Wine country estates, Atlantic surf lodges, and Dordogne hideaways — France's largest region, booked sustainably.
Find Éco-Hôtels →Nouvelle-Aquitaine is France at its most generous. Covering 84,000 square kilometres, it is the country's largest region by area — a vast, varied territory stretching from the limestone plateaux of the Dordogne to the thundering surf of the Basque coast, from the brandy cellars of Cognac to the snow-dusted foothills of the Pyrenees. This is a region that could fill a lifetime of travel, yet most visitors have barely scratched its surface.
Begin with the wine. Bordeaux needs no introduction — the world's most celebrated wine city sits at the heart of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, surrounded by appellations that read like a sommelier's prayer: Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Graves, Sauternes. But venture further and you'll find the under-the-radar vintages of Bergerac, the sweet whites of Jurançon near Pau, and the fiery eaux-de-vie of the Cognac houses along the Charente river.
Then there is the coast. Over 700 kilometres of Atlantic shoreline deliver some of Europe's finest beaches. Biarritz is where European surfing was born in the 1950s; Hossegor draws professional barrel-riders to La Gravière each autumn; Lacanau hosts championship events every August. But the coast isn't all adrenaline — the sheltered bays of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the oyster villages around the Bassin d'Arcachon, and the sun-bleached islands of Ré and Oléron offer a gentler pace.
Inland, the Dordogne unfolds like a medieval tapestry. Bastide villages perch above river bends. The caves of Lascaux (now faithfully recreated as Lascaux IV) preserve 17,000-year-old painted masterpieces. Truffle markets in Sarlat-la-Canéda perfume the winter air. Further south, the Marais Poitevin — known locally as the Green Venice — is a labyrinth of tree-canopied canals best explored by flat-bottomed boat. And everywhere, the food: foie gras, confit de canard, Bayonne ham, canelés, Espelette peppers, Arcachon oysters.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is also a region where sustainability runs deep. Many vineyards have converted to organic and biodynamic methods. Eco-lodges dot the Landes pine forests. Coastal towns from La Rochelle to Anglet have invested heavily in cycling infrastructure and car-free zones. When you book through IMPT, every reservation removes 1 tonne of CO₂ — making your exploration of this extraordinary region a net positive for the planet.
The medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, sits atop a honeycomb of underground limestone cellars carved over centuries. Walk the cobbled streets, descend into the Monolithic Church — Europe's largest underground church — and taste Grand Cru Classé wines straight from barrel in centuries-old châteaux. Most estates welcome visitors by appointment, and several offer vineyard cycling tours through the surrounding hillside vineyards.
Rising 110 metres above the pine forests at the entrance to the Bassin d'Arcachon, the Dune of Pilat is a geological marvel. Climb the wooden staircase (or the sand — your choice), and the panorama reveals the Banc d'Arguin sandbar, Cap Ferret's lighthouse, and the shimmering Atlantic. Paragliders launch from the crest in summer. The dune shifts roughly 1–5 metres eastward each year, slowly engulfing the forest behind it.
Biarritz's Grande Plage and Côte des Basques are where European surf culture was born in 1957. Today, the town hosts the annual Biarritz Surf Festival each July. An hour north, Hossegor is the serious wave-rider's destination — La Gravière beach break produces some of the heaviest tubes in Europe, and the WSL Championship Tour makes its annual French stop here each autumn. Beginners head to Lacanau or Capbreton for mellower waves and well-run surf schools.
The original Lascaux cave, discovered in 1940, was closed to the public in 1963 to prevent deterioration. Lascaux IV, opened in 2016 in Montignac-Lascaux, is a full-scale replica recreating every painting and engraving from the 17,000-year-old original. The immersive experience includes digital projections and a museum exploring Palaeolithic art across Europe. Nearby Font-de-Gaume, one of the last original caves still open to visitors, shows authentic prehistoric bison paintings — book months in advance as only 78 visitors are admitted daily.
Known as La Venise Verte (Green Venice), the Marais Poitevin is a 100,000-hectare wetland threaded with tree-canopied canals between Niort and La Rochelle. Hire a flat-bottomed boat (barque) in the village of Coulon and punt through emerald tunnels of ash, alder, and poplar. Herons, kingfishers, and otters inhabit this protected landscape. The dry marshes produce butter, goat's cheese, and the Angelica herb used in local liqueurs.
The town of Cognac, straddling the Charente river, is home to the great brandy houses. Visit Hennessy's historic riverside cellars, Rémy Martin's estate in the surrounding Grande Champagne vineyards, or the smaller Maison Camus for an intimate family-run experience. Tours typically include barrel ageing rooms, blending workshops, and tastings of VS, VSOP, and XO expressions. The fungus Baudoinia compniacensis blackens the town's walls — a visible sign of centuries of evaporation, poetically known as the "angels' share."
La Rochelle's Vieux Port is guarded by three medieval towers — Tour Saint-Nicolas, Tour de la Chaîne, and Tour de la Lanterne — linked by a chain once stretched across the harbour mouth to block enemy ships. The old town behind the port is a maze of arcaded streets, Renaissance facades, and covered markets. From the harbour, ferries depart for the Île de Ré (a 30-minute crossing) and its whitewashed villages, salt marshes, and 100 km of cycle paths.
Bayonne has been France's chocolate capital since Sephardic Jewish refugees brought cacao-processing techniques from Spain and Portugal in the 16th century. Today, the Rue du Port-Neuf is lined with artisan chocolatiers. The Musée du Chocolat traces 500 years of the craft, and the annual Journées du Chocolat festival in late October fills the streets with tastings, demonstrations, and chocolate sculptures.
