For both the park in the Landes de Gascogne and the one in
Périgord-Limousin, the objective is to give as many people as possible access
to this natural and cultural heritage.
Conservation means vitality. The parks encourage actions in favour of
the local economy as well as innovations and experiments, with a constant
concern for the natural balance of the parks.
The two parks propose varied activities: cycling tracks, walking
or horse-riding trails, canoeing, guided tours, educational workshops,
seminars …
They are distinguished by their geographical locations, displaying
differences in terms of geology, plant life, culture, and architecture.
The Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park begins a few miles southwest
of Bordeaux, takes in part of the Bay
of Arcachon, then heads south to the Landes area.
A huge eco-museum divided into three sites recounts the history and
traditions of the “Grande Lande” and its inhabitants…
At
Marquèze, you will plunge into the daily life of 19th-century
rural society and discover an “airial" (authentic Landes "quarter") aboard a
train with carriages which are listed as historic monuments. At Luxey, visit
the last operational tapping factory (collection of resin from the trees).
Lastly, at Garein with the "Graine de forêt" area and its interactive
discovery trail, take a trip into the world of Europe's largest forest.
In the Dordogne, around Nontron and Brantôme in the heart of Green
Périgord, the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park is a
land of springs and chestnut trees, an area devoted to livestock rearing, crop
farming and traditional wood work.
Near Jumilhac, there is even a goldmine which produced up to two tonnes
of gold a year! You can enjoy an introduction to gold-washing in the nearby
rivers…
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