Local Tourism Notes

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Local Tourism Notes

The staff at most tourist offices throughout France are able to speak English. They are generally very helpful with all tourism questions as well as questions on public transport and more. 

Tourist Offices are also able to provide general information on their area, much of it as appropriate to the resident as to the visitor. Most also carry information, brochures and flyers on fairs, markets, concerts and other events in an area.

• To find listings of all local tourist offices in South West France see The AngloFILE: Tourist Offices & Information
• See the website of the French Government Tourism (in English).
• Regional Tourism authorities have comprehensive websites in English: Click here

Airports in Dordogne, Gironde & Lot-et-Garonne

• To find out about the airports serving the Aquitaine region of south western France, flight information, access or lost luggage, see this AngloINFO INFOrmation Page: Airport Contacts
• To find out about airlines flying to Aquitaine see this page: Airlines, Scheduled Flights & Charter 

Where To Stay

The region offers a wide variety of accommodation, with options ranging from camping to Bed & Breakfast accommodation, hotels and stays in private gîtes.

• See the INFOrmation Page on Holiday Accommodation Options to find out more about the type of accommodation available in France
• See The AngloFILE for Hotels & Holiday Accommodation

Food and Drink

South Western France is famous for its diverse cuisine. Eels, mussels and oysters are popular on the coast with salty lamb and goats cheese complimented by the wines produced in land. Truffles are expensive delicacies that grow in the wild in the forests of the Aquitaine along with various wild mushrooms. But above all the area - Périgord in particular - is famous for fois gras; a pâté made from enlarged goose or duck liver.

Bordeaux is the world's largest producer of fine wine, the regions include the famous labels: Médoc, Entre-Deux-Mers, Pomerol, Graves and St Emilion. Many vineyards in the area open to the public and offer visitors the chance to sample the produce and buy directly from the producer.

Beaches

There are over 240 Km of sandy beaches on the Aquitaine coastline. The area has a strong sea tide which means that the scenery is constantly changing. The Aquitaine Tourist Board has a guide (in English) to all beaches of the coast. 

Surfing in Aquitaine

• For a comprehensive guide on what to expect at each beach and directions to get there: Click here and choose the region 
• There are numerous clubs for beginner surfers along the coast, see The AngloFILE category: Surfing

Regional Tourist Offices

Regional tourism authorities have comprehensive websites in English providing much useful information. 

The main Tourist offices are:

• Aquitaine Tourism Board
  Tel: 05 56 01 70 00
  Fax: 05 56 01 70 07
  e-mail
  Website
• Tourist Office of Dordogne 
  Tel: 05 53 35 50 24
  Fax: 05 53 09 51 41
  e-mail
  Website
• Tourist Office of Gironde
  Tel: 05 56 52 61 40
  Fax: 05 56 81 09 99
  e-mail
  Website
• Tourist Office of the Lot-et-Garonne
  Tel: 05 53 66 14 14
  Fax: 05 53 66 08 01
  e-mail
  Website

Related Information

• Some local interest sites can be found in The AngloFILE: Dordogne Blogs & Websites
• See The AngloFILE category French Web Portals
• See The AngloFILE category Tourist Offices & Information
• Maison de la France International guide to tourism in France
• Tourism in France