Dordogne & Lot: with Bordeaux & Toulouse

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 Merche). History has been made here, evidenced in medieval castles and bastides, and beautiful old cities such as Sarlat, Périgueux, St-Emilion, 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. AUTHORS: Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls have lived in the Lot Valley since 1989, and over the decades have uncovered all the ins and outs (and quirks) of the region. Their children went to school here and they have even picked up the local twangy accent and know how to make garlic tourain soup, pommes de terre sarladaises and cassoulet with the best of them. They've been to nearly all of the festivals at least once, climbed the Dune de Pilat, and poked around every single Romanesque church. After all these years, what they don't know about the region isn't worth knowing.

Table of 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

About the Author :
Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls have lived in the Lot Valley since 1989, and over the decades have uncovered all the ins and outs (and quirks) of the region. Their children went to school here and they have even picked up the local twangy accent and know how to make garlic tourain soup, pommes de terre sarladaises and cassoulet with the best of them. They've been to nearly all of the festivals at least once, climbed the Dune de Pilat, and poked around every single Romanesque church. After all these years, what they don't know about the region isn't worth knowing.