Visit Aquitaine

Aquitaine is among the most diverse regions of France, with magnificent long Atlantic surfing beaches, cities such as Bordeaux and Biarritz, the largest forest in France, and the lovely countryside of the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne departments, dotted with medieval villages, wooded valleys and medieval castles

Six unmissable highlights of a visit to Aquitaine

Sarlat has possibly the most extensive and best preserved historical centre of any town in France!
Sarlat

The 13th century bastide town of Monpazier is almost completely unchanged by the last 700 years!
monpazier

Plenty of character remains of Biarritz 19th century wealth to make it one of our favourite resorts in Aquitaine
Biarritz

After years of regeneration Bordeaux is now one of the most vibrant cities to be found in France.
Bordeaux

The pretty village of Espelette is just one of several picturesque Basque villages to the south of Aquitaine
Espelette

the extensive medieval centre of Saint-Emilion and the surrounding vineyards are now a UNESCO protected site
Saint-Emilion

Found in the south-west corner of France, Aquitaine reaches Spain at its southern frontier while the Atlantic Ocean runs along its western coast. For visitors the region falls into three distinct regions:

the forest backed Atlantic coast of western Aquitaine, best known for the beaches, surfing, and summer fun
the countryside of the Dordogne / Lot-et-Garonne departments further inland, and the history reflected in the castles and medieval villages set among the verdant countryside
the foothills of the western Pyrenees, and the numerous typical Basque villages that they contain

Explore Aquitaine by department

Gironde - north-west Aquitaine

Based around Bordeaux, the important and impressive capital of Gironde, the department has several other notable highlights, including important coastal towns and the renowned wine regions of the Medoc and Saint Emilion.

Of particular interest during a visit to Gironde Bordeaux is one of the most impressive cities in France.

You can also see the highest sand dune in Europe at Dune de Pilat near Arcachon; visit the UNESCO protected town and vineyards of Saint-Emilion, and enjoy one of the popular coastal resorts such as Lacanau.

visit Gironde for more information

Landes - coastal Aquitaine

The Landes department is best known for its enormous forests, and for the many resorts and long sandy beaches that line the coast

The Landes department attracts large numbers of holidaymakers, to resorts such as Biscarrosse, Capbreton, Hossegor and Mimizan and is especially popular with windsurfers. Inland, the large forests planted by Napoleon III also provide great cycling and walking opportiunities.

Less well known in the Landes, there are a couple of towns of note inland from Bayonne include Mont-de-Marsan and Dax.

Visit Landes for more information and Atlantic coast and beaches for coastal towns and resorts

Pyrenees-Atlantiques - south-western Aquitaine

Transition zone between the low western Pyrenees and the Atlantic coast, the Pyrenees-Atlantiques can offer beaches in the morning - and mountain villages in the afternoon - with lunch in a clasic resort such as Biarritz in between!

The popular city of Biarritz is a highlight in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (along with nearby Bayonne) while a little to the south be sure to visit Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The quiet neighbour to Saint Jean de Luz at Ciboure was once home to Ravel and Matisse - and while in the region be sure to venture across the border into Spain to visit historical Hondarribia.

Inland the town of Pau is also popular, while the 'most beautiful villages' of Sare, Ainhoa and La Bastide-Clairence are also recommended. This attractive Basque country has many other small traditional towns and villages such as Espelette and Itxassou, while other selected highlights include Cambo-les-Bains, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Salies-de-Bearn and Sauveterre-de-Bearn

visit Pyrenees-Atlantiques for more information

Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne - inland Aquitaine

Heading inland, Aquitaine is well known for the medieval villages and bastide towns, the castles and the traditional farms of the regions along the Rivers Dordogne and Lot, and for some of the finest countryside scenery to be found in France.

This region of Aquitaine includes two departments: Dordogne to the north and Lot-et-Garonne to the south. The southern Dordogne around Sarlat attracts the most visitors, while the Lot-et-Garonne and northern Dordogne are quieter, unspoiled regions with many of their own highlights and attractions - from the forests of Perigord-Limousin to the 13th century villages of Lot-et-Garonne.

See also the dedicated Dordogne site that provided much of the tourist information for the Dordogne section of the Aquitaine travel guide

see Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne for more information

See more ideas at Aquitaine tourist information, with more towns, national monuments, national parks, towns in bloom etc across the Aquitaine region.