Your digital welcome book in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Exploring Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Welcome to Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the largest region in France

The region trip continues: for this fifth stop we head to the west coast, destination Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Since the recent reform, Nouvelle-Aquitaine has become one of the largest regions in France. So as you can imagine, there is plenty to do! There is something for every taste, every interest and every style.

A strong sense of history

If you love history, beautiful stonework and perfectly preserved heritage, you have come to the right place! Nouvelle-Aquitaine is home to a remarkable number of bastides and medieval villages kept in superb condition. They are also a great way to discover the region, as they are scattered across all four corners of it. Think of Collonges-la-Rouge in the Limousin, Villefranche-du-Périgord, the bastide of Monpazier and Sarlat-la-Canéda in the Dordogne, or Monflanquin in the Lot-et-Garonne. And that is not all: we also recommend visiting the traditional villages of the Basque Country. Stop off in Espelette to taste its famous pepper! The region has plenty of châteaux too, notably the Château de Bonaguil and the Château de Roquetaillade.

Exquisite natural scenery

In this corner of France, it is fair to say that nature has been generous. Take the Lascaux caves in the Dordogne, world-famous for their Palaeolithic paintings: no small thing! With the Orgues de Bort in the Limousin and the Pyrenees National Park, you simply cannot be disappointed. One extra tip just for you: make a detour via Artouste and take the little train, the highest railway line in Europe.

Views to take your breath away

The cliffs of Meschers-sur-Gironde, south of Royan, are another lovely discovery, dotted with cave dwellings that are open to visitors. For the best view of the white cliffs of Meschers, we recommend heading to the village of Talmont-sur-Gironde. Finally, the Kakuetta gorges, the Gouffre de Proumeyssac and the Dune du Pilat are all unmissable sights. And if you are looking for a moment of calm, far from routine and the frenzy of everyday life, the Vézère valley or the Monts d'Ambazac will satisfy that need to get back to simplicity and to nature.

That holiday feeling

Nouvelle-Aquitaine also means beaches, fine sand and seaside towns. Among the region's must-see destinations, the Basque coast comes first with Biarritz and Bayonne (do not forget to try Basque pelota during your stay), as well as Hendaye and Hossegor for surf lovers. A little further north, a few kilometres from the beautiful city of Bordeaux, you will find the Arcachon basin. And Nouvelle-Aquitaine is also its wonderful islands. The Île de Ré and the Île d'Oléron are the best known, but the Île d'Aix and the lesser-known Île de Nôle are not to be missed either.

A wide variety of things to do

Nouvelle-Aquitaine is also a lively, family-friendly region. It boasts a wide choice of parks, including La Palmyre zoo, the Vallée des Singes, the Teich ornithological reserve and the Île aux Oiseaux, reached aboard the pinasse, the traditional boat of the Arcachon basin. For those who prefer livelier activities, Nouvelle-Aquitaine has plenty to offer too! It is home to Walibi Sud-Ouest, the Futuroscope park and the legendary Fort Boyard off the coast of La Rochelle. And we could not talk about things to do without mentioning the region's unmissable ferias, in Bayonne, Dax and Mont-de-Marsan. Let us finish on a wine note: there are many vineyards to discover in the Bordeaux wine country, with five routes starting from Bordeaux itself.

I hope the sheer variety of Nouvelle-Aquitaine has won you over and that you will enjoy discovering it. See you very soon for the sixth stop on our region trip!