The wine capital of the world. Stay in the city centre for the Cité du Vin museum, riverside dining, and tram-connected nightlife. Base yourself in Saint-Émilion or the Médoc for vineyard stays and château hotels surrounded by vines. The Bassin d'Arcachon — 45 minutes west — offers oyster villages and the Dune of Pilat.
Biarritz, Bayonne, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz form a triangle of surf, culture, and gastronomy. Belle Époque villas line Biarritz's cliffs. Bayonne's half-timbered old town straddles the Nive river. Saint-Jean-de-Luz offers a sheltered swimming bay and the church where Louis XIV married. Espelette, 20 minutes inland, is famous for its red peppers drying on whitewashed facades.
La Rochelle is the gateway to the Atlantic islands — Ré, Oléron, and Aix. The city has France's largest pleasure port and a renowned aquarium. Inland, Cognac offers brandy tourism, while Saintes preserves stunning Roman ruins including a triumphal arch. The Charente river is perfect for lazy kayaking between wine-producing villages.
Medieval France at its most photogenic. Sarlat-la-Canéda is the hub — a golden-stone market town where Saturday markets overflow with truffles, foie gras, and walnuts. La Roque-Gageac sits wedged between cliff and river. The Château de Beynac towers above the Dordogne, and Domme offers panoramic views from its bastide ramparts. Canoeing between castles is the classic Périgord experience.
Nestled within the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards, 20 minutes south of Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie pioneered vinotherapy — spa treatments using grape seeds, vine extracts, and wine barrel baths. The property comprises rustic-chic lodges scattered among the vines, with two restaurants including the Michelin-starred La Grand'Vigne. The estate produces its own Grand Cru Classé wine, and guests can join blending workshops and vineyard walks. An eco-pioneer, the hotel uses geothermal hot springs to heat its thermal baths.
Book from €280/night →Originally built in 1854 as Empress Eugénie's summer palace by Napoleon III, Hôtel du Palais commands a clifftop position overlooking Biarritz's Grande Plage. Following a meticulous three-year renovation completed in 2022, the property blends Second Empire grandeur with contemporary luxury. The Imperial Spa overlooks the ocean. Two restaurants serve Basque-influenced cuisine. The heated seawater pool sits directly above the beach, and surf lessons can be arranged on the doorstep. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Book from €350/night →Set within the prestigious Cos d'Estournel wine estate in the northern Médoc, La Maison d'Estournel offers 14 individually designed suites named after grape varieties. The Indo-exotic architecture — inspired by the château's pagoda-topped towers — creates a singular atmosphere. Guests have privileged access to private tastings of Cos d'Estournel's celebrated wines. The kitchen garden supplies the restaurant, and the infinity pool overlooks the Gironde estuary. Bordeaux is a 50-minute drive south.
Book from €320/night →Occupying a 17th-century former mint house on La Rochelle's Rue de la Monnaie, steps from the Vieux Port, this boutique hotel combines exposed stone walls with contemporary design. Rooms look out over the medieval towers or the quiet courtyard garden. The rooftop terrace offers views across the harbour to the Île de Ré. Breakfast features local producers — Charentes butter, honey from the Marais Poitevin, and Île de Ré salt. The hotel operates a plastic-free policy and sources renewable energy.
Book from €130/night →Named after the vast Place des Quinconces — one of Europe's largest city squares — this design-led hotel occupies a pair of 18th-century Bordelaise townhouses in the Triangle d'Or. The 30 rooms blend period mouldings with mid-century furnishings. The ground-floor wine bar curates an all-Bordeaux list with over 200 references, available by the glass through Coravin preservation. It's a 15-minute tram ride to the Cité du Vin and a 10-minute walk to the Grand Théâtre. The hotel offsets its energy use through certified carbon credits.
Book from €160/night →Deep in the Landes countryside, Eugénie-les-Bains is France's first designated "Village Minceur" (slimming village), and Michel Guérard has run this legendary estate since 1974. The three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Prés d'Eugénie, pioneered cuisine minceur — gourmet food that is light, healthy, and intensely flavourful. The thermal spa draws on natural hot springs. Rooms are split between the main 19th-century maison and the rustic Ferme aux Grives. The kitchen garden, beehives, and orchard supply much of the produce. A destination for travellers who consider dining the main event.
Book from €250/night →The western terminus of France's great Pyrenean traverse, the GR10 begins at the Atlantic in Hendaye and climbs through the rolling green hills of the Pays Basque. The route passes through Sare (one of France's prettiest villages), crosses the Col d'Ibardin and the Forêt d'Iraty (Europe's largest beech forest), and finishes at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port — itself the starting point of the Camino de Santiago. Expect lush pastures, free-roaming pottok ponies, mountain cheese farms, and views from the Pyrenean ridgeline to the ocean. Refuges and gîtes d'étape provide accommodation along the way.
Start with the climb up the Dune of Pilat for sweeping views of the Bassin d'Arcachon and the Atlantic. Descend to the beach and follow the shoreline north along the Côte d'Argent. The trail passes through pine forest, crosses the dune systems of La Teste-de-Buch, and follows the western edge of the Bassin to the village of Cap Ferret with its iconic red-and-white lighthouse. The route combines ocean beach walking, forest paths, and views across the oyster parks. End with a plate of fresh oysters and a glass of Entre-Deux-Mers white at one of Cap Ferret's waterside cabanes.
La Roque-Gageac, classified among France's most beautiful villages, is carved into a south-facing limestone cliff above the Dordogne river. This easy circular walk follows the riverbank east past walnut orchards and tobacco-drying barns, then climbs gently through oak woodland to a viewpoint overlooking the Château de Castelnaud across the valley. The return path descends through the village's tropical garden — a microclimate created by the sun-warmed cliff face allows Mediterranean and even exotic plants to thrive. Gabarre boats (traditional flat-bottomed vessels) depart from the village quay for river cruises between the castles.