South West


South West

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean sea, from the Pyrenees mountains to the Landes plains, from sand to chalk and from windy storms to summer draughts… the diversity of environmental conditions in the South West is vast ! Agriculture is the reflect of this variety.

Crop
Crop

Sunflowers blooms over 49 000 ha (64% of the national surface), and corn is widely produced for grain and seed. Modern irrigation systems in corn fields enable farmers to obtain high yields and a quality of seed suitable for commercial suppliers.

The sandy soils of the Landes are an ideal environment for large-scale vegetable growing. Carrots, asparagus, green beans, lettuces and potatoes are the local favourites.

Vast orchard landscapes can be found in South Western France : peaches and nectarines, apricots. Plums, to be consumed fresh or transformed into prunes, known as “Pruneaux d’Agen”, are part of the local identity.

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Livestock
Livestock

Looking towards the mountains Pyrenees, cattle farmers rear cows and sheep. In the Pyrenees sheep farmers guide their flock to the altitude pastures during the transhumance season.

South Western France is also famous for its duck products. Over 11 million ducks are reared here. The animals are often killed on-site in dedicated units, and the meat is usually transformed by the farmers themselves into delicious products such as foie gras or confit de canard.

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Wine
Wine

Around Bordeaux are many small estates, châteaux surrounded by a few acres of vines with private cellars, in which some of the best wines in the world are made. The sound of “Saint Emilion” or “Châteaux Margaux” is familiar to many wine afficionado. Discover the “Graves” and “Sauternes” designations, among many others, and surprise your taste buds with new aromas !

7.6 million hectolitres of brandy, aged for years in oak barrels, are also produced from the white varieties growing around Cognac.

In Languedoc, larger vineyards, mostly planted with Grenache or Syrah varieties. 230 cooperatives gather cluster of grapes from 30 000 wine-growers and produce around 12 million hectolitres, exported all around the world.

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Cheese
Cheese

Tired of gruyère ? France doesn’t lack of cheeses to taste ! Rocamadour is a small and round goat cheese, produced on the rocky hills above the Dordogne valley. If goat cheese is too strong for your taste buds, try a hard-pressed tomme from the Pyrenees. Have it on walnut bread, it is even better !

Sightseing
Sightseing

The South West region is crossed by a lovely canal, which name, “du midi”, rimes with plane trees, cicadas and leisure-boats. From the Mediterranean sea beaches to the dunes of the Atlantic ocean, the area has a lot to offer, whether you prefer outdoor or cultural activities.

Carcassonne is certainly one of the most beautiful fortified towns in Europe. This incredible fortress was built between the 10th and 12th centuries.

The cities of Albi and Toulouse display a unique architecture : when the sun rises in the morning, the bricks of the buildings turn a soft, orange-pink colour.

Bordeaux is a beautiful town, the door to hundreds of wine estates and cellars open to visitors, where you can spend the afternoon wine-tasting !

If you feel like breathing some fresh air, walk along the Atlantic ocean. Have some oysters for lunch and climb the dune of Pila, the highest sand dune in Europe, to enjoy the amazing view of the Arcachon Bay.

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Gastro
Gastro

The local cuisine is as varied as the landscape of south west France, but is it always based on quality products, fruits of a specific “terroir”. Among some of the most popular recipes, cassoulet is a slow-cooked casserole containing pork sausages, goose or duck confit and white beans.

Yes, we know… most foreigners wince at the sound of foie gras. Literally fat liver, it is a highly-prized product in France, a favourite on Christmas and New Year’s Eve menu, and a tasty ingredient for many recipes !

The local saying is that “the more you talk about truffles, the fewer you will find”. Called Tuber melanosporum, black truffle, “truffe du Quercy” or “truffe du Périgord”, their unclassifiable nature, their wildness and their scarcity all help to make them a luxury product. Chefs love them because the tiniest sprinkle of crushed truffle gives a unique taste to an egg omelette !

