in the Lot valley for over thirty years and are the perfect guides to the region's landscapes, towns, food, art, architecture and, of course, wine: Bordeaux's 8,800 wine chateaux produce on average 650 million bottles a year! Their guide starts with Bordeaux, the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region as well as the world capital of wine, along with the departements of the Gironde, Dordogne, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, and Tarn-et-Garonne in between. This is a land of great wines and stunning rivers, encompassing long sandy beaches along the Cote d'Argent (with Europe's biggest sand dune on the south end), forests and rolling hills. Here, too, are the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vezere Valley, and extraordinary Palaeolithic masterpieces (Lascaux, Font de Gaume and Pech Merle). History has been made here, evidenced in medieval castles and bastides, and beautiful old cities such as Sarlat, Perigueux, St-Emilion, Cahors and Figeac. Hundreds of unspoiled villages dot landscapes that are among the most idyllic in France, while Romanesque churches, including the great abbey at Moissac, are a feast for art lovers. Outdoor activities are well covered, too, including cycling, sailing, surfing, canoeing, kayaking and walking the numerous Grand Randonnees (including three main routes of the Camino de Santiago) that pass through here, along with scores of other paths. And last but not least, the food is good: think truffles, oysters, duck, saffron, strawberries and melons, walnut groves and orchards. The weekly markets are gorgeous, and the summers are filled with wine, music and theatre festivals. All of this and more is covered by expert authors Dana Fac