Holiday Rentals in South West France
South West France
The south west is farming France producing a vast range of crops and produce from sunflowers to foie gras to famous wines and Cognac.
Blessed with a seemingly endless Atlantic coast, abundant navigable waterways, inland lakes, excellent ports and the finest wine and brandy in the world, the area is ideal for a relaxing holiday.
South west France is made up of three regions, namely Poitou-Charentes, Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees. The three major cities are Poitiers to the north with its rich architectural heritage in its historic centre, the port and regional wine capital of Bordeaux to the west on the River Garonne, and the city of Toulouse with its high-tech industries, including aerospace, to the east in the Midi-Pyrenees.
Visitors are mainly drawn to the vast Atlantic coast line, which stretches from the town of La Rochelle in the north to the vast man-made forest of Les Landes in the south. The coast has something for everyone with wide open beaches for all sorts of water activities including surfing, selecting a rich red wine in St-Emilion and bird watching in the Arcachon basin.
Although more rugged north of the Gironde estuary, the coastal flatlands stretch all the way down to the Pyrenees, which forms a natural boundary between France and Spain and offers all year-round activities with hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. In the shadow of this mountain range are thermal springs, first spotted by the Romans for the benefits they bring, which has resulted in small resorts and spa towns, with the most famous of them all being chic Biarritz with its lively café culture and wonderful surfing beaches.
Inland, to the south east of Perigueux lies the rural calm of the Dordogne with its slow-moving rivers and historic ancient villages, all set in lush green countryside. For those looking for a relaxed cultural holiday, the pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela gives the opportunity to visit the wonderful medieval architecture this area of France has to offer.