The virtues of nature in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
For your health and well-being, take advantage of holidays in the largest region of France to enjoy nature's benefits: "forest bathing", known as "Shinrin-yoku" in Japan, meditative walking, snow-shoeing, underwater walking, contemplative observation and even sportive leisure activities like climbing, canoeing, surfing, free flying, horse-riding and, of course, cycling.
On one of the beaches on Île d’Oléron or along Arcachon Bay, on a bikeway in the Landes de Gascogne Forest, on a boat in the middle of Vassivière Lake, on a hiking trail in the Vallée d’Ossau or on the Plateau de Millevaches in Limousin, in a canoe along the Vienne or on the Midouze, paragliding over the Vallée de la Dordogne or the Vallée de la Vézère, become at one with the Earth, share unbelievable experiences, to discover our landscapes and a little bit yourself…
Pyrénées National Park
In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the Park covers the Vallées d’Aspe and d’Ossau. Stay over in houses in Etsaut and Laruns to visit this protected world, this kingdom of wild fauna and incredible flora, in the best possible way.
© Philippe Del Amo — Lac Miley is the smallest of Ayous' spectacular lakes.
Exhibitions, conferences, films, an interpretative trail and trips with Park rangers enhance your stay in breathtaking scenescapes from the Pic de Burcq to the Pic des Tourettes via the Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine's Regional Nature Parks (PNR)
Nouvelle-Aquitaine's Regional Nature Parks are rural areas boasting rich natural and cultural heritage and committed to a sustainable social and economic development approach.
© Romain GAILLARD — Bridge in the Marais Poitevin.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine boasts five Regional Nature Parks:
• Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park,
• Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park,
• Millevaches in Limousin Regional Nature Park
• Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park,
• Médoc Regional Nature Park.
© D. Guillemain/CRTNA - PNR de Millevaches en Limousin
Each park proposes a wide variety of natural environments to explore: heaths, peatlands, forests, prairies, valleys, etc.
Marine Parks
Marine parks are created to understand and protect ecosystems by ensuring the sustainable development of sea-related activities; two of these parks exist in Nouvelle-Aquitaine:
• Bassin d’Arcachon Marine Park comprising Natura 2000 sites and two national nature reserves (Banc d’Arguin and Prés salés d’Arès-Lège),
• Estuaire de la Gironde et de la mer des Pertuis Marine Nature Park that covers Gironde and the entire Charente-Maritime coast, its islands and Aiguillon Bay.
© BROCHARD/CRTNA - View from Cordouan Lighthouse at low tide
Highly-inquisitive and nature-loving explorer, hiker and geographer, Sophia's thing is to discover new landscapes while breathing in the fresh country air. On her holiday programme: hiking, canoeing, river cruises, or simply sunbathing...Goodbye traffic jams, hello Mother Nature! This is what “sustainable” tourism looks like!