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Hello VT friends, I know you are going to know the answer to this... What is the area to the west of Bordeaux like? Its called the Parc Naturel Regional de Gascone. Its marked green on my map which means woodland but what is it like? Worth a detour? What are the beaches/coast like and the towns/villages around the bassin d'arcochon? I'm booked for Dordogne, St Emilion and Bordeaux and wondering now whether to head north along the coast or detour to have a look around here. Thankyou in advance lovely VT-ists
We made this detour on a similar journey some years ago. Colleagues - who were enthusiastic campers, cyclists anwalkers,as well as beach lovers made annual vists to Arachonand and sang sang its praises. We had an overnight stop in Blaye on the east bank of the Gironde from where it was easy to take the ferry across to the area. After reaching the other bank first impressions were good vineyards with a sprinkling of attractive small villages on the way to Arachon. At irst I began to think it would make a good base for a week or so. But soon the flatness of the area and ever present looming of the never ending plantations of very tall pine trees began to pall. Apparently it was Napoleon's idea of to change what was previously an unproductive area into a useful agricultual land also producing valuable timber. The sandy soil gives way at the coast to acres and acres od dunes and large stretches of open beaches. It is ecologically and environmentally an important area but I found it rather boring. Tourist developments along the coast ranges from ad hoc camping grounds, neat but tightly packed official sites to a range of self catering apartments and houses and hotels to suit all pockets. From seaside de luxe, chic to budget We were there in early September and the resorts had that end of season tired and jaded look. I was glad to have seen it if only to discover that it would not be somehwere I would want to spend very long. So for me the detour was certainly worthwhile.
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Apologies for all the typos above - combination of sticking fingers and keyboard.:)
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I went to Blaye last August and it rained very hard all day! It's a nice place , or would have been had I not been drowned. I do agree to a certain extent with the previous poster. I wouldn't want to spend more than a couple of days around there. I haven't been to Archacon for a while but it gave me the impression of a slightly old-fashioned seaside town. It's slightly odd as the main beach faces north into the large lagoon of the Bassin. It's famous for the sand dune of Pyla, a little to the west of the main resort. The towns to the north of the Bassin are busy seaside resorts in July and August, otherwise practically deserted. The Pointe du Medoc is an area I visit every year. It's a very busy area, again in July and August, with most visitors using camping vans or campsites. There are some odd little places and it isn't quite as flat and boring as the area to the south.
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I think that answers my question, thankyou. Time is short on holiday so I think I'll be heading north from Bordeaux. I'm sure it has its good points but I get the general idea. Might have an extra day in Bordeaux? Thanks.
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Great answer ATLC. I didn't know you could find parking on the Michelin map site. Learn something new every day . . .... more
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