Nouvelle-Aquitaine
France's largest region sits along the Atlantic coast, also boasting expansive forests and rolling hills
Regional capital: Bordeaux
Departments: Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-Et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Corrèze, Creuse, Haute-Vienne, Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne
Main Cities: Bordeaux, Bayonne, Pau, Limoges, Poitiers, Tulle, Brive-La-Gaillarde, La Rochelle, Angoulême
Property prices
Median prices per m2 for non-newbuild apartments in the third quarter of 2025: Bordeaux €4,240 -1%, Poitiers €2,130 - 2.2% Median prices for non-newbuild houses in the third quarter of 2025: Bordeaux €345,000 +0.4%, Poitiers €195,000 +1%(figures taken from the most recently available French property report (Jan 26) from the Notaires de France, % year-on-year change: July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025 / July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024).
Character of the region
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region in France, characterized by its diverse geography, rich history and strong economy, making it a region of contrasts and opportunities.
It boasts a long Atlantic coastline (720km), expansive forests, rolling hills, and the Pyrenees mountains, creating a landscape that caters to a variety of activities and interests. Its capital Bordeaux is known for wine production.
Population / density
6.1 million people across 84,036 sq km (Insee figures 2023 [latest available]) = approx. 9% of the population
Fact: It is the third largest region in terms of population after Île-de-France and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Weather
Mild winters (January average 7C), with snow in mountainous areas, warm summers (August average 22C). Coastal areas have an oceanic climate.
Local industries
Wine production in the Bordeaux area is a major contributor to the economy, while tourism (27million tourists a year) in the coastal areas particularly is also an important driver. The region is also home to an established aerospace and defense industry around Bordeaux.
Cities and towns
Bordeaux is known for its wine, architecture and culture, while Cognac is home to the production of the spirit of the same name. Poitiers towards the northern end of the region is an historic city, home to the Futuroscope theme park, while the Dordogne Valley is popular for lovers of landscapes and history. Coastal destinations include Biarritz towards the Pyrenees, La Rochelle and the islands of Île de Ré, Île d’Oléron and Île d’Aix.
Food and drink
Wine (Bordeaux and the surrounding areas), goat’s cheese, foie gras, Bayonne ham, seafood, Limousin beef, truffles, apples, Basque dishes (poulet Basquaise, piperade vegetable stew), clafoutis.
Cultural points of interest
Basque heritage is strong in the area around Biarritz, where the colours of the flag (green, white and red) can be found incorporated into architecture, clothing and other cultural references. The Dordogne Valley is home to UNESCO-listed prehistoric painted caves at Lascaux, while the region also has a large section of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim walking route. Angoulême hosts an annual bande dessinée comic book festival of international renown.
Major transport points
Airports: Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD), Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ), Pau Pyrénées (PUF), Limoges-Bellegarde (LIG), Bergerac Dordogne Périgord (EGC)
Trains: the region has several railway stations, including those in Bordeaux, Limoges, Biarritz, Bayonne, La Rochelle, and Angoulême. TGV trains serve widespread points throughout the region.
Motorways: key motorways include the A10 (connecting Paris to Spain via Bordeaux), the A20 (linking Paris to Toulouse via Limoges), and the A63 (extending from Bordeaux towards Spain).