Aquitaine, in the south west corner of France, is famed for its adventurous types. This impressive line-up includes Eleanor of Aquitane, a queen of France and England and mum to Richard the Lionheart; d’Artagnan of the Musketeers, and now many thrill-seeking surfers who take advantage of the great waves and big beaches.

This sprawling region accommodates most tastes. There is the city of Bordeaux, which is one of the most chic in France. Explore further and you’ll find a rugged region made up of medieval towns, vineyards, huge pine forests, and those long beaches.

Siblu’s La Réserve holiday parc mirrors this contrast – it’s a large parc with lots of facilities that make holidaying a cinch, but it’s located in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by secluded forest and on the edge of the shimmering Lac Biscarosse.

A dune with a view
One of the most famous attractions of the region is a sand dune. Doesn’t sound impressive? Well it’s Dune du Pyla, Europe’s largest sand dune at 105m high and nearly 3km long, and responsible for swallowing up roads, signs and even a hotel.

Getting to the top is a real challenge, made slightly easier if you choose the 190 steps instead of the pure sand route. But reach the summit and the view really is ‘summit’ – stunning sea to one side, the dune in its entirety to another, and a horizon filled with rolling pine forest to east. These pictures from Flickr do the dune justice.

We Lac it a lot
Lac Biscarosse is a haven to water sports enthusiasts, with water skiing, wake boarding, surfing and kite surfing all available. The lake is also idea if you have young children. Bag yourself a spot on the beach and when the mood takes, you can wade into the calm waters, which remain shallow for a long stretch so it is safe for youngsters.

Everybody’s surfing
If you fancy your skills on a surf board it’s a short drive to either Biscarosse or Mimizan beaches. Both are small but lively resorts on the Cote d’Argent, and Mimizan in particular has a bustling surfers’ buzz to it. There is also Hossegor, slightly further south, which is known as a fine surfing beach and which has even hosted world tour events – one siblu customer travelled all the way from Australia to take part! For more specialist information, take a look at this guide from travel writer Alf Alderson to surfing in south west France.

Favourite towns
Bordeaux is best known for its wine, producing a staggering 44 million or so cases per year. But it offers more than just wine, it’s a great place for your children to practice their photography. Here are three places that like to pose for the camera: the ‘Quartier Saint-Eloi’; the ‘Pont de Pierre’, which ranks high in the top ten of attractive bridges; and the ‘Maison du Vin’, a beautiful 18th century building offering wine tasting.

Once you’ve explored Bordeaux’s glamorous mix of old architecture with tasteful new developments, it’s time to shop, and Rue Sainte-Catherine is, at 1.2kms, the longest shopping street in Europe.

I recommend you start at the Place de la Comedie, where the most upmarket shops are, and work your way down the street — and the price tags — while making regular stops at the many cafes.

Arcachon, to the north of La Réserve, is an up-market town overlooked by a long bay with many chic boutiques and fantastic restaurants serving exquisite seafood. Local specialities, which you must check out, are the dustbin-sized Landais pastis sponge and the Bordelais, which is a tasty caramelised pastry.

St Emilion is a heart-warming ‘ugly duckling grows up and becomes glamorous swan’ tale. In the 8th century a hermit called, Emilion dug out a cave for himself in the rock. A monastery followed. Then it blossomed into a gorgeous medieval hilltop village.

The village is surrounded by endless vineyards that produce full-bodied deep red wines, handy for keeping the 50 or so local wine shops well-stocked. Bizarrely, the cobbles on every street are English, which might explain why they’re the most uneven you’ll ever walk on in France, and that’s without even sampling the wine! Don’t miss the Église Monolithe, as this is one church that children might actually enjoy visiting, because it’s underground and carved out of the limestone. It dates from the 9th century and is Europe’s largest subterranean church. The lowest level is a maze of pillars and ironwork that support the structure above.

Dax is a warm and peaceful spa town with hot springs that bubble at a constant 64ºc. You are encouraged to cover yourself in mud – a sight your children will find hilarious! Before leaving, stretch your legs along the banks of the River Adou or in the colourful public gardens, where you’ll see lots of other families having a stroll. You should probably also wash off that mud.

What else can you add? Tell us what you like most about Aquitaine.

Tags | aquitaine, arcachon, bordeaux, camping in Aquitaine, dune du pilat, dune du pyla, familyholidays in Aquitaine, La Reserve, lac biscarosse, surfing in france