Gay Aquitaine

At only three hours from Paris by TGV train, there’s no excuse for missing out on this classical masterpiece containing one of the largest protected architectural neighborhoods in all of France. If you would like to see more of its young handsome specimens in the flesh, the beaches of Arcachon and Pyla Plage are favorite weekend retreats for Bordeaux’s gay and lesbian crowd, only 45 minutes away. Arcachon is known for Europe’s highest sand dune, Pyla, and for being the center of activity for many oyster farms. (Who needs Viagra?)

Traveling south along the coast, you come upon Hossegor and Biarritz, two other hotspots of gay activity. Biarritz became famous for a couple of reasons: First of all it was there that the wife of Napoleon III, Eugénie de Montijo, launched the fashion for sea bathing; and it is where the Hollywood Script-writer, Peter Viertel introduced surfing to local youths while shooting “The Sun also Rises” in 1957. Since then, the craze has spread to the rest of Aquitaine, which hosts three world championship surfing contests each year.

To continue on your whirlwind gay tour of Aquitaine, head east of Biarritz to Pau (as in right in the kisser), the city of Henri IV. Its gay quarter is located on the street of René-Fournets and is replete with a gay sauna, a boutique and two bars — just small enough for outside visitors to instantly become the center of attention. Finally, at the northern end of Aquitaine is Périgueux, the capital of the Dordogne, one of France’s most romantic destinations and the perfect place to share with a special someone. Its valleys, hills, winding waterways and perched medieval castles will have you feeling like a queen for the day (or more). If at any point during your gay tour of Aquitaine you feel like you’ve already been the belle of too many balls, retreat to one of its “Cities of Character,” like Agen or Dax.