City breaks

Whatever one is looking for in a city break, the main cities of Nouvelle Aquitaine will satisfy with a concentrated sampling of the region, to smell the air and to feel the spirit that animates them.

Place de l'Hôtel de Ville à Poitiers

For an evening with friends

Bordeaux will charm you with the Iboat, a floating restaurant with concert hall and Electro Club, with the rooftop of the Mama Shelter or the Guinguette Chez Alricq. You can also refind yourself over a glass in the establishments of rue Charles Michels in Limoges, the Ember Island in Poitiers or enjoy the catch of the day at La Sardinerie, a restaurant on the fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. La Rochelle, for its part, invites you to taste oysters on the terrace of Le Petit Bleu before finishing the evening at the Guignette, the authentic bistro of La Rochelle.

Living to the sound of frenzied rhythms

Many concerts and festivals are organized throughout the year in Nouvelle- Aquitaine. Among the most famous, the Francopholies de La Rochelle (pop, rock, and electronic music) are held in mid-July, Garorock awaits you in Marmande at the end of June, the Cognac Blues Passions allow you to enjoy African-American music in early July while The Brive Festival takes place at the end of July. Not to mention the numerous concerts organised at the zenith of Limoges.
At the end of July, on the banks of the Charente, la Fête de Cognac mixes discovery of flavours – local culinary products, Charente wines, Pineau, and of course, Cognac – and musical discovery.

Exploring cultures

While Angoulême is established with its International Festival of comic books, the unavoidable and second most important event of its kind in Europe, Nouvelle-Aquitaine also has many museums and cultural spaces including some that are out of the ordinary (CAPC Contemporary Art Museum of Bordeaux, Submarine Base of Bordeaux, New World Museum of La Rochelle, Martell Foundation in Cognac). The National Opera of Bordeaux offers visits of the Grand Theatre and the auditorium alongside its numerous performances.

Another way to visit the cities

Do not hesitate to multiply and mix the ways to visit the city of your choice. They almost all offer bikes on loan and have plenty of space for running, but you can also opt for a boat (in Bordeaux or La Rochelle) or canoe, a Segway or an electric scooter. Another way of appropriating the city: during an escape game (in Poitiers or Bordeaux) or alongside a greeter in Limoges.

OUR HIGHLIGHTS

Bayonne festival

The last weekend of July, the city of Bayonne is transformed, welcoming hundreds of thousands of festival- goers dressed in red and white. If you can’t make it to Bayonne, other cities in the area (Mont-de- Marsan, Dax...) also have their own local celebrations that attract thousands of festival-goers.

The new halls of Pau

The fruits of urban planning, architectural design and in-depth renovation, the new halls will, by the end of 2019, find their role as a showcase of the local gastronomic heritage by promoting local products and trades.

La Belle du Gabut: scenography to discover

A well-loved space for graffiti artists and street art enthusiasts in La Rochelle, la Belle  du  Gabut is an atypical place in the urban and creative world. Here, disparate tables and  chairs in wood, parasols… and wine barrels that are easy to lean on!

Key assets

- Six sites classified as “city of art and history”, a guarantee of a rich offering of heritage and culture

- Public transport and self-service bicycles in most cities

- A large choice of restaurants, cafés, bars, clubs and festive events