The region is larger in area than any other French region, includingoverseas regions such asFrench Guiana, and has a landmass that is slightly greater thanAustria. Bordeaux is the prefecture and largest city; its metropolitan area has about 850,000 inhabitants. The region has 25 major urban areas, among which the most important after Bordeaux areBayonne (288,000 inhabitants),Limoges (283,000),Poitiers (255,000),Pau (241,000) andLa Rochelle (206,000), as well as eleven major clusters.
The region'sinterim nameAquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes was a hyphenated placename, known as ALPC, created by hyphenating the merged regions' names –Aquitaine,Limousin andPoitou-Charentes – in alphabetical order.[6]
In June 2016, a working group headed by historianAnne-Marie Cocula [fr], a former vice-president ofAquitaine, proposed the name "Nouvelle Aquitaine", meaning "New Aquitaine".[7] The decision came after the popular favourite, "Aquitaine",[8] faced resistance by regional politicians fromLimousin andPoitou-Charentes. The other popular favourite, "Grande Aquitaine", was rejected for its connotation with a feeling of superiority.[9]Alain Rousset, president of the region, concurred with the working group's conclusion, reaffirming that he considered the acronym "ALPC" no choice at all. For those deploring the loss of "Limousin" and "Poitou-Charentes", he noted that the predecessor region of Aquitaine subsumed the identities of thePérigord or thePays Basque, which did not disappear during its 40 years of operation.[10]
On 27 June 2016, just a few days ahead of 1 July deadline, theRegional Council almost unanimously adoptedNouvelle-Aquitaine as the region's permanent name.[6][11] France'sConseil d'État approvedNouvelle-Aquitaine as the new name of the region on 28 September 2016, effective two days later.[12]
Its largest city and only metropolis isBordeaux, in the heart of an urban agglomeration of over one million inhabitants. Taking into consideration the urban area, the new region is home to six of the fifty largest metropolitan areas of French territory (population 2011):
The region covers a large part of theAquitaine Basin and a small portion of theParis Basin (the border between the two being located at the "Seuil du Poitou") and the Limousin plate (part of the Massif Central) and the western part of thePyrenees. It is part of five watersheds facing the Atlantic Ocean:Loire,Charente,Garonne andDordogne (and their extension, theGironde estuary) andAdour, giving rivers bordering land dedicated mostly to viticulture and to agriculture.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine features a large open coastline along theAtlantic Ocean, extending from the National Nature Reserve of Aiguillon Bay and the estuary of theSèvre (nearCharron) toBidasoa (south ofHendaye). This coastline includes the islands of the Charentais Archipelago (Ré,Oléron,Aix, andMadame) and the inlet of Arcachon. The region is notable for its oyster farming (Marennes-Oléron and the Bassin d’Arcachon), mussel farming (Baie de l’Aiguillon), and tourism. Prominent resorts in the area includeArcachon (Côte d’Argent),Biarritz (Côte Basque), andRoyan (Côte de Beauté).
Further north, adjacent to the Landes forest, theforest of la Coubre on the right bank of theGironde estuary shares similar characteristics, covering nearly 8,000 hectares. Other significant forests in the region include theIrati Forest in theBasque Country, which spans over 17,000 hectares, and the Forest of the Double, located at the borders of Charente, Charente-Maritime, and Dordogne, which covers about 50,000 hectares and is dotted with nearly 500 lakes. Additionally, near Poitiers, theMoulière forest [fr] extends over nearly 6,800 hectares, and to the east, near Guéret, theChabrières forest [fr] encompasses 2,000 hectares.
The extreme southern region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine is characterized by the presence of thePyrenees. The western part, known as the mountains of Labourd, consists mostly of high green hills. Further east, the highest point in the French Basque Country isPic d'Orhy, which reaches 2,017 meters. The Pau region is notable for its more rugged, mineral landscapes, featuring high peaks often exceeding 2,000 meters. The highest point in the region,Pic Palas [simple], stands at 2,974 meters. Other significant Pyrenean peaks in the region includePic du Midi d'Ossau (2,884 m),Pic d'Arriel [fr] (2,824 m),Pic de Ger (2,613 m) near the winter resortGourette,Pic d'Anie (2,504 m),Latte de Bazen [fr] (2,472 m),Pic d'Ansabère [fr] (2,377 m),Pic de l'Arraille [fr] (2,147 m), andPic d'Arlas [fr] (2,044 m).
