The essentials of Nouvelle-Aquitaine

DAY 1 : Bordeaux

Bordeaux, historic regional capital and gateway to the vineyards. Discovery of the UNESCO-listed city to admire its historical heritage and excursion into the vineyards (see itinerary "Starting from Bordeaux" for more details).

DAY 2 : The Arcachon Bay, between heritage and ocean

• Morning: Visit of Arcachon, a lively city all year round (Ville d’Hiver with its 19th-Century villas, the port and its auction house). Lunch on the waterfront or enjoy oysters in an oyster village.
• Afternoon: Climb of the Dune of Pilat, the highest dune in Europe, to admire the view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Banc d’Arguin, and the Pine Forest; OR embark aboard a pinasse, a typical flat-bottomed boat, to discover the “Tchanquées” huts and the Isle of Birds. OR, for nature lovers, stop at the Teich Ornithological Park to admire the birds OR go canoeing on the Leyre.
• Evening: Night at the Hotel La Co(o)rniche, designed by Philippe Starck, overlooking the Dune of Pilat.

DAY 3 : Biarritz, the internationally-renowned Basque resort

Stroll in Biarritz along the waterfront, then lunch in the market hall with products of Basque gastronomy, then visit the aquarium and the Cité de l’Océan OR excursion to the Basque villages (see itinerary "Starting from Biarritz" for more details).

DAY 4 : Pau, City of Henri IV at the foot of the Pyrenees

Guided tour of Pau and its heritage. Jurançon wine tasting (see itinerary "Southwestern culture" for more details) .

DAY 5 : Dordogne Valley

From Périgord and its prehistoric heritage to Brive or Collonges-la-Rouge and Turenne, the most beautiful villages of France, discover the Dordogne Valley and its many treasures (see itinerary "Starting from Sarlat for more details).

DAY 6 : Limoges – Aubusson, Land of know-how

• Morning: Discovery of Limoges, labelled a UNESCO Creative City thanks to its porcelain savoir-faire (National Museum of Porcelain Adrien Dubouché, Museum of Fine Arts of Limoges, porcelain works) then lunch in the City, in Butchers’ street.
• Afternoon: Stop at the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie in Aubusson, the city which has produced the finest French tapestries since the 15th-Century OR visit to the Ganteries of Saint-Junien, OR the Vassivière lake, OR Oradour-sur-Glane, a martyred village in WWII.
• Evening: Tasting of local specialties at Petits Ventres, and night at the Best Western, eco-labelled hotel.

DAY 7 : Cognac, it’s not just a spirit

Discover the history of the city and the Cognac houses (see itinerary "The Atlantic coast" for more details).

DAY 8 : La Rochelle-Ile de Ré, maritime heritage

The bicycle: the best way to discover these two territories (see itinerary "Starting from La Rochelle" for more details).

DAY 9 (OPTION) : Poitiers - Futuroscope

Discover the historic center of Poitiers, the beloved city of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Afternoon: visit of the Abbey of Saint-Savin (UNESCO site) OR thrills in the Futuroscope theme park (see itinerary "Unusual and playful" for more details).