Are you planning a cultural holiday in western France? Discover the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Aquitaine.
France stands out among the good students of UNESCO Heritage with 44 sites in this list of 8 in New Aquitaine. They are also different from each other, illustrating the diversity of this territory with a thousand and a face. Between vines of Saint-Émilion , the architecture of the Corbusier and the prestance of Bordeaux , go to discover this unique cultural heritage.
For adventure with the 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Aquitaine!
1. Bordeaux, port of the Moon
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We had to start this article from the Unesco sites in Aquitaine by the luminous city of Bordeaux in the southwest of France. The world capital of wine, however, obtained her nobility letters in 2007 thanks to her historic monuments inherited from the Lights. It is said for how many centuries, the city shines on the banks of the Garonne. Moreover, it is even the first urban set in the world distinguished on such a large area. Indeed, the UNESCO perimeter includes half the city!
Bordeaux has undoubtedly a remarkable homogeneity with regard to its buildings. The architecture made of clear stone, class and neoclassical attracts all the eyes of visitors and locals. Bordeaux is proud to own the most protected buildings after Paris (347 precisely!). More reason to get lost in the alleys and stroll the nose in the air in front of the busy balconies. The architectural details will lead you to the water mirror on the Place de la Bourse and the Quinconces.
2. The Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion
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A few steps from Bordeaux, the culture of wine is full in the Juridiction of Saint-Émilion. The latter consists of a set of 8 municipalities According to a statute established in the 13th century by the King of England Jean-Sans-Terre.
In 1999, the jurisdiction even became the first wine-growing territory classified as the world heritage of humanity as “an exceptional cultural landscape.” Unesco underlines its “ remarkable historical wine landscape” as well as its “intensive culture of wine vines in a delineated region”. These municipalities also have a set of religious monuments, abbey or cathedral dating from the 11th and 12th century. Among them the church Monolithe dug into a rocky promontory.
Because of his reputation, Saint-Émilion attracts a lot of holidaymakers during the high season. If you want to explore the streets of this Unesco site in Aquitaine away from the crowd, visit the vineyards in the low season.
3. The paths of Santiago de Compostela in France
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If all the paths lead to Rome , several paths in Europe lead to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle roads . In New Aquitaine, many pilgrims join the sanctuary of the Spain via Pyrenees .
They cross villages marked by an incredible French heritage and often well preserved throughout their journey. Cathedrals, churches, hospices, basilicas and abbeys inscribed to the world heritage of humanity in 1998 are on their way. We could not all mention them to you, for there are no less than 71 scattered on the way to Santiago de Compostela.
In New Aquitaine, hikers will meet 23 buildings . Among the most famous are the cathedrals of Bordeaux, Agen, Bayonne and Périgueux.
4. The Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
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The Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, one of the most beautiful Unsco sites in Aquitaine, registered in 1983. She becomes a masterpiece of man’s creative genius and a remarkable testimony of a lost civilization. This “Sixtine romane” according to André Malraux is located east of Poitiers in Vienna.
In this high heritage site you will discover 700 m2 of murals of the 11th and 12th century. They are still very well maintained given their age. The incredible religious building thus possesses the largest set of wall paintings in Europe inherited from this period. His 61 scenes retrace the most important episodes of the Old Testament on the vault of the nave. During your stay in Poitiers, visit also his Romanesque church Notre-Dame-de-la-Grande and his cathedral Saint-Pierre.
5. Prehistoric sites and caves in the Vézère valley
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In 1940, two boys fell by chance on a discovery that changed the vision of our Paleolithic ancestors. ♪ caves of Lascaux They come out of their clandestine lives after years sleeping underground. The story then you know it, unique animal frescoes, a rich color and a simply majestic set.
But this region of the Black Perigord There are other equally impressive caves. Explore the Cave of Combarelles and its 800 quaternary wildlife engravings. In 1979 15 sites du Périgord Noir Dordogne are classified as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Vézère valley has no less than 147 deposits of the Paleolithic and 25 caves Awesome! You will discover the parietal art as you will never see elsewhere.
6. Cité Frugès – Architectural work of Le Corbusier in Pessac
Photo credit: Flickr – Fred Romero
Here you change your register with architectural works of Le Corbusier ranked on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016. The city Frugès was under the innovative eye of architect Corbusier in 1926 in Pessac.
At that time, he wants to transgress the codes and turn to a more modern movement than his peers. He then designs habitats with streamlined geometric shapes, far ahead for those years. You will discover seven different genres: skyscrapers, quinconces and zigzags, twins, arcades and two types of isolated houses.
The city and the house Frugès-Le Corbusier unveil all their secrets during visits commented on booking exclusively.
7. Verrou Vauban de l’estuaire de la Gironde à Blaye
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Built in 1689 and listed on the UNESCO Heritage List in 2008, Fort Médoc is the work of the famous engineer Sébastien Vauban. Built under the aegis of Louis XIV, it protected the city of Bordeaux from possible enemy attacks from the estuary of the Gironde.
It still consists of three fortifications: Blaye’s citadel, Fort Médoc and Fort Pâté in Cussac-Fort-Médoc. You can visit the first free as well as the second with a paid entry ticket. The last one is not visiting.
8. The headlight of Cordouan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Stephane Bidouze
Are you sure you're wondering what is the last Unsco site in Aquitaine? The Cordouan lighthouse in 2021! “ Versailles Seas » stands proudly for more than 400 years in the Gironde estuary. Indeed, this masterpiece of architecture has served as a guide to sailors since 1611. Moreover, for the little anecdote, it is the only lighthouse built to replace the mythical lighthouse Alexandria .
Visit the lighthouse in the presence of a guard April to October . You get there by cruise ship from Verdon or Royan depending on the tide and the coefficients. The interior of the king of lighthouses takes you to discover the royal chapel, the king’s apartments and the Girondins room. The highlight of this cultural visit: the panoramic view between land and sea after the 301 steps. We almost counted them during our ascension!
Which of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites gives you an eye in Aquitaine?
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