Between its vineyards and its coastline, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is home to a wide range of stunning landscapes! Discover this region through 7 photogenic can’t-miss sites!
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When we think of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, we tend to think of the city of Bordeaux, yet the region also has all manner of natural attractions, from salt marshes to vineyards, forests to sand dunes. Discover the region through 7 stunning natural sites.
7 photos of can’t-miss natural sites in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
The Dune du Pilat
Cock-a-doodle-doo! The tallest sand dune in Europe is located in France, and more specifically, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The 102.5-metre tall Dune du Pilat overlooks the Arcachon Bay, and extends along 2.9 kilometres of shoreline in the commune of La Teste-de-Buch.
102.5 metres, really? Well, yes and no. The Dune du Pilat is always moving, which means that it is constantly being shaped by the wind. It is anywhere from 100 to 115 metres tall, depending on the year, and moves 1 to 5 metres eastward each year, slowly covering more and more of the forest of La Teste-de-Buch.
>> Learn more about the Dune du Pilat
The Dune du Pilat is worth the visit for two main reasons:
First, for its undeniable beauty. This grande dame of fine sands is considered to be an exceptional natural monument. Sometimes white, sometimes gold, worn away by the rain then smoothed by the wind, the Dune du Pilat has many faces, depending on the season, the light and the weather.
But the Dune du Pilat is also worth the trip for its unobstructed view of the Arcachon Bay, a setting offering a delicate mix of land and sea.
Getting there
Take a train to Arcachon, then hire a car with AVIS® or Budget®. Take advantage of multiple discounts when you hire through the Ma Location service with AVIS.
The Arès and Lège Salt Marshes National Nature Reserve
Still in the Arcachon Bay, north of the Dune du Pilat, hides another exceptional natural site: the Arès and Lège Salt Marshes National Nature Reserve. This triangular-shaped piece of land, 400 hectares near the Arès and Lège-Cap-Ferret oyster port, contains a wide range of natural habitats, from forests to mudflats, by way of salt marshes.
What is a salt marsh exactly? As its name indicates, it is a flat stretch of land that is flooded by the saltwater from the sea at high tide. Thanks to this unique phenomenon, salt marshes are home to many rare types of flora and fauna, such as birds that live in humid zones, tortoises and pond turtles, and halophytes, plants that grow in salty environments. For example, samphire grows all over the reserve!
>> Visit Arcachon with friends!
The landscapes of the Arès and Lège Salt Marshes National Nature Reserve are worth visiting because they offer a unique change of scenery, but also because they are home to many protected species found nowhere else in France.
Getting there
Take a train to Arcachon, then hire a car with AVIS® or Budget®. Take advantage of multiple discounts when you hire through the Ma Location service with AVIS.
The salt flats of Île de Ré
Speaking of saltwater, have you heard of the salt flats of Île de Ré? They are composed of basins dug into the clay that is naturally present on the island, which encourages the water to move from one basin to the next. In the right weather, the combined effects of the sun and wind cause the water to evaporate and the salt to crystallise, forming a crust on the surface of the basins containing the least amount of water. This fleur de sel is harvested by salt farmers in summer.
>> The best of Île de Ré’s beaches
The salt flats cover more than 400 hectares on Île de Ré, and offer a stunning landscape that blurs the line between land and sky, where the sea can be felt and smelled, and where the rich, fragile ecosystem exists in harmony with salt production.
Getting there
Take a train to La Rochelle, then hire a car with AVIS® or Budget®. Take advantage of multiple discounts when you hire through the Ma Location service with AVIS.
Vassivière Lake
It is simply breathtaking in size. With a surface area of 1000 hectares, a volume of 106 million cubic metres of water, and 47 kilometres of shoreline, Vassivière Lake is a veritable inland sea, well worth the visit in the Limousin! This gigantic man made lake is located northwest of the Millevaches Plateau, straddling the departments of Creuse and Haute-Vienne.
Vassivière Lake is a little slice of heaven on Earth. It is a perfect place to get away from it all while enjoying a beautiful natural setting. The picturesque rocky shorelines of the lake will inspire the budding photographer in all of us.
Getting there
Take a train to Limoges, then hire a car with AVIS® or Budget®. Take advantage of multiple discounts when you hire through the Ma Location service with AVIS.
The vineyards of Bordeaux
This is one place that can’t be missed while visiting the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The reputation of Bordeaux’s vineyards is undisputed! And with good reason: between the vineyards as far as the eye can see, prestigious châteaux and charming villages are all bathed in the warm southwestern sunlight. These landscapes are like something out of a dream.
>> Learn about the Bordeaux Wine Route
Médoc, Sauternes and Saint-Emilion: the vineyards of Bordeaux are an ideal setting for a road trip with your friends or family along one of the five wine routes in the region. Travel the route by bicycle or electric car to enjoy the beautiful landscape while protecting the environment!
Getting there
Take a train to Limoges, then hire a car with AVIS® or Budget®. Take advantage of multiple discounts when you hire through the Ma Location service with AVIS.
The old town of Bayonne
The city of Bayonne, in Basque Country, has very well preserved architecture to the delight of its many visitors who enjoy getting lost in the steep, narrow streets of the historic district, Grand Bayonne.
Among these medieval streets lined with timber-framed houses and stone archways, you will find the Château-Vieux, the Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, and remains of long-gone fortifications. In addition to being remnants of the city’s past, these protected monuments offer wonderful points of view for curious travellers. Just look up!
Grand Bayonne is also a perfect place to discover Basque tradition in its many forms, thanks to the large number of shops in the area. Down below, along the banks of the Nive, you will find the covered marketplace of Bayonne. The traditional market sells numerous local products to tantalise the taste buds, and the marketplace itself, with its countless columns, is also a pleasure for the eyes.
Getting there:
Simply take the train to Bayonne!
The Landes Forest
Inside the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, you can find a hidden natural treasure: the Landes Forest. Maybe hidden isn’t the right word, as the Landes Forest isn’t very hard to find. In fact, it is the largest artificial forest in Europe, covering a surface area of more than one million hectares! It extends from the tip of the Gironde estuary to Hossegor, near Bayonne.
Known for its maritime pines, tall conifers with rough red bark that looks like scales, the Landes Forest also contains oak trees, several rivers and streams, and countless hiking trails and bicycle paths to take in the beauty of the wooded area. The pine forest is a breathtaking sight at sunrise and sunset, when the light filters through the trees like something out of a fairy tale. It is a sight to see!
Getting there
Simply take the train toward Le Teich!