Region
Museums, galleries and heritage in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
572 places to discover across Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Including Cité du Vin, Bassins des Lumières and Château de Beynac.
59 of 59 places, sorted by distance from the center
Religious siteÉglise monolithe de Saint-Émilion
Saint-Émilion
Religious siteAbbaye de La Sauve-Majeure
La Sauve
Religious siteBasilique Saint-Michel de Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Religious siteÉglise Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Religious siteBasilique Saint-Seurin de Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Religious siteAbbaye de Saint-Ferme
Saint-Ferme
Religious siteBasilique Notre-Dame de Verdelais
Verdelais
Religious siteAbbaye de Chancelade
Chancelade
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Pierre d'Angoulême
Angoulême
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité
Périgueux
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Front de Périgueux
Périgueux
Religious siteÉglise Sainte-Radegonde de Talmont
Talmont-sur-Gironde
Religious siteAbbaye de Brantôme
Brantôme en Périgord
Religious siteAbbaye de Fontdouce
Saint-Bris-des-Bois
Religious siteAbbaye aux Dames de Saintes
Saintes
Religious siteBasilique Saint-Eutrope de Saintes
Saintes
Religious siteAbbaye de Cadouin
Le Buisson-de-Cadouin
Religious siteÉglise Notre-Dame de Royan
Royan
Religious siteAbbaye de Sablonceaux
Sablonceaux
Religious siteAbbaye royale de Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay
Aulnay
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Caprais d'Agen
Agen
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Sacerdos de Sarlat
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Religious siteAbbaye de Saint-Amand-de-Coly
Coly-Saint-Amand
Religious siteÉglise Sainte-Marie de Mimizan
Mimizan
Religious siteÉglise Notre-Dame de Surgères
Surgères
Religious siteAbbaye de Saint-Junien
Saint-Junien
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Nicolas de Civray
Civray
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Hilaire de Melle
Melle
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre de Melle
Melle
Religious siteAbbaye Saint-Sauveur de Charroux
Charroux
Religious siteAbbaye Notre-Dame de Celles-sur-Belle
Celles-sur-Belle
Religious siteAbbaye de Solignac
Solignac
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Louis de La Rochelle
La Rochelle
Religious siteAbbatiale de Saint-Sever
Saint-Sever
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges
Limoges
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre de Collonges-la-Rouge
Collonges-la-Rouge
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Aire
Aire-sur-l'Adour
Religious siteAbbaye d'Aubazine
Aubazines
Religious siteCathédrale Notre-Dame de Tulle
Tulle
Religious siteCathédrale Notre-Dame de Dax
Dax
Religious siteAbbatiale Saint-Pierre de Beaulieu
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre du Dorat
Le Dorat
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand de Poitiers
Poitiers
Religious siteBaptistère Saint-Jean de Poitiers
Poitiers
Religious siteCathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers
Poitiers
Religious siteÉglise Notre-Dame-la-Grande de Poitiers
Poitiers
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre de Parthenay-le-Vieux
Parthenay
Religious siteAbbaye d'Arthous
Hastingues
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Pierre de Chauvigny
Chauvigny
Religious siteAbbatiale de Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
Saint-Savin
Religious siteCathédrale Notre-Dame de Lescar
Lescar
Religious siteCathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayonne
Bayonne
Religious siteAbbaye Saint-Pierre d'Airvault
Airvault
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes
Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes
Religious siteCathédrale Sainte-Marie d'Oloron
Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Religious siteAbbaye de Moutier-d'Ahun
Moutier-d'Ahun
Religious siteÉglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
A Region Defined by Water, Stone and Time
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is France's largest region, stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Dordogne's limestone valleys. Its cultural identity is built on layers of history rarely found together elsewhere: the deep prehistoric record of the Sites préhistoriques et grottes ornées de la vallée de la Vézère, the Gallo-Roman remains at Périgueux and Barzan, the medieval abbey architecture of Poitou, and the maritime and wine-trade heritage of the Gironde estuary.
Bordeaux anchors the region's museum and gallery scene, with institutions ranging from the Cité du Vin to the CAPC musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux. Along the coast, La Rochelle, Rochefort and Biarritz each preserve distinct maritime and military histories, while inland Dordogne and Charente hold some of Europe's most significant archaeological and industrial heritage sites.
Bordeaux, La Rochelle and Biarritz: Three Different Cultural Cities
The city of Bordeaux concentrates most of the region's contemporary art scene: the Frac Nouvelle-Aquitaine La Méca, the immersive digital art venue Bassins des Lumières, installed in a former WWII Base sous-marine, and independent spaces such as Espace 29 and Fabrique Pola all sit within walking distance of the historic riverfront.
On the coast, Biarritz combines its Belle Époque seaside identity with marine science at the Cité de l'Océan, while galleries such as Galerie Daltra Biarritz reflect a smaller but active art market tied to the Basque coast's tourism. La Rochelle, meanwhile, is defined by its harbor: the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle and the wartime Le Bunker de La Rochelle sit close to the old port, alongside natural history collections at the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle de La Rochelle.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to explore the cultural highlights of Nouvelle-Aquitaine?
A minimum of five to seven days is recommended to combine Bordeaux's museums and galleries, the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley, and the coastal heritage of La Rochelle or Biarritz, given the distances involved across this large region.
What is the best time of year to visit the Vézère valley's prehistoric sites?
Spring and early autumn are ideal, as cave visits are limited to timed-entry slots and summer months see high demand; booking tickets for sites near Les Eyzies well in advance is essential.
Is the Bordeaux Port de la Lune UNESCO site a single monument or an area?
It is an urban ensemble covering roughly 1,800 hectares of the historic riverfront along the Garonne, best explored on foot or by tram rather than visited as a single site.
Can the phare de Cordouan be visited, and how do you get there?
Yes, the lighthouse is accessible by boat from Royan or the Verdon-sur-Mer, tide-dependent, with a walk across the estuary sandbank at low tide; visits require reservation and are seasonal.
Which Bordeaux museum is best for contemporary art?
The CAPC musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux, housed in a former 19th-century warehouse, offers the region's principal program of temporary contemporary exhibitions.
Are there notable gallery districts in Bordeaux for art lovers?
Bordeaux concentrates a dense network of independent galleries such as Espace 29, Fabrique Pola and the Frac Nouvelle-Aquitaine La Méca, spread across the Chartrons and riverside districts, making a gallery walk feasible in a single afternoon.