Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region in France, sweeping down the Atlantic seaboard from the Loire to the Pyrenees and the Spanish border — a vast, sunlit region of vineyards, river valleys, pine forests and long ocean beaches. For travellers it is extraordinarily rich: Bordeaux, the elegant wine capital, and the great vineyards around it; the prehistoric caves, clifftop châteaux and golden towns of the Dordogne; the Atlantic coast with Europe's tallest sand dune, the oyster bays of Arcachon and the surf beaches of the Landes; the island-fringed port of La Rochelle; and, in the far south, the green Basque Country around Biarritz and Bayonne.

Discover Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Bordeaux is one of the most elegant cities in France and the capital of the world's most celebrated wine region. Its eighteenth-century heart — the 'Port of the Moon', a UNESCO World Heritage Site — lines the curve of the Garonne in pale limestone, its showpiece the Place de la Bourse, whose classical façade is mirrored in the Miroir d'eau, the vast reflecting pool on the quay. The city wears its wealth lightly: grand boulevards and the long Rue Sainte-Catherine for shopping, the Gothic Cathedral of Saint-André, the cafés and wine bars of the Saint-Pierre quarter, and the striking Cité du Vin, a museum of wine cultures in a building shaped like wine swirling in a glass. But Bordeaux's real estate is liquid, and the vineyards begin at the city's edge. Northwest along the Gironde estuary, the Médoc lines up its grand châteaux and famous appellations — Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe. To the east, the beautiful hilltop village of Saint-Émilion, ringed by vines and honeycombed with a monolithic church carved from the rock, is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. South lie the gravelly Graves and the golden sweet wines of Sauternes. Many châteaux welcome visitors for tours and tastings, and Bordeaux makes the perfect base from which to explore them.

Travel Types

Bordeaux & the Vineyards

The UNESCO 'Port of the Moon', the Place de la Bourse water mirror and the Cité du Vin, plus the great vineyards of the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and Sauternes.

Dordogne & Périgord

The prehistoric caves of the Vézère (Lascaux IV), clifftop castles, the golden town of Sarlat, and the foie gras, truffles and walnuts of the Périgord table.

The Atlantic Coast

Arcachon Bay and the Dune du Pilat, the surf beaches and pine forest of the Landes, La Rochelle and the islands of Ré and Oléron, and the brandy town of Cognac.

The Basque Country

Biarritz and its surf, the ham and chocolate of Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the red-pepper village of Espelette and the green hills towards the Pyrenees.

Frequently asked questions

Yes — Bordeaux is the perfect base for the world's most famous wine region. The grand châteaux of the Médoc (Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Julien) line the Gironde to the northwest, the UNESCO-listed hilltop village of Saint-Émilion lies to the east, and the sweet whites of Sauternes to the south; many estates offer tours and tastings, usually by appointment. Start at the Cité du Vin museum in the city, then explore by car or on a half-day guided minibus tour from Bordeaux. The grape harvest (vendanges) in September and October is an especially good time.

The Dordogne (Périgord) packs in prehistoric cave art (recreated in vivid detail at Lascaux IV and genuine at Font-de-Gaume), clifftop medieval castles like Beynac and Castelnaud, and some of France's prettiest villages along the river. The golden-stone town of Sarlat is the hub, famous for its market and its rich cuisine — foie gras, duck, black truffles and walnuts. Canoeing the Dordogne beneath the castles is a classic summer outing. A car is essential to explore it properly, and three or four days reward the trip.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine has one of Europe's great surf coasts. South of Arcachon, the Côte d'Argent runs straight for over 200 kilometres behind the Landes pine forest, with consistent Atlantic swell at Hossegor, Capbreton and Lacanau and the lively resort of Biarritz in the Basque Country to the south. For calmer water, the Bassin d'Arcachon and the islands of Ré and Oléron have sheltered family beaches, and the Dune du Pilat — Europe's tallest sand dune — towers over the bay. Summer is warm and busy; June and September are quieter and still fine for the ocean.

Cities in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

1 city with detailed travel information

Bordeaux