck, local produce and excellent cheeses.

From the regal and fashionable seaside resort of Biarritz to the lively cosmopolitan town of St Jean de Luz and the endless beaches of the Côte d’Argent hold irresistible appeal for holidays by the sea. Towering dunes rise into an incredible desert like setting near Arcachon and inland lagoons promise all kinds of water sports in scenic surroundings for walking and cycling.  This corner of France is also wine country. The historic city of Bordeaux is surrounded by 1000 square kilometres of carefully tended vineyards with over 5000 wine châteaux scattered throughout the precious landscape.

Picture the Languedoc and you imagine Carcassonne the medieval city with jousting and troubadours; the fabulous Corbiere Valley with endless vineyards; the Ariege with its breathtaking backdrop of the Pyrenees to pretty coastal towns of Port Vendres and Collieure famed for their fabulous seafood. The Mediterranean beaches are long and sandy and perfect for children to play and water sports are also an option should you feel energetic.

Useful Information about South West France

Arrival airports:  Bergerac, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Beziers
By Train :  Perigeaux, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Montpellier

What to do

For children:  Water sports, kayaking, cycling, horse riding, underground caves, castles and leisure parks

For adults:  Wine tasting, golf, music festivals, eating out, markets, exploring hill top villages, antique fairs, chateaux and ornamental gardens

A tip from our Area Manager, Gill:
It’s hard to for me to say which area I like best as I love them all!  Biarritz is classy with some great shops, chic side street cafes and the promenade watching the surfers or a memorable sunset.   Arcachon is wonderful with its fabulous houses, long sandy beaches and azure sea.  Dordogne is so pretty with its houses, quaint villages and fabulous Dordogne River where I have picnicked many times.  The Languedoc is a particular favourite of mine with the Corbiere Valley that stretches for miles with vineyard after vineyard and then on to Sete with its canals and wonderful oysters.  I live in the Midi Pyrenees region and what attracted me to this part of South West France is the unspoilt beauty, lush countryside and great regional food and local wine.  I am happy to offer any guidance you may need for exploring any of these wonderful regions.

For information on Dordogne:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dordogne

For information on Midi Pyrenees:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi-Pyrénées

For information on Biarritz:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biarritz

For information on Arcachon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcachon

For information on Languedoc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languedoc