Nouvelle Aquitaine

Les-Eyzies | Photo: © Bert Schwarz

Nouvelle Aquitaine (in southwestern France) is the name of the new region created by the territorial reform that came into effect on January 1, 2016. The former administrative regions of Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes, and Limousin were merged. The administrative center, or its prefecture and capital, is Bordeaux. It is also the seventh-largest city in France with approximately 850,000 inhabitants.

Due to its size, Aquitaine is a very diverse region. The northwest, comprising the departments of Dordogne and Lot et Garonne, consists of rolling hills with large vineyards in the lower-lying areas, as well as forested areas and agriculture in the hillier northeast.

In the south of Aquitaine, there are two distinct areas: the departments of Les Landes and Pyrénées Atlantiques. Les Landes is the most wooded area in Europe. The department is a low-lying area with sandy soil, almost completely covered by pine forests and interrupted by small heaths and arable land. Les Landes is part of the historical territory of Gascony.

The Basque Country is a region in northern Spain and southwestern France, known for its green landscape, its rugged coastline, and its rich culture. We travel to the Basque Country to discover the people, nature, art, history, and, of course, the gastronomy of this unique area.

Biarritz, Villa Belza | Photo: © Bert Schwarz