Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Occitan: Nòva Aquitania, Basque: Akitania Berria, Poitevin-Saintongeais: Novéle-Aguiéne; all mean New Aquitaine in English) is the largest region of France. It stretches from the Spanish border and Pyrenees in the south, to the Loire Valley 500 km to the north, and from the Atlantic coastal sands in the west to the Massif Central in the east. Though centred on the refined city of Bordeaux, the region is predominantly rural, with sweeping agricultural vistas lying comfortably between sleepy villages and market towns. It is hard to generalise what is a genuinely diverse landscape that contains both mountain and beach, city and country, but at its heart this is la douce France at its softest and sweetest. Lazy river valleys, sunflower fields, pine forests and vineyards share the stage with tumbling hill towns, rocky promontories and rustic farmhouses. Local life is shaped by strong traditions, fine wine and hearty cooking, and you won't lack opportunities for surfing or cycling either. If joie de vivre really exists, you'll find it here.

• 44.837778-0.5794441 Bordeaux — The capital of the region, known as la ville girondine. Easily one of France's most-visited cities, the hordes are drawn to its sophisticated atmosphere, World Heritage riverfront, aristocratic architecture and, above all, the famous red elixir - wine. Santé !
• 45.6494440.1594442 Angoulême — Often seen as the archetypal provincial city, Angoulême is France's capital of cartoons (bande dessinée). Admire its beauty from high on the ramparts, or else stroll along its winding, sloping streets to discover the painted walls.
• 43.4925-1.4763893 Bayonne — A heady mix of Gascon and Basque, Bayonne comes alive in August for the annual fêtes. For the rest of the year, visitors can't help be drawn to the city's museums and galleries, and its gastronomic specialities.
• 43.480556-1.5572224 Biarritz — Pricey Basque seaside resort, built for pleasure. Great for surfing the ocean wave by day and hitting the casinos and nightclubs after dark, Biarritz is also known for its luxury hotels and swanky restaurants.
• 46.159444-1.1513895 La Rochelle — Nicknamed la ville blanche (the "white city") for the colour of its buildings, this is a harbour city known for its maritime defences, huge aquarium and bountiful seafood in its markets and restaurants.
• 45.8344441.2616676 Limoges — Cathedral city blessed with two botanical gardens, a pedestrianised Mediaeval old town and bridges spanning the sluggish river Vienne. Limoges' domed railway station is a sight to behold.
• 46.5811110.3352787 Poitiers — Quiet city with exceptional heritage close to the sites of two major battles of European history. Due to its position about halfway down France, it is a popular stopping point for travellers driving south. Just outside is futuristic theme park Futuroscope.
• 45.1841670.7180568 Périgueux — heart of the Périgord (otherwise known as the Dordogne) one of the most beloved areas in all France.
• 45.623056-1.0430569 Royan — Nicknamed La perle de l'Atlantique, one of the French Atlantic coast's most popular seaside resorts, on the Gironde estuary. The city has a representative architectural heritage of the 1950s, five sandy beaches and many facilities. Travel just a short distance and you reach the wildness of the Côte Sauvage and its surf beaches.

• The compact French part of the Basque Country, located at the innermost point of the Bay of Biscay
• The western Pyrenees include some of France's most remote and beautiful countryside

Nouvelle-Aquitaine was created in 2016 with the merger of three smaller regions: Aquitaine, Limousin, and Poitou-Charentes. The region has played a significant role throughout history, from the earliest neolithic art discovered in caves such as Lascaux, to the Battle of Poitiers/Tours in 732 which turned the tide against the Moorish conquest of Europe. In the Middle Ages, the region was under the Duchy of Aquitaine, one of the major continental territories held by the Kingdom of England. There are many castles and locations of note from the Hundred Years' War fought by England and France, which resulted in the expulsion of the English and incorporation of the region into France. The Duchy's boundaries more or less corresponded to those of the modern-day Nouvelle-Aquitaine. In the late 18th century, the area gave birth to the Girondins, a powerful liberal/left-wing faction in the French Revolution. Of most interest to many visitors is the perfection, over centuries, of wine production in the terroirs around Bordeaux.

The region is now hugely popular with British holidaymakers and hundreds of thousands of Britons reside and own property in the south-west of France (as the rather horrible term "Dordogneshire" attests). But don't let this put you off; Nouvelle-Aquitaine is still a mainly rural area steeped in traditions and enjoying a mild climate tempered by the ocean and the relatively southern latitude.