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Crop
Crop
Sugar cane, banana, pineapple
Sightseing
Sightseing
cruising, distillery
Gastro
Gastro
Accras de morue, ti-punch
Crop
Crop
Sugar cane, vegetable, vanilla
Sightseing
Sightseing
vulcanoe Piton de La Fournaise, cruising
Gastro
Gastro
rougail, punch
Crop
Crop
fruit, olive, citrus, kiwi, chestnut
Livestock
Livestock
small beef cattle, dairy sheep, goat, extensive pig
Cheese
Cheese
Brocciu
Sightseing
Sightseing
Bonifacio, Calvi
Gastro
Gastro
Corsican pork
Crop
Crop
Durum wheat, rice, olive, vegetables, flowers
Livestock
Livestock
sheep
Wine
Wine
rosé de Provence
Sightseing
Sightseing
Camargue, Calanques, Aix en Provence, Avignon
Gastro
Gastro
Bouillabaisse, ratatouille, tapenade
Crop
Crop
Fruit, lavender
Livestock
Livestock
Mountain cattle dairy
Cheese
Cheese
Rebelochon, Tommes, Beaufort
Sightseing
Sightseing
Annecy, Lyon, Mont Blanc
Gastro
Gastro
Tartiflette, fondue savoyarde, bouchons lyonnais cuisine
Crop
Crop
wheat
Livestock
Livestock
Limousine, Aubrac, Salers cattle breed, sheep,
Cheese
Cheese
Roquefort, Saint Nectaire, Cantal
Sightseing
Sightseing
Auvergne vulcanoes
Gastro
Gastro
Aligot
Crop
Crop
Sunflower, corn, vegetable, fruit
Livestock
Livestock
Sheep, milk feed veal, duck
Wine
Wine
Bordeaux, Languedoc, Cognac
Cheese
Cheese
Pyrenees Tomme, Rocamadour
Sightseing
Sightseing
Bordeaux, Toulouse, Arcachon bay, Carcassonne
Gastro
Gastro
cassoulet, duck liver, truffles
Crop
Crop
Cereals, plants, seeds, vegetable, apple
Wine
Wine
Loire Valley wines
Cheese
Cheese
Sainte Maure de Tourraine
Sightseing
Sightseing
Chenonceau castle, Chartres cathedral
Gastro
Gastro
Fouée, rillettes
Crop
Crop
Cereals, red smal berries
Livestock
Livestock
Charolaise cattle, Montbéliarde dairy
Wine
Wine
Burgundy wine
Cheese
Cheese
Comté
Sightseing
Sightseing
Beaune Hospices, Burgundy wine route
Gastro
Gastro
œufs meurettes, bœuf bourgignon, coq au vin
Crop
Crop
Corn, hops
Livestock
Livestock
Dairy cattle
Wine
Wine
Alsacian Riesling, Gerwurztraminer
Sightseing
Sightseing
Strasbourg, Alsacian wine route, WW1 Battlefields
Gastro
Gastro
Choucroute, Quiche
Crop
Crop
Wheat, barley, rapeseed, hemp, potato, vegetable field crop
Livestock
Livestock
Fish
Wine
Wine
Champagne
Cheese
Cheese
Maroilles, Brie de Meaux
Sightseing
Sightseing
Reims, Lille, Chantilly
Gastro
Gastro
Andouillette, truffles, game meat
Crop
Crop
Cereal, textile linen
Livestock
Livestock
Cattle dairy Normande, race horse
Wine
Wine
Apple cider, Calvados brandy
Cheese
Cheese
Camembert, Pont l’Eveque
Sightseing
Sightseing
WWII landing beach, Honfleur, Etretat, Monet gardens
Gastro
Gastro
Oysters, mussels
Crop
Crop
Vegetables
Livestock
Livestock
Dairy cattle, pigs, poultry,
Sightseing
Sightseing
Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, Guérande’s salt marshes
Gastro
Gastro
Crêpes, cider