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If you’re searching for a destination where nature is dominant, respected and protected then this is the place for you. Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, located in southwest France is the perfect destination for the adventure enthusiast, nature lover and cultural soul. Similar to the size of Austria and the largest region in France by area, it covers a diverse landscape with over 720km of coastline, bordered by fragile sand dunes and fragrant pine forests. The region has unique islands, impressive mountains, cliffs and estuary wetlands. The locals adopt a relaxed lifestyle in sync with nature thanks to a warm climate and plenty of vitamin D. We recently visited the beautiful and eco-conscious destination of Nouvelle-Aquitaine where nature is at the heart of everything they do. We have put together some ideas for eco-friendly things you can do whilst exploring this diverse and unique landscape.
We’ve also put together the ultimate road trip itinerary along the southwest coast of France which will make your road trip a breeze, including the best spots along the way, places to camp and the best foodie spots you shouldn’t miss!
Where is Nouvelle-Aquitaine?
The largest region in France by area, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is found in the southwest from the Pyrenees mountains and Spanish border in the south, Occitanie to the east and to the west it meets the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the region is Bordeaux and home to coastal resorts Royan, Biarritz and Arcachon.
1. Visit an organic, eco-conscious wine Château
The Médoc wine route, around Bordeaux, is known for growing world-famous wines and growers are faced with the challenge of higher temperatures as a result of climate change which threatens the production of grapes making them ripen much faster. Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier shared with us his passion of ecology and agroforestry at Château Anthonic, his organic winery of somewhat 30 hectares located between Margaux and Saint Julian in Moulis-en-Médoc, an hour drive north from Bordeaux.
This vineyard is working in harmony with its environment, grass grows between the rows where it would otherwise be left bare and hedgerows are planted to provide habitat for predators of the vineyard pests. These changes have seen the arrival of bees, orchids, bats and grass snakes.
Agroforestry is key to their approach of adapting to climate change where planting trees between rows of vines into their system helps to increase moisture in the soil and air which protects the vines from extreme weather events. The trees are regulate the climate and reduce the speed of the ripening of grapes. The Château grows predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties and these techniques are key to keeping regional types of grapes from disappearing.
How to get there: Château Anthonic, Rte de Maliney, 33480 Moulis-en-Médoc, France
2. Learn to surf at a wild, pristine beach
The wild Atlantic coast of Nouvelle-Aquitaine has over 720km of coastline with pristine beaches and home to some of the best surf spots in the world. Across the world it can be hard to find a truly wild beach, untouched by development or tourism, however on the French Atlantic coast you are spoilt for choice. Le Porge Océan is a protected beach with clear turquoise water and white sand, the perfect place to take a surf lesson in a beautiful and natural location. The beach is shadowed by protected sand dunes and is relatively shallow with ideal conditions for beginner surfers.
We had a private 2 hour surf lesson with James from So Nice Surf School, who showed us how to improve our technique and we had the BEST time! There is easy access to the beach, the surf school is a short 5 minute walk from the car park. At Le Porge Océan there are cafés, restaurants and toilets just before the beach near the car park.
Remember to wear reef safe products, this means use sun cream that will not harm marine life and habitats. These are usually natural zinc based products and do not contain harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene and others listed on the HEL list. We use Suntribe Zinc sun stick which is made from natural ingredients (coconut oil, beeswax and non-nano zinc oxide) and is biodegradable.
How to get there: There is a free car park on either side of the roundabout as you approach Le Porge Océan, if you have a vehicle over 1.9m there is parking to the left. So Nice Surf School is located in the car park to the right of the roundabout and is a 5 minute walk, if you have a car you can park much closer to the surf school.
3. Stay at a campsite surrounded by nature
You are spoilt for choice for campsites surrounded by nature in Nouvelle-Aquitaine! The endless pine forests provide the perfect environment for camping in nature and you might be lucky enough to spot local wildlife in the nearby forests and lakes including bats, otters and butterflies. Camping when compared to other types of accommodation has a lower carbon footprint and can be a great budget option. We enjoy smaller campsites where the pitches are not overcrowded.
Since living in a van we have become very conscious of the products we use whilst camping and prioritise the use of eco-friendly, natural products that are biodegradable for hair care, washing dishes and sunscreen to respect the environment we are visiting.
A very important thing to note whilst camping is you should not light fires, especially in dry climates and hot temperatures. Whilst visiting the region in July, there were two wild fires in the Gironde area which were kept under control and there are still many safe areas to visit in the region but as visitors we must be careful to ensure these habitats are protected.
Our favourite campsites in the region:
Les Prés du Pas du Mas, 50 lake road, 33680 Le Porge, France
Camping Le Bellevue, 220 Route Verte, 17120 Barzan, France
Camping Municipal du Gurp, 51 Rte de l’Océan, 33590 Grayan-et-l’Hôpital, France
4. Eat locally sourced, seasonal food
One thing we noticed when entering French supermarkets is the amount of locally grown fresh produce and mostly not wrapped in plastic! Eating local produce reduces the carbon footprint of your food and ensures it is fresher and when travelling it gives you a taste of the region. There are many local markets that sell fresh, seasonal produce and we visited both La Rochelle market and Royan market which is found under an umbrella shaped building - very maritime themed!
On average 10% of emissions from our food are from transport and more importantly it is how your food is grown and produced which is key to consider. Organic products and eating less meat contributes to lower emissions. When visiting an area and by buying local products from the region you are also supporting the local economy.
One of our favourite places to eat was Marla in Châtelaillon-Plage where they serve local cuisine that respects the environment and favours organic suppliers and has high environmental standards. They produce their own vinegars on site and the owners Maxime (Chef) and Carla exude enthusiasm and are determined to give you a delicious and local experience at Marla.