The popularity of the region among English-speaking tourists and migrants means it is highly feasible to get by without any knowledge of French, though visitors who do make the effort to learn a few phrases will invariably receive a much warmer welcome than those who don't bother. If you are a French speaker, you will notice a slightly tonic accent, especially in more rural areas of the south. Further north, the accent is fairly close to the 'neutral' standard spoken in the Loire Valley and Paris.

The main regional language spoken is Gascon, a dialect of Occitan. Like most local tongues in France, Gascon is in decline and struggling to turn the tide against decades of institutional discrimination, though you will probably see signs written in the language and you may hear older residents speaking it. Gascony is an alternative name for the southern half of the region, and indeed the French name for the Bay of Biscay is le Golfe de Gascogne. The extreme south west of the region is part of the Basque country, though the status of the language is far sorrier than in Spain. Whereas over the border, Basque enjoys co-official status equal to Spanish, the language receives almost no recognition in France and is thus spoken by few. Basque culture, on the other hand, is alive and kicking throughout the French part of the country. Basque is a unique language with no known relatives either living or dead, so is a fascinating topic of study for linguists.

• Historic towns, many with castles, are the main thing to see in the region. Moving from place to place, you can check out ancient churches, wander delightful streets, mooch around various markets, and of course stay for lunch! You won't be 'doing' much per se, but you will discover the essence of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in a very relaxed and satisfying way.
• Prehistoric cave art — mainly centred on the Dordogne, and including the stunning Grotte de Lascaux, there are dozens of caves in the region where you can see paintings left by our ancestors more than 10,000 years ago.
• There are hundreds of miles of beach to explore, and away from the main resorts (Arcachon, Biarritz and Royan), far from being crowded. There are also quite a few nudist beaches along this stretch of coast, though all are clearly marked as such.

• Futuroscope — this futuristic multimedia theme park is advertised everywhere in the region, though is located just north of Poitiers. Most attractions are based around 3D / 4D cinema and light shows.
• Boating — there are many navigable waterways in the region, notably the Gironde estuary, the rivers Charente, Dordogne, Garonne and Vézère, and the canal de Garonne. All are gentle and highly accessible: craft, including barges, rowing boats, canoes and kayaks are available to hire along these, and you can generally get away with having no licence or experience. A wonderful way to spot aquatic wildlife such as coypu, kingfisher and heron.
• Cycling — the region's country lanes and cycle tracks make this a perfect way to get around. You can mountain bike in the Pyrenees and Massif Central, while the extensive forest trails of the Landes are suited for families.
• Surfing — pretty much anywhere from La Rochelle down to Spain is viable, though the most commercialised surfing beaches are near Biarritz. The long stretch of beach in the Landes, the islands of Ré and Oléron and the Côte Sauvage near Royan are another great place to try.
• Tour the vineyards around Bordeaux and the Gironde

See also: French cuisine

The South West of France has a distinctive rustic cuisine, with many delicacies that are well-known all over the world. As a general rule, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine the cuisine becomes more "south-western" in character the further south you go. Poultry-based, and with many stews, roasts and pâtés, this is certainly a meat-lover's paradise. Who can forget their first confit de canard, fried fatty duck legs, the true treasure of Gascon cooking? Although available in many restaurants, this is one dish that is relatively easy to prepare by roasting in the oven, and it is sold at supermarkets in large tins. The leaner magret de canard, which uses breast, is also delicious, and often served on the rare side. Cassoulet, a sausage, beans and sometimes duck casserole, may not strictly be from this region (purists should head to Occitanie), but you can expect to find it on many a good menu. For all its controversy, if you're ever going to try foie gras - duck or goose liver pâté, made by force-feeding the bird - it should be here. The cruelty inherent to its production cannot be denied, but nor can its flavour.

Apart from duck and goose, the love of sausages (saucisses) and black pudding (boudin) is ubiquitous. The Gironde is the place to try lamb (agneau), roasted of course in the red wine-based sauce bordelaise. The same sauce is also used to cook fresh fish, oysters (huitres) and mussels (moules). The seafood along the coast is invariably excellent, if pricey. If you have lots of time - and money - consider pigging out on a sharing platter of fruits de mer - prawns, oysters, mussels, langoustine, lobster, crab, clams, cockles, winkles, you name it - served with plenty of bread and green salad.

