Culture in Nouvelle Aquitaine

The colours of its flowing curves vary throughout the day, because everything here is designed to symbolise wine and environment. Wine as it swirls in the glass, the eddies and backwash of the nearby River Garonne... every detail makes reference to the liquid element. This fluidity and roundness continue inside the building and throughout the tour, which winds around the building to end on a panoramic platform overlooking the city.

La Cité du Vin, inside the museum in Bordeaux ©Francoise_Roche-RNA-CRTNA

Inside, the tours are self-guided, totally immersive and personal. Here, it’s time to put the rational brain to one side and allow yourself to become disorientated. The point of the clearly marked tour route is to allow everyone to wander at their own pace, as the mood takes them and according to their own preferences through the rich and diverse presentations. The audio headset and travel companion guide take you on a personal discovery tour of the vineyard world, the history of wine and civilisation over the centuries.
As you progress, you will climb to a height of 35 metres and gain a 360° panoramic view of Bordeaux and a wine tasting on which to feast your eyes and taste buds. Wines from Argentina, Moldavia, Crete, Georgia, Greece and Chile... So much choice!

A one-of-a-kind, incredible site, Bordeaux's submarine base, is now a digital art centre known as Bassins des Lumières. This new site showcases one of the largest multimedia exhibitions in the world dedicated to the history or art and contemporary creation.

Made up of the same eight areas that King John of England designated when he created the jurisdiction back in the 12th century, it still forms in the words of UNESCO “a remarkable example of historical, viticultural countryside that has survived intact" and "is the perfect illustration of intensive grape production in a clearly delineated region". In 1999 the area became the first viticultural land to be listed a World Heritage Site.
Winemaking was introduced here very early on by the Romans, first to plant the vines. Wine production intensified in the Middle Ages and hasn’t stopped growing since, gaining an international reputation for its fine vintages (grands crus) and equally fine châteaux. A large number of historical monuments, such as the monolithic church dug into the chalk cliff in Saint-Emilion, or the impressive Pierrefitte Menhir in Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens add to the overall charm of this truly unique agricultural landscape.

For the first time, all of Lascaux is revealed. A complete new replica retraces the discovery of the famous decorated cave. But that’s not the end of the adventure: the entire site inquires into the position that Lascaux occupies in cave art and its relation to contemporary creation. The opening of the International Centre for Cave Art marks the beginning of a new adventure combining the emotion of ancestral art and an important technological achievement.
The architecture of the International Centre forms an integral part of the visitor’s experience: a half-buried building at the foot of the Lascaux hill, it is perfectly integrated into the landscape. A gigantic glass front invites the public to visit a universe firmly focused on technological prowess.

The Most Beautiful Villages in France label is awarded to the most picturesque, authentic villages with a well-preserved historic heritage. Full of charm these places take pride and pleasure in sharing their art de vivre and giving visitors a genuine experience to remember.

Beynac in Nouvelle Aquitaine © Alban Gilbert_CRTNA

In the “Black Périgord”, as they're so close together along the Dordogne you can visit them all in a weekend, spending a half-day in each: Beynac-et-Cazenac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle built around two enemy castles, La Roque-Gageac, at the foot of a cliff, and Domme, built on rock and overlooking the valley.

Red and white: that’s the dress code for the Fêtes de Bayonne. If you don’t have any espadrilles, we’ll find you some when you arrive. You can also use them at Cesta Punta, the International Basque Pelota Championship, we already signed you up! And then we’ll be off to the beaches of Biarritz or Anglet. Surfing for fans of board sports. Swing if you prefer golf. A Basque picnic for everyone: Bayonne ham, piperade, and baby squid...