Aquitaine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aquitaine | |||
| Flag | Region logo | ||
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| Location | |||
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| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | ||
| Administration | |||
| Country | France | ||
| NUTS Region | FR6 | ||
| Départements | 5 | ||
| Capital | Bordeaux | ||
| President | Alain Rousset (PS) | ||
| Basic statistics | |||
| Area | 41,308 km² (15,949 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 3,170,000 (01/2008) (Ranked 6th) |
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| - Density | 77 /km² (199 /sq mi) | ||
| Other information | |||
| Website | aquitaine.fr | ||
Aquitaine (Occitan: Aquitània; Basque: Akitania), archaic Guyenne/Guienne (Occitan: Guiana), is one of the 26 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. In the Middle Ages it was a kingdom and later a duchy, with boundaries considerably larger than the modern ones. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, Lot et Garonne, Pyrenees Atlantiques, Landes and Gironde.
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[edit] Sport
The region is home to many successful sports teams. In particular worth mentioning are:
- Girondins de Bordeaux, one of France's most successful association football teams.
Rugby Union is particularly popular in the region. Clubs include:
- Aviron Bayonnais
- Biarritz Olympique, finalists in the most recent Heineken Cup.
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles
- Section Paloise
Bull-fighting is also popular in the region.
Major Surfing championships regularly take place on Aquitaine's coast.
[edit] Food and drink
Aquitaine is famous for its wine and related products, including:
- The Armagnac brandy producing area lies within the region.
- The Bergerac wine is produced in the Dordogne.
- The Bordeaux wine (known as Claret in the United Kingdom) region is perhaps the most famous red wine region in the world. Areas include Pomerol, Saint-Emilion, Graves and the Médoc.
- The Lillet, a fortified wine, is produced in Bordeaux.
- The region also produces Sauternes a famous sweet white wine.
- The south-west also produces wine, although it is not nearly as recognized as Bordeaux.
- Wine cellars are a very popular tourist attraction in the region.
Famous food products from the area include:
- Pâtés, including paté de fois gras and pâté basque.
- Canelés;
- Cassoulet;
- Confit de canard.
- The Dordogne is famed for its truffles.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- (French) Regional Council of Aquitaine
- (English) Aquitaine at the Open Directory Project
- http://csfrance.amb-usa.fr/EconomicBordeux.pdf
- Guide to Aquitaine
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Coordinates: 44°35′N 0°00′E / 44.583°N 0°E
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