Country hotspots near Bordeaux Chris von Koettlitz picks the area' s top five locations
Saint-Emilion: best for wine Saint-Emilion is the belle of the ball in the area north-east of Bordeaux. It has Romanesque churches and ruins, mean- dering little streets and famous vineyards. One of the world' s wine capitals, this is also the place to head to for tastings. Cap Ferret: best for oceanside chic The village of Cap Ferret is the epitome of French chic. It' s situated at the very tip of the headland separating the Arcachon Bay from the Atlantic and enjoys uninterrupted ocean views.
Panoramic waterside properties sell from €2 million, but, for the best ones, the sky really is the limit. Favoured by France' s
www.countrylife.co.uk/international
rich and famous, the most coveted houses change hands in all discretion, but prices in the region of €10 million to €15 million seem to be the norm. Asques: best for river views The picturesque village of Asques, on the bank of the Dordogne, echoes the architecture and atmosphere of the Périgord, with breathtaking riverside views and charming exposed-stone housesÐ not to mention that it borders some of Bordeaux's most prestigious wine areas, including Lussac and Pomerol. Blaye: best for architecture The varied landscape of undulating hills on
the right bank of the Garonne is home to the appellations of Bourg and Blaye, with their rich, ruby-red wines. The town of Blaye is especially appealing. It has a citadel and two fortsÐ Fort Paté and Fort MédocÐ which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they are exceptional examples of 17th-cen- tury military architecture. Arcachon: best for oysters The ever-changing scenery of the Arcachon basin attracts many retirees, who enjoy the area's peacefulness, delicious
oysters and proximity to Bordeaux. The eponymous town of Arcachon is espe- cially charming for its Arcachonnaises (Victorian-style villas) and Tchanque cabins on stilts.
Country Life International, Summer 2011 67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84