Gascony & the Pyrenees

Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (facarospauls.com) have lived in France's Lot Valley since 1989, and over the decades have uncovered all the ins and outs (and quirks) of the region and wider southwest France. Attending school here, their children have even picked up the local twangy accent and know how to make garlic tourain soup, pommes de terre sarladaises and cassoulet with the best of them. Facaros and Pauls have been to nearly all of the festivals at least once, climbed the Dune de Pilat, and poked around every single Romanesque church at least once. After all these years, what they don't know about the region isn't worth knowing. Known as the 'dynamic duo of travel writing', Facaros and Pauls have been writing guidebooks since 1977, producing more than 40 titles alongside smartphone apps and numerous newspaper articles. Their oeuvre includes four previous Bradt guides, covering destinations in Italy and Greece.

• PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATIONChapter 1 Background InformationGeography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History , Government and politics, Economy, People and culture, Sports and activitiesChapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health and safety, Women travellers, LGBTQIA+ travellers, Travelling with a disability, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Outdoor activities,Media and communications, Travelling positively PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 The Landes Arcachon and its bassin, Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne, Down the Côte d'Argent, Mont-de-Marsan, Down the Adour, Saint-Sever and the Chalosse, Dax, The southern Côte d'Argent, Capbreton-Hossegor Chapter 4 The Gers Auch Eauze and Armagnac country, Condom and around, Lectoure and around, East of Auch, South of Auch: the AstaracChapter 5 The Pays Basque Basque cultur, Getting there and away, Getting around, Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Côte Basqu, The Labourd interior: around La Rhune, The valley of the Nive, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, TheHaute-SoulChapter 6 BéarnSalies-de-Bearn and the Gave de Pau, Orthez, Pau, North of Pau: the Vic-Bilh, Oloron-Sainte-Marie and around, The Vallee d'Ossau Chapter 7 The Hautes-Pyrénées Lourdes, Tarbes, The Lavedan Valleys, To the Cirque de Gavarnie and around, Bagneres, the Pic du Midi and the Baronnies, The Lannemezan Plateau, The Vallee d'Aure and Vallee du Louron, The Comminges: Montrejeauto Saint-Beat, The Upper Comminges: Bagneresde-Luchon, Saint-Gaudens and the Petites PyreneesChapter 8 The Ariège and AndorrThe western Ariege: the Couserans, East of Saint-Girons and the lower Ariege, Foix, East of Foix: Montsegur and Mirepoix, Tarascon-sur-Ariege, Up the Ariege: Ax-les-Thermes and around, AndorraChapter 9 Roussillon: the Pyrénées-OrientalePerpignan Northern Roussillon, Down the coast from Perpignan, Collioure and the Cote Vermeille, Up the Conflent Valley, The Cerdagne, The VallespirChapter 10 ToulouseHistory, Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eatand drink, Entertainment and nightlife Shopping, Sports and activities Other practicalities, What to see and do Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Glossary Appendix 3 Further InformationIndex