Nouvelle-Aquitaine

France's largest region, bringing together Bordeaux wine country, the Basque coast and the prehistoric caves of the Dordogne.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine lies in southwestern France, bordered by the Atlantic to the west and Spain to the south along the Pyrenees; its capital is Bordeaux. Bordeaux's Port de la Lune and the surrounding châteaux, such as those of Saint-Émilion, are destinations for wine lovers; Biarritz and the Basque Country are known for surfing and seaside charm; the old port of La Rochelle and the Île de Ré are relaxed and pleasant; and the Dordogne Valley has the medieval town of Sarlat and the prehistoric cave paintings of the Vézère Valley. Summer suits the seaside, while autumn is good for wine tasting during the grape harvest. Bordeaux has an international airport and is about two hours from Paris by TGV.

Destinations

• Bordeaux
• La Rochelle
• Biarritz
• Sarlat & Dordogne
• Poitiers & Futuroscope
• Cognac
• Lourdes & Central Pyrenees

Itineraries

• Poitiers to Bordeaux Atlantic Family Trip – Head south from Futuroscope through the marshes, La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Cognac to Bordeaux.
• Dordogne Valley Châteaux and Caves Road Trip – Five nights in Sarlat, with day trips to the Lascaux caves, the valley's châteaux and Rocamadour.
• Across the Pyrenees to San Sebastián – Crossing the Pyrenean passes from Toulouse, through Lourdes to the Basque coast.
• Bordeaux Wine Country and Arcachon Bay – Using Bordeaux as a base, this trip links the old town, the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and the Dune du Pilat.
• French & Spanish Basque Coast Car-Free – Cross the border from Biarritz to San Sebastián and Bilbao, connecting the Basque coast by train and bus.