Belonging to theMassif Central,Limousin features a varied landscape with high plateaus and some eroded peaks that dominate green valleys and forests of oak and chestnut trees. The Limousin plateau, intersected by the valleys of theVienne (which flows through its capital,Limoges),Isle,Vézère, and the picturesqueCorrèze with its deep reliefs, seldom exceeds 500 meters in elevation. It forms the watershed between theLoire basin to the north (including the sources of theBriance,Aixette [fr],Grêne [fr], andGorre), the Dordogne basin to the south (including the sources of theDronne, Isle, andAuvézère), and the maritime watershed of the Charente to the west.
The mountains of Limousin, which include a series of small mountains (Mont Fayat, Monedières Hills, Mont de Châlus) peak at Mont Bessou (976 m), in Corrèze. Further north, the mountains of Marche, which are divided into mountains of Monts de Guéret, mont d'Ambazac and Monts de Blond, are more like high wooded hills dotted with pastures, as real peaks. They culminate in Signal de Sauvagnac (701 m), in Haute-Vienne. Southwest of Limousin and Périgord northwest since 1998 are integrated into theParc naturel régional Périgord Limousin.
The northern part of the region, which corresponds to the Haut-Poitou history, is organised around a tray agricultural and viticultural (vineyard of Haut-Poitou) irrigated by theVienne,Clain or theGartempe, which form so little valleys, often lined with oak forests. Further south, the Niortais this open landscapes (openfields) in grain-dominant, but also rich wetland areas such as theMarais Poitevin, a legacy of an old marine gulf filled with alluvium, which is divided into wet marshes (we speak more readily of "Green Venice") and marshes dried up, converted into mixed farming.Niort, on theSèvre Niortaise, the main town of the Haut-Poitou outsidePoitiers, is like a door of this "Green Venice" much of which belongs to theparc naturel régional du Marais poitevin, established in 1979, classified "Grand site de France".
Further south lie the Charentes, which correspond to the former provinces ofAunis,Angoumois andSaintonge. Aunis is not unlike the landscape of Niortais, with large marshes that extend from either side ofLa Rochelle andRochefort (Baie d'Yves, marais de Rochefort, Broue andBrouage) but also the islands ofRé andAix, with varied landscapes where pine forests mingle, sandy beaches or the curious lagoon of Fier d'Ars, the sands in constant motion, which houses a bird sanctuary. The interior of the territory is marked by the presence of a rich plain cereal evoking theBeauce by its open relief on the horizon. At the center of this space, the city ofSurgères remained a pastureland where dairy farming has retained its importance: the small city is thus a production centers butter, Beurre de Charentes-Poitou.
TheAngoumois forms a transitional space between the coastal plains of Aunis, large "champagne" of Saintonge and Limousin plateau. Dotted with small hills, he seems to live to the rhythm of the Charente, real artery watering its major cities,Angoulême,Cognac andJarnac. Great wine region, internationally renowned alcohol is produced there,cognac, and a water spirits calledPineau des Charentes. The western quarter of Charentes consists of Saintonge, organised territory around the towns ofSaintes, the first capital of Aquitaine in Roman times, andRoyan.
In continuation of the Angoumois, the Dordogne approximately corresponds to the former province ofPérigord. Taking its name from the river of the same name, which flowsBergerac but not its prefecture,Périgueux (the edge of theIsle), the area with varied landscapes has a large afforestation rate (45%) making it the third most wooded department France. The great forests of oak and chestnut trees of green Périgord, organised aroundNontron, meet the great grain fields of the White Périgord, nicknamed "the breadbasket of the Périgord", the oak, walnut and black Périgord truffle, aroundSarlat-la-Caneda and vineyards of Bergerac or purple Périgord, which produces Bergerac, monbazillac or pécharmant.
