Roads and museums

An ever-growing number of the region’s leading products now offer itineraries and even museums where you can discover all their secrets…

In the Dordogne, you can learn all about the Perigord walnut (a Designation of Origin product since 2002) at the eco-museum in Villefranche-du-Périgord and along four walnut routes (named after the 4 varieties of walnut cultivated in the region) taking you to growers, restaurants, bakers and pastry chefs or even cabinet-makers specialised in walnut and walnuts.

In the Gironde, the oyster of the Bay of Arcachon has its visitor centre (in Larros, one of the seven oyster ports in Gujan-Mestras) and oyster route to discover the professions, flavours and landscapes of that most refined of molluscs.

In the Lot-et-Garonne, the Prune Route can even be followed on horseback… And every year, the variety of plums used – born in the 13th century by grafting with Syrian plum trees brought back by the crusaders – is celebrated in early September, when the harvests are in full swing.

Last but not least, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Basques have devised a comprehensive Gourmet Route covering a total distance of 126 km and ten stop-offs to meet producers of typical produce: from ham in Les Aldudes to chilli peppers in Espelette, not forgetting Izarra liqueur, chocolate and Gateau Basque, which also have a museum…

To this should also be added the Ossau-Iraty AOC Ewe’s Cheese Route taking you from the Basque Atlantic coast to the Col du Pourtalet in Béarn on the Spanish border.

And if you are still feeling peckish after all that, there is also the Truffle Eco-museum in Sorges (20 km to the north of Périgueux), the Chestnut and Mushroom Visitor Centre in Villefranche-du-Périgord and the Foie Gras Museum in the hamlet of Souleilles in Frespech, in the Lot-et-Garonne. Other sites present local honey, salt, apples… and of course the wines of South-West France.

To immerse yourselves totally in the atmosphere of Gascony, go to one of the local festivals celebrating these specialities in the course of the year and featuring processions, fairs, grand banquets and other typical events.