Nouvelle Aquitaine is France's largest region, stretching from the Atlantic coast and Pyrenees mountains in the south to the Loire Valley in the north. It encompasses world-renowned wine regions like Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, the surf capital of Biarritz, prehistoric wonders at Lascaux, and the dramatic Dune du Pilat. With diverse landscapes, rich gastronomy, and centuries of history, Nouvelle Aquitaine offers an unrivaled travel experience in southwestern France.
Nouvelle Aquitaine encompasses one of the most historically layered regions in Europe, from the earliest traces of prehistoric human habitation in the Vézère Valley 400,000 years ago to the extraordinary cave paintings at Lascaux 17,000 years ago. The Romans established Burdigala (Bordeaux) as a major city of Aquitaine around 300 BC, and the region became the center of the Duchy of Aquitaine—a territory whose medieval history entwined the kingdoms of France and England for centuries, most famously through the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to both Louis VII of France and later Henry II of England. Bordeaux's rise as a great wine capital began under English rule in the 12th-15th centuries, when 'claret' first became fashionable in Britain. The Basque Country in the south has maintained its unique pre-Indo-European language and culture across thousands of years of surrounding political change.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Nouvelle Aquitaine.
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1
Early Human Presence
Evidence of early human habitation in the Vézère Valley, Dordogne—the oldest inhabited territory in Nouvelle Aquitaine
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2
Lascaux Cave Paintings
Extraordinary polychrome paintings created in the Lascaux cave complex near Montignac by Cro-Magnon people during the Magdalenian era
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3
Périgord Magdalenian Culture
The Vézère Valley becomes one of the world's most important prehistoric sites with Font-de-Gaume, Combarelles, Rouffignac, and dozens of inhabited rockshelters
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4
Roman Burdigala
The Romans found Burdigala (Bordeaux) as the capital of their province of Aquitania, building a amphitheatre, temples, and extensive trading infrastructure
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5
Baptistère Saint-Jean, Poitiers
Construction of the Baptistère Saint-Jean in Poitiers—the oldest surviving Christian building in France
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6
Battle of Poitiers
Charles Martel defeats the Moorish forces of the Umayyad Caliphate near Poitiers, halting the Islamic advance into Western Europe
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7
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most powerful woman in medieval Europe, begins her extraordinary life that will shape both French and English history; she brings Aquitaine first to France then to England through her two marriages
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8
Henry Plantagenet and Aquitaine
Eleanor's marriage to Henry II of England makes the Duchy of Aquitaine an English possession—beginning 300 years of Anglo-French conflict over this rich territory
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9
End of the Hundred Years' War
The Battle of Castillon ends the Hundred Years' War, restoring Aquitaine to French sovereignty after three centuries of English rule
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10
The Massacre of Saint-Bartholomew's Day
Religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots tear through the region; Navarre (including the Basque country) becomes a Protestant stronghold under Henri de Navarre
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11
Henri IV, King of Navarre
Henri IV, born in Pau and a native of Navarre, becomes King of France and issues the Edict of Nantes granting Protestants religious freedoms
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12
Bordeaux's Golden Age
Bordeaux experiences an extraordinary building boom as wine trade wealth funds the construction of the Place de la Bourse, the Grand Théâtre, and the great 18th-century urban plan that earns UNESCO Heritage status
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13
Bordeaux Wine Classification
Napoleon III orders the famous Bordeaux wine classification for the Paris Exposition—creating the Grand Cru Classé hierarchy still in use today
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14
World War II
Bordeaux serves as the capital of Vichy France briefly; the region is occupied by German forces; brave resistance activities in the Dordogne and Corrèze forests
Historical eras
The chapters of Nouvelle Aquitaine's past.
Prehistoric Period
The Vézère Valley in Dordogne is one of the world's most important prehistoric sites, with cave paintings, rock shelters, and tools documenting 400,000 years of human presence
Gallo-Roman Period
Roman Burdigala (Bordeaux) became the capital of Aquitania Prima, a prosperous province famed for its wines, amphitheatre, and senate
Medieval Period
The Duchy of Aquitaine dominated medieval Europe under Eleanor of Aquitaine; the Hundred Years' War between France and England was largely fought here
Wine Renaissance
Bordeaux's wine industry developed into the world's most prestigious, codified by the 1855 Classification and shaped by the English love of 'claret'
Historical sites
Places where Nouvelle Aquitaine's past comes alive.
Lascaux IV (Lascaux Caves replica)
The world-class Lascaux IV international cave art center presents perfect replicas of the original prehistoric paintings using state-of-the-art digital and artisanal techniques
Where: 1 Allée de Lascaux, 24290 Montignac-Lascaux
Admission: €20 adult
Baptistère Saint-Jean, Poitiers
The oldest surviving Christian building in France, constructed in the 4th century and decorated with remarkable Romanesque frescoes
Where: Rue Jean-Jaurès, 86000 Poitiers
Admission: €3
Château de Pau
Birthplace of Henri IV, King of France, this imposing château contains remarkable Flemish tapestries and royal apartments; the views of the Pyrenees from the Boulevard des Pyrénées are exceptional
Where: Rue du Château, 64000 Pau
Admission: €9
Château de Castelnaud
A superbly preserved medieval castle above the Dordogne Valley, home to an exceptional museum of medieval warfare with original siege engines and weapons
Where: 24250 Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
Admission: €11
Vesunna Gallo-Roman Museum, Périgueux
Jean Nouvel's extraordinary glass museum protects the remains of a 2nd-century Gallo-Roman villa with original floor mosaics and frescoes
Where: Parc de Vésone, 24000 Périgueux
Admission: €7
Cité Médiévale, Saint-Émilion
A UNESCO World Heritage medieval town including the monolithic church carved from a single limestone rock, catacombs, and the hermitage cave of Saint-Émilion himself
Where: 33330 Saint-Émilion
Admission: Free (village); €8 underground church
Cordouan Lighthouse
France's oldest working lighthouse, built from 1584-1611, features royal apartments, a chapel, and extraordinary Renaissance architecture at the mouth of the Gironde
Where: Gironde Estuary (boat from Royan)
Admission: €28-35 including boat
Museums
Curated collections that tell Nouvelle Aquitaine's story.
Musée d'Aquitaine, Bordeaux
Comprehensive museum of Aquitaine's history from prehistory to the present, including an extraordinary collection of Roman-era gold artifacts and medieval Bordeaux
Hours: 11AM-6PM Tue-Sun
Admission: Free
Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies
The world's leading prehistoric museum with over 14,000 objects spanning 400,000 years of human prehistory in the Dordogne
Hours: 9:30AM-6PM (Jun-Sep); 9:30AM-12:30PM & 2PM-5:30PM (Oct-May); closed Tue
Admission: €9
Musée Basque et de l'Histoire de Bayonne
One of France's finest regional ethnographic museums documenting Basque culture, language, and history across centuries
Hours: 10AM-6:30PM Tue-Sun
Admission: €7
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux
Important fine art collection in Bordeaux's Grand-Palais including works by Rubens, Titian, Veronese, and Delacroix
Hours: 11AM-6PM Wed-Mon
Admission: Free
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Walking tours
Free walking tours of Bordeaux depart daily from the tourism office at 10AM; Sarlat and Périgueux offer guided heritage walks from €8
Day tours
Full-day historical tours of Dordogne prehistoric sites from Bordeaux €80-120; Médoc château historical tours from €60
Private tours
Private guides for Dordogne prehistoric circuit from €150/half day; Bordeaux heritage walks from €80/2h