Highlights of New Aquitaine

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Highlights

Stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Pyrenees, this selection features UNESCO-listed landmarks like the Lascaux Caves' prehistoric art and the Romanesque murals of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. Architectural highlights include the Vauban fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the Byzantine-style domes of Périgueux Cathedral, and the royal Château de Pau. Natural wonders range from the massive Dune of Pilat to the high-altitude Col d'Aubisque. The list also covers the region's industrial and leisure heritage through the Hennessy cognac distillery and the historic La Rhune rack railway.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Highlights — Map

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Lascaux Caves

Monumental prehistoric art site containing Upper Paleolithic paintings and engravings primarily of animals. This UNESCO World Heritage site features ancient artistic expressions dating back 17,000 to 22,000 years.

MathieuMD / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Dune of Pilat

The Dune of Pilat, also called Grande Dune du Pilat, is the tallest sand dune in Europe.

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Futuroscope theme park

Futuroscope, or Parc du Futuroscope, formerly known as Planète Futuroscope, is a French theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic,…

Serge Ottaviani / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Col d'Aubisque

The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in the…

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Périgueux Cathedral

Périgueux Cathedral is a Catholic church located in the city of Périgueux, France. A cathedral since 1669, it is dedicated to Saint Front.

Flo641 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Château de Pau

The Château de Pau is a castle in the centre of the city of Pau, the capital of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Béarn.

zhang / CC-BY-SA

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Les Visites Hennessy

Guided tours of the cognac house in Cognac, featuring boat crossings of the Charente river and visits to traditional aging cellars to observe the distillation and blending processes.

Gilbert Bochenek / Public domain

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Saint Nicolas Tower

Saint Nicolas Tower along with the Lantern tower and the Chain tower, is one of the three medieval towers guarding the port in La Rochelle,…

I

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe

The Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe is a Roman Catholic church located in Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, in Poitou, France.

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La citadelle el l’enceinte de Saint-Martin-de-Ré

A 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage fortification system designed by Vauban. It comprises a star-shaped citadel and extensive defensive walls built to protect the port and village of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

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Chemin de fer de la Rhune

A vintage rack railway dating from 1924 that climbs to the summit of La Rhune at 905 meters. The wooden train cars provide access to panoramic views of the Basque coastline and the Pyrenees.

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Château de Hautefort

The Château de Hautefort is a French château and gardens located in the town of Hautefort in the Dordogne.

Other Lists

Editor's Choice: Cognac Historic Heritage of Nouvelle-Aquitaine Historic Churches & Cathedrals Castles & Manor Houses Archaeological Sites & Ruins Regional Markets & Cuisine Natural Wonders UNESCO Sites & Museums Top Campsites & Caravan Parks