5. EXPLORE A NATURE RESERVE
Getting out into nature is the perfect way to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. There are many nature reserves to choose from across Nouvelle-Aquitaine where you can explore either by foot or bike. Did you know spending time in nature is proven to improve your mental well-being? From our experience, we seem to forget all our worries when immersed in nature. Spending time in nature can also increase your appreciation of how truly incredible it is. As photographers, we are constantly in search for inspiration and nature is full of it!
Nature reserves in Nouvelle-Aquitaine offer hiking trails and great wildlife spotting opportunities. In the south west of France, the landscapes are diverse and beautiful from fragile sand dune ecosystems to fragrant pine forests. The Etang de Cousseau Nature Reserve is a wetland home to migrating birds, otters and turtles. You can cycle from Lacanau Océan and leave your bike outside the reserve and take a scenic walk where you’ll find viewpoints overlooking the lake.
The Estuary Park (Le Parc de l’Estuaire) in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne is found on the Gironde Estuary on a cliff. You can climb 55m to the top of a watchtower offering panoramic views of the estuary and you can also see the Cordouan lighthouse above the pines. The café offers local and organic refreshment options also not falling short of epic views.
6. RIDE YOUR BIKE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST
It is hard to list many things better than cruising along the coast on your bike with the wind through your hair and the ocean waves crashing beside you. The Vélodyssée is a 1250km route that starts in Roscoff in the north of France, finishing at Hendaye in the south. This route follows along the Atlantic coast of France where more than half of the route is on dedicated cycle paths away from the road.
We would recommend hiring one of the iconic ‘Yélo’ yellow bikes in La Rochelle and follow the route south along the coast, following a section of the Vélodyssée bike route, past the largest harbour in La Rochelle, Les Minimes port to Châtelaiilon Plage which takes approximately 2 hours in total and a distance of 27km. This route will take you through the peaceful Parc des Pères and past the white cliffs at La Pointe du Chay.
7. Discover the forward-thinking city of La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a small city in Nouvelle-Aquitaine that has pioneered the way in terms of sustainability. In the 1970’s, the city built solar panels which provide electricity for many houses and it was the first city in France to offer a rental biking service. Cycling has now become one of the most popular ways to get around the city with more cycle route improvements planned to make it even more bike friendly!
The city has also prioritised pedestrians and opened the streets to restaurants overlooking the water and at night these streets come alive with entertainment. La Rochelle has set targets to become carbon neutral by 2040 with a focus on re-establishing habitats and creating greener energy.
Explore the streets of La Rochelle, whether it be a walking tour around the beautiful arcades of Rue de l’Escale, discover incredible views at the top of one of the La Rochelle towers or walk the streets of the Vieux Port and Le Gabut featuring colourful wooden houses, where pétanque and basketball are played side by side.
8. Stand up PADDLE BOARD ON A LAKE
The region features some magnificent lakes, a perfect spot for relaxing or to get your adrenaline pumping by doing many water sports activities like kite surfing, sailing and stand up paddle boarding. These lakes are close to the beach, so you could be surfing in the morning and SUPing in the afternoon to give you the ultimate adventure filled day!
Étang de Lacanau is a scenic spot, with free parking opposite the beach, toilets and with many companies offering water sports experiences. After working an appetite on the lake, treat yourself to a drink overlooking the lake at Le Boucantier, a short walk from the car park which serves delicious french cuisine with vegetarian options. Alternatively, order pizza at Pizza Pise and sit by the lake to watch the sunset.
9. SAIL THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AT SUNSET
Sailing is one of the best eco-friendly ways to travel, harnessing the wind to take you on an epic journey across the ocean and creating unforgettable memories of a nautical experience. Being on the ocean is a privilege and we must be mindful and respectful of wildlife and the marine ecosystem. Sailing reinforces the idea of ‘slow travel’, not focusing on the destination but on enjoying the journey which gives a real sense of freedom.
Sail along the coastline of La Rochelle at sunset and see it from a different perspective by sail boat. La Rochelle is a maritime city, closely tied to the ocean with many experiences that offer you to get out and breathe in that fresh, salty air! We took the Columbus sail boat, a mono-haul, retired racing sailboat that has worked with WWF and as a Sea Shepherd to protect the ocean. The journey lasts for around 3 hours, where you can see Île de Re and the famous Fort Boyard. Bring your own delicious snacks and drinks with you and watch the sunset over the ocean. We savoured every minute of the sunset sail on Columbus and would highly recommend it.
You can also take a Catamaran cruise or a mini cruise by an electro-solar powered sea bus in La Rochelle, which takes around 5 minutes from the Vieux Port (Old Port) to the ‘Ville en Bois’ which takes you through the La Rochelle towers.
10. Swim at a blue flag beach
Swimming has many known health benefits including lowering stress levels and for some it is the perfect way to relax. In 2021, 49 beaches in Nouvelle-Aquitaine were labelled as Blue Flag beaches. The Blue Flag is a voluntary organisation that recognises sustainable beaches which are clean and have good water quality. Each year beaches, marinas and tour operators are assessed on their performance and policies.
Le Gurp is a beautiful Blue Flag beach in the Gironde, with undulating sand dunes and plenty of space to find a quiet spot. The beach is supervised by lifeguards, making it the ideal spot take a dip in the sea. There are also the remains of bunkers which are now decorated by local graffiti artists each year.
So what are you waiting for?!
We hope you’ll be inspired to explore the eco-conscious region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France. It offers so many exciting experiences to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of France whilst also protecting and preserving it. Whether you want to cycle, go on a wine tour, surf at a pristine beach or sail away at sunset, you are not short of eco-friendly things to do here in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
If you’re looking for road trip itinerary ideas then look no further, we’ve put together a 7 day road trip adventure along the Atlantic Coast of France which you can read about here.