Away from the core south-western fare, the Basque Country also offers plenty of seafood, often cooked in the Iberian way - lots of tomatoes, beans and peppers. Anyone who's a sucker for prosciutto, serrano and the like, will want to taste jambon de Bayonne, which is cured for seven to ten months before sale. The north of the region, between the Charente and Limousin, is well known for its cattle farming, and the beef and dairy produced here is considered some of the best in France. For all the finery of French gastronomy, and all the weird and wonderful things they can do with beef, nothing beats a good steak frites - steak and chips to die for!

You will find an extraordinary variety of cheeses, which can be based on cows' (vache), goats' (chèvre) or ewe's (brebis) milk. Well-known marks include bleu d'Auvergne and cantal, but most are little-known appellations with small-scale production.

You've probably guessed by now, and there's no getting around it - this region, especially in the countryside, is not vegetarian or vegan-friendly. In some really rural areas, the concept of vegetarianism is practically unheard of, with travellers being offered chicken, as "that doesn't really count as meat, does it?" You will find a few vegetarian restaurants in Bordeaux, and some 'foreign cuisine' restaurants are better geared up for catering to non meat-eaters: try Italian, Lebanese or, if you can find any, Indian. Pescatarians have a much easier time - even inland, there are river fish dishes to try. Still, aside from animal products, the region is strong in potatoes, nuts, beans, mushrooms and truffles. In restaurants at least, green vegetables are somewhat lacking, however.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine is home to many great wine regions, and the drink is one of the major draws to travellers. First and foremost is of course Bordeaux, and the city and its surrounding Gironde area are often called the home of wine. The Bordeaux region actually covers eight separate Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) areas, and some 50 AOCs in all. The vast majority of the wines produced in the region are reds, but rosés and whites are also made. Travellers can visit individual vineyards and participate in tasting sessions, and there is also a wine museum in Bordeaux city centre. Wine plays a huge part of the local gastronomy, both as an accompaniment to dishes and as a primary ingredient. To the east of the main Bordeaux region is the appellation Entre-Deux-Mers, which produces white wine.

Inland, there is a larger region known simply as Sud-Ouest (South West), which has various sub-regions sometimes known as "wine islands" in a wider sea of other agriculture: Dordogne/Bergerac, Gascony and Béarn/Pays Basque. Meanwhile, up north, the Haut-Poitou AOC (Vienne and Deux-Sèvres) is just about on the southern edge of the Loire Valley wine region.

There are also two areas where wine is distilled into the two most famous varieties of brandy. The Charente, in the north of the region, is known for producing cognac, while further south in Landes and Lot-et-Garonne, armagnac is distilled. Despite its common usage in English, the French language doesn't have a word for brandy; cognac and armagnac are described as eaux-de-vie (waters of life), a term which applies to a multitude of spirits.

The south west of France is very well geared-up to host large numbers of visitors, and the accommodation base is extensive and varied. While the grandest hotels are probably found in Biarritz and Bordeaux, most of the bigger towns and cities will also have decent hotels of some description. Poitiers particularly has a lot of budget rooms, due to its location next to the main road south and its position about halfway between Paris and Spain. In the countryside, practically every village has at least one bed and breakfast or self-catering gîte. Camping is perennially popular in France, and while most sites will be located along the coast or in the mountains, there are good numbers of campgrounds all around. The region's diversity and size certainly lend themselves to touring in a caravan or campervan, and most towns and villages have sites where you can park the night and hook up your power lead.

This is a region that is on the whole safe and welcoming to visitors, though there is always a threat of pickpockets in the most touristy areas. As you would at home, think twice before mixing alcohol with driving; a far safer way of touring vineyards is to go on a guided excursion or to hire a taxi for the day.

In the remote Pyrenees, there are small numbers of wild animals (wolves and brown bear) with the potential to harm humans, though attacks on people are unheard of in the 21st century. Both creatures are very elusive and keep out of the way of people; European brown bears in particular are much warier of humans than their American cousins, and due to their rarity your chances of seeing either animal are sadly very low. If you do have an encounter, the best thing to do is to retreat slowly and calmly to a safe distance with your gaze averted (staring eyes are the mark of a predator), perhaps while speaking in soft, non-threatening tones. For more practical information, see Wikivoyage's guide to dealing with bear encounters.