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 Merle). History has been made here, evidenced in medieval
castles and bastides, and beautiful old cities such as Sarlat,
Périgueux, St-Émilion, 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.
