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Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Occitan: Nòva Aquitania, Basque: Akitania Berria, Poitevin-Saintongeais: Novéle-Aguiéne; all mean New Aquitaine in English) is the largest region of France. It stretches from the Spanish border and Pyrenees in the south, to the Loire Valley 500 km to the north, and from the Atlantic coastal sands in the west to the Massif Central in the east. Though centred on the refined city of Bordeaux, the region is predominantly rural, with sweeping agricultural vistas lying comfortably between sleepy villages and market towns. It is hard to generalise what is a genuinely diverse landscape that contains both mountain and beach, city and country, but at its heart this is la douce France at its softest and sweetest. Lazy river valleys, sunflower fields, pine forests and vineyards share the stage with tumbling hill towns, rocky promontories and rustic farmhouses. Local life is shaped by strong traditions, fine wine and hearty cooking, and you won't lack opportunities for surfing or cycling either. If joie de vivre really exists, you'll find it here.
Pastoral landscape of dairy farms and vineyards, and the home of cognac.
Mild coastal department blessed with many Romanesque fishing ports and resorts.
Medieval and Romanesque architecture, country walks, traditional artisanry; a perfect place to relax.
Magical hill towns lining the eponymous river, with troglodyte dwellings and neolithic cave art to discover.
Wine central, surrounding the Bordeaux metropolitan area and a fair section of the Landes coast.
Vast Atlantic pine forest fronting miles of sandy beach.
Cattle country leading onto the slopes of the Massif Central.
Fine medieval towns abound in this department of strong south-western character. Wikivoyage guide in French.
Where the Pyrenees meet the Atlantic Ocean, and France meets the Basque Country.
The ancient city of Poitiers and the Futuroscope theme park.
By train
TGV services run high speed from Paris (Gare Montparnasse) via Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps), before entering Nouvelle-Aquitaine itself, serving Poitiers (1 hr 18 min from Paris), Angoulême (1 hr 59…
By car
From Paris, northern France and the Channel ports (count on a 6-8 hour drive from Caen to Bordeaux), the A10 is the main road access to the region.
By train
Rail is an excellent way of travelling between towns and cities.
By plane
There is only one air route operated within the region: HOP! (Air France) La Rochelle to Poitiers.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dole · Regional · DLE
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The capital of the region, known as la ville girondine. Easily one of France's most-visited cities, the hordes are drawn to its sophisticated atmosphere, World Heritage riverfront, aristocratic architecture and, above all, the famous red elixir - wine. Santé !
Often seen as the archetypal provincial city, Angoulême is France's capital of cartoons (bande dessinée). Admire its beauty from high on the ramparts, or else stroll along its winding, sloping streets to discover the painted walls.
A heady mix of Gascon and Basque, Bayonne comes alive in August for the annual fêtes. For the rest of the year, visitors can't help be drawn to the city's museums and galleries, and its gastronomic specialities.
Pricey Basque seaside resort, built for pleasure. Great for surfing the ocean wave by day and hitting the casinos and nightclubs after dark, Biarritz is also known for its luxury hotels and swanky restaurants.
Nicknamed la ville blanche (the "white city") for the colour of its buildings, this is a harbour city known for its maritime defences, huge aquarium and bountiful seafood in its markets and restaurants.
Cathedral city blessed with two botanical gardens, a pedestrianised Mediaeval old town and bridges spanning the sluggish river Vienne. Limoges' domed railway station is a sight to behold.
Quiet city with exceptional heritage close to the sites of two major battles of European history. Due to its position about halfway down France, it is a popular stopping point for travellers driving south. Just outside is futuristic theme park Futuroscope.
heart of the Périgord (otherwise known as the Dordogne) one of the most beloved areas in all France.
Nicknamed La perle de l'Atlantique, one of the French Atlantic coast's most popular seaside resorts, on the Gironde estuary. The city has a representative architectural heritage of the 1950s, five sandy beaches and many facilities. Travel just a short distance and you reach the wildness of the Côte Sauvage and its surf beaches.
The Basque Country (Basque: Euskadi, Spanish: País Vasco) is a region in Northern Spain. The name can also refer to all the land of the Basques (Basque: Euskal Herria) from a historical, cultural, linguistic and identity standpoint.
The Pyrenees are a European mountain range on the border between France and Spain. Andorra is also to be found in the range.
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