Written by expert travel-writers with more than 40 titles to their name,
Bradt's Gascony & the Pyrenees is the only current English-language
guide to the entirety of this fascinating, relatively under-visited and
consequently affordable region of southwest France. Offering advice on
where to stay and eat with what to do and see, this new guide provides
everything you need for an enjoyable, fulfilling visit. In Gascony,
everyone can find their own adventure. Surfers can ride Atlantic waves
at Hossegor and Mimizan. Sun-seekers can loll on the Landes' beaches,
then stretch their legs by climbing Europe's tallest sand dune, the Dune
du Pilat. Hikers can trek high into the Pyrenees to gawp at majestic
cirques, while those less energetic riding a donkey uphill. Families can
bike along numerous backways, while cycling buffs cheer on the
professionals during the Pyrenees stage of the Tour de France. Activity
enthusiasts aside, the region will delight anyone who craves a
slower-paced holiday in beautiful natural landscapes. Culture buffs can
linger in the coastal art havens of Collioure, Port Vendres and Céret,
or discover Palaeolithic cave art at Niaux and Le Mas-d'Azil. Pilgrims
can follow the path to Lourdes. Fans of the bizarre can visit Salvador
Dali's 'centre of the universe' (Perpignan train station) or La
Pourcailhade, the pig festival of Tri-sur-Baïse. Urbanites can enjoy the
splendors of Perpignan, Bayonne, Biarritz and Auch, or take it down a
notch at medieval Catalan villages. For quirky retail therapy,
shopaholics can browse the espadrilles for which Mauléon is famed or the
berets synonymous with Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Gourmets will delight in the
quality of local cuisine, from cèpe mushrooms and poulet au pot to a
flock of duck-based dishes. Cocooned within quiet, natural settings,
yoga practitioners can calm mind and body with various wellness
therapies. And whatever floats your boat, everyone can relax in some of
the hundreds of personally recommended places to stay - from charming
inns and spas to restored medieval stables, and even the astronomers'
dormitories at the Pic du Midi. All conveyed through the intimate expert
insights that characterise Bradt's Gascony & the Pyrenees.