TheGironde estuary is the largest estuary in Western Europe.
TheGironde estuary, which acts as a link betweenSaintonge,Blayais [oc],Médoc and westernGuyenne, is in itself a world apart. Wild largest estuary in Europe, being classified in the marine park with the "Pertuis charentais", it is lined with large marshes ("Petite Camargue" and hillsides which produces most of the great Bordeaux wines from the Côtes-de-Bordeaux and Côtes-de-Bourg on the right bank to the great wines of the left bank Médoc (Pauillac, Margaux, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien. The vineyards of Bordeaux, with international reputation, has done for centuries the reputation of the region. His productions are exported worldwide.
Farther south lies the vast plain Landes (south of Gironde and Landes), which begins near Bordeaux and go to the Pyrénées. Largely occupied by theLandes forest, it is also a major agricultural area (maize farming) and hosts a spa of international reputation, Dax, also the capital ofChalosse, important breeding ground.
Eastern Guyenne corresponds in part to the department ofLot-et-Garonne. Rich agricultural and farming area watered by both theLot and theGaronne, it is famous for its "pruneaux", who took the name of its capital,Agen (nearly 8000 hectares of land are dedicated to Ente plum orchards) whileMarmande is famous for its tomatoes. The mild climate explains that also cultivatedtobacco, as well as strawberries ("gariguettes") and vines, used to produce the Côtes du marmandais the buzet or Côte de Brulhois, that relate to the broad vineyard of the Southwest. But the real glory of this land isArmagnac, a famous brandy, exported around the world. Its vineyards cover some of the departments of Lot-et-Garonne, Landes but also theGers (in the neighbouring region ofOccitania). It also produces thefloc de Gascogne, with delicate floral accents.
The extreme south of the region consists of two territories in strong identity, theBasque Country (Northern Basque Country or "Iparralde") andBéarn. The first, which is organised aroundBayonne,Biarritz,Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Labourd)Mauléon-Licharre (Soule) andSaint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Lower Navarre) has its warm and humid climate its green side, the Atlantic rains from butter against the Pyrenean barrier. The coast, with both high-end and family resorts, is a popular holiday resort. The interior is more rural and retains a strong agricultural tradition, and is a solid wine region, symbolised by the vineyard Irouléguy but also by traditional liquors such asizarra andpatxaran, eau-de-vie characteristic ofNavarre.
Anchored in the heart of the Pyrenees, the Béarn opposes its Gascon traditions. It has a succession of gently accented hills and valleys (that of Pau river, where the capital is located,Pau, and others namedOrthez andNavarrenx, being the most populated), it comprises theAspe, theBarétous [fr] andOssau valleys along with theCol du Soulor. Agriculture will always be prominent, as viticulture (jurançon, Madiran) even if the aeronautical and petrochemical sectors are also represented. The main ski resorts in the area, such asArtouste,Gourette,Issarbe [fr],La Pierre Saint-Martin [fr] andLe Somport [fr] are concentrated in the Béarn area.
In the north of the region, the Paris oceanic climate is marked by moderate rainfall, warm summers and cool winters, but moderately so. TheSeuil du Poitou acts as a relative climatic barrier and regions further south belong to the Aquitaine oceanic climate area. Coastal areas are wetter overall, with moderate rainfall spread throughout the year, except for the summer months, where droughts are not uncommon. Summer, which is relatively warm, is tempered by sea breezes, and winters are cool-mild. Frosts and snow are unusual. Sunshine is quite high, with around 2,000 to 2,200 hours per year, which is comparable to some Mediterranean regions (Perpignan). Summer precipitation often take the form of thunderstorms, possibly violent, while winter is sometimes marked by storms, some of which have marked the area with their exceptional:Martin in 1999 (record of 198 km / h inSaint-Denis-d'Oléron),Klaus in 2009 (172 km / h toBiscarrosse) andXynthia in 2010 (160 km / h on theÎle de Ré).
