Aquitaine, Administrative region in southwestern France
Aquitaine is a region in southwestern France stretching from the Spanish border to the Atlantic coast and covering five departments with different landscapes. The capital Bordeaux sits on the Garonne River, while the territory brings together vineyards, pine forests, dunes, and highland valleys between the Pyrenees and the coastal plain.
The territory was a separate duchy during the Middle Ages, coming under English rule in the 12th century through the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II. The area returned permanently to the French crown in the 15th century after the Hundred Years' War and was later divided into departments.
The territory takes its name from the Roman settlements in the area once called Gallia Aquitania, referring to the waters and rivers crossing the land. Visitors today notice the bilingual street signs in the southern reaches, where both French and Basque appear, while coastal towns maintain a long tradition of oyster farming and wine trading.
The Atlantic coastal road connects the beach towns and provides access to the shore, while the inland areas are reached through smaller country roads that cross vineyards and forests. The best visiting period runs from spring through autumn, when the beach resorts operate and the mountain trails remain passable without snow.
The Dordogne department holds more than 1000 castles and manor houses from medieval and Renaissance times, scattered across river valleys and plateaus. Some of these estates remain private homes today, while others open to visitors and offer a window into earlier centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
