The Rough Guide to the Pyrenees is the only guidebook available to the entire region, covering both the French and Spanish sides of this spectacular region, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. A full-colour section introduces the author''s pick of the attractions, from relaxing in the picturesque spa towns to watching the Tour de France wind up the mountains. There are detailed listings of the best places to eat, drink and stay, from boutique hotels in Biarritz to the most remote mountain refuges. For the outdoor enthusiast there are exhaustive accounts of the walking and climbing routes available and information on the host of other activities available, including skiing, paragliding, rafting, cycling and horse riding. There is also expansive coverage of all the cultural highlights including the prehistoric cave art at Ariege and an accesible history of the region from prehistory to the current day.

From cosmopolitan Paris to the sunny Cote d'Azur, from historical Normandy to the rocky Pyrenes, this new edition updates the best of towns, attractions, and landscapes of every region. 100 maps. of color photos.

Written by expert travel-writers with more than 40 titles to their name, Bradt’s Gascony & the Pyrenees is the only current English-language guide to the entirety of this fascinating, relatively under-visited and consequently affordable region of southwest France. Offering advice on where to stay and eat with what to do and see, this new guide provides everything you need for an enjoyable, fulfilling visit. In Gascony, everyone can find their own adventure. Surfers can ride Atlantic waves at Hossegor and Mimizan. Sun-seekers can loll on the Landes’ beaches, then stretch their legs by climbing Europe’s tallest sand dune, the Dune du Pilat. Hikers can trek high into the Pyrenees to gawp at majestic cirques, while those less energetic can go on a donkey-backl. Families can bike along numerous backways, while cycling buffs cheer on the professionals during the Pyrenees stage of the Tour de France. Activity enthusiasts aside, the region will delight anyone who craves a slower-paced holiday in beautiful natural landscapes. Culture buffs can linger in the coastal art havens of Collioure, Port- Vendres and Céret, or discover Palaeolithic cave art at Niaux and Le Mas-d’Azil. Pilgrims can follow the path to Lourdes. Fans of the bizarre can visit Salvador Dali’s ‘centre of the universe’ (Perpignan train station) or La Pourcailhade, the pig festival of Tri-sur-Baïse. Urbanites can enjoy the splendours of Perpignan, Bayonne, Biarritz and Auch, or take it down a notch at medieval Catalan villages. For quirky retail therapy, shopaholics can browse the espadrilles for which Mauléon is famed or the berets synonymous with Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Gourmets will delight in the quality of local cuisine, from cèpe mushrooms and poulet au pot to a flock of duck-based dishes. Cocooned within quiet, natural settings, yoga practitioners can calm mind and body with various wellness therapies. And whatever floats your boat, everyone can relax in some of the hundreds of personally recommended places to stay – from charming inns and spas to restored medieval stables, and even the astronomers’ dormitories at the Pic du Midi. All conveyed through the intimate expert insights that characterise Bradt’s Gascony & the Pyrenees.

The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this craggy mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive accounts of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ariège valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbières. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the most memorable possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to France. Full coverage: Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean-de-Luz, Parc National des Pyrénées, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, Vallée d'Aspe, Vallée d'Ossau, Gave de Pau, Cauterets, Gavarnie and its cirque, Barèges, Luchon, Vallée de l'Ariege, Montségur, Vallée de l'Aude, Cathar castles, Perpignan, The Têt valley (Equivalent printed page extent 102 pages).Now available in ePub format.

The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this craggy mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive accounts of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ari�ge valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbi�res. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best caf�s, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the most memorable possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to France. Full coverage: Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean-de-Luz, Parc National des Pyr�n�es, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, Vall�e d'Aspe, Vall�e d'Ossau, Gave de Pau, Cauterets, Gavarnie and its cirque, Bar�ges, Luchon, Vall�e de l'Ariege, Monts�gur, Vall�e de l'Aude, Cathar castles, Perpignan, The T�t valley (Equivalent printed page extent 102 pages).