The climate inAngoumois andLimousin is wetter and cooler, remains temperate with warm spring and has relatively warm summers, with variations due to altitude. The annual sunshine averages at 1850 hours. The climate of theBasque country and southernLandes is marked by its warm summers, mild winters but especially by its high rainfall, with Atlantic depressions that hit the Pyrenean foothills. This Microclimate explains the presence of lush vegetation and the green aspect of the region. Fogs are not rare, but usually dissipate very quickly.
As for the Pyrenean climate, suboceanic trendBéarn, it is subject to frequent "cap effect" when the north-west of disturbances abut against the Pyrenean mountains. Valley bottoms, true "funnels clouds" are particularly watered. The winter snow is important above 1200 meters. Pau valley has a microclimate, however, marked by strong sunlight (about 1900 hours a year) but high rainfall (1100 mm per year) and a near absence of frost in winter. Rainfall is usually brief there, but regular, and spread throughout the year.
Climate data for Bordeaux (BOD), elevation: 47 m (154 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1920–present
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is a region of transit between the Paris Basin (including Île-de-France) and the Iberian Peninsula, but also between the Rhône Valley and the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions (noon Toulouse). This situation implies several years developing roads and major highways, especially in the context of the road Estuaries, but also the high-speed Paris-Bordeaux-Toulouse-Spain, which should help significantly shorten rail journeys.
Many roads and highways in the region radiate fromBordeaux and just attach to its peripheral belt (Bordeaux ring road orA630). The main lines used for reinforcing roads and highways are in addition some terminal bonds designed to streamline access to two major resorts in the area,Arcachon (via Highway A660) andRoyan (by via the N150, partly making 2X2 routes).
The ring road ofBordeaux supports a particularly heavy traffic.
TheA10 autoroute (the "Aquitaine") is the major artery between Bordeaux andParis, commissioned in 1981. It is part of the network of "autoroutes du Sud de la France" and provides access to several cities:Saintes,Niort orPoitiers. From Saintes, highwayA837 allows drivers to reach the town ofRochefort. Further north, in Niort, an interchange provides access to theA83 motorway, theVendée andNantes (Pays de la Loire). The N10 is the main road of theCharente and an important road for connecting between Bordeaux and Poitiers includingAngoulême.
Connecting the east of Bordeaux (Libourne) toGreater Lyon, theA89 motorway (called "La transversale") irrigates the eastern part of the region, facilitating travel between the cities of Bordeaux andPérigueux,Brive-la-Gaillarde,Tulle andUssel. A little further south, the D936, which roughly follows the course of the Dordogne, is grafted on the Bordeaux ring road via an interchange at the municipalities ofCenon andFloirac. It gives access to the towns ofBranne,Castillon-la-Bataille andSainte-Foy-la-Grande (Gironde) andBergerac (Dordogne).
Southwest of Bordeaux, theA63 is a major focus of the regional motorway network. Forming a large artery almost straight through the vast expanses of flatLandes de Gascogne, it crosses the south of Gironde and Landes (passes nearDax but avoids the prefecture, Mont-de-Marsan) before joiningBayonne and the Basque Country, toIrun, on the Spanish border, the main border crossing. The other border crossings, less frequented but less direct, are the Somport tunnel and Col du Pourtalet.
The Basque Country and Béarn are also served by a road parallel to the Pyrenees, which facilitates access to Toulouse and the Mediterranean regions: theA64, called "La Pyrénéenne". It starts fromBriscous (in the outskirts of Bayonne), continues toPau before reachingTarbes in the neighbouring region ofOccitania) and the Toulouse ring road.
The eastern region is well served by theA20 north–south axis between Paris and Toulouse and opens up Limousin. It thus goes throughLa Souterraine,Limoges andBrive-la-Gaillarde. Another important way, the European route E603 connectsLimoges toAngoulême andSaintes. It represents one of the key elements of the road Central Europe Atlantic important channel of communication between the Rhône Valley and the Atlantic coast, which is divided into multiple plots at Angoulême and Saintes (Bordeaux, Royan and La Rochelle).
The implementation of theLGV Sud Europe Atlantique, which is part of a priority program initiated by the state.
Another important project for the region, theLGV Bordeaux–Spain extends of the South Europe Atlantic TGV line to connect with theBasque Y (high-speed line linking the Spanish cities ofBilbao,Vitoria,San Sebastian andIrun). It is part of the great South West Rail project and should facilitate regional connections between Bordeaux, Mont-de-Marsan, Dax, Bayonne, long-distance connections between the south of the region and Île-de-France, as well as international links toSpain (including Madrid).
The LGV Bar project between Poitiers and Limoges is part of this context, and should significantly shorten travel between the two cities (from just over an hour and a half to 45 minutes), facilitate interregional connections and access to Île-de-France. This project is one of the links of "Transline project" (Transversal Auvergne Atlantic Alpes), still under study.[citation needed]
The region benefits from the presence of several airport infrastructure. The main airport isBordeaux-Merignac, world class, which hosts nearly four and a half million passengers per year and offers flights to many destinations; It is the seventh metropolitan France Airport (fifth if we except the Paris airports).
The terminal of the Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne Airport, which has the second greatest attendance in the region.
Landmark river tourism, the Canal de Garonne is an extension of theCanal du Midi (which together form the "Canal des Deux-Mers" between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean). It passes includingAgen (Agen aqueduct) and continues untilCastets-en-Dorthe (Gironde).
The entire watershed of the Dordogne is classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 11 July 2012 with the co-ordination structure Institution of regional public Dordogne basin. The basin of the Dordogne is one of the few places in France where the presence of eight migratory fish species proved with Atlantic salmon, sea trout, river lamprey, sea lamprey, Allis shad, shad feigned, eel, and sturgeon in Europe. Other species associated with water, such as the common otter and the European mink, or the penny whistle swimming, are also present.
Two water agencies (Adour-Garonne and Loire-Bretagne) are involved in water management in the region.
TheGross domestic product (GDP) of the region was 177.0 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 7.5% of French economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 26,500 euros or 88% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 101% of the EU average.[20]
The business district ofMériadeck atBordeaux, remained on a human scale.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine can also count on a large image and digital sector ("Campus de l'Image" ofAngoulême, future "Cité Numérique" ofBègles), a dense network of small and medium enterprises, the presence in its territory of largeagribusiness as well as a port network including three major commercial ports being balanced due to their geographical position (Grand Port maritime de La Rochelle in the north,Grand Port maritime de Bordeaux andport of Bayonne in the south).
An important rural Region, Nouvelle-Aquitaine has a varied agriculture. Cattle breeding (regional races:Limousin, Bordelais,Parthenais,Blonde d'Aquitaine, Gasconne,Bazadais and Béarnais) is predominant in the Bressuirais and Confolentais grove and in the Aunisienne plain, on the high Limousin plateau, in the Bazadaises and Chalossiennes Hills and is used both in the production of meat to milk production. There are also two other bovine regional breeds do not belong to the list of official French breeds (Marinelandaise and Betizu) endangered. The area has many quality labels ("Veau fermier élevé sous la mère", Limousin beef ...).
Goats (regional breeds: Poitevine, Pyrenees and Massif Central) are mainly concentrated in the north of the region (Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne) and are used for cheese production (chabichou,mothais sur feuille, jonchée). Some departments complement this area (Corrèze and Dordogne with a part of the production ofRocamadourAOC). Sheep farming (regional races: Basque-béarnaise, Landes, limousine, manech black head, red head and Xaxi Ardia) is well represented in the Limousin (Limousin lamb) the Charentes (lamb Poitou-Charentes), the Médoc (Pauillac lamb) and the Basque and Bearn Pyrenees.
Pig farming, which represents a significant part of the agri-food sector is distributed throughout the region (regional races: black ass Limousin, Gascon pork pie black Basque) and is guaranteed by the label "porc du Sud-Ouest ". The pigs in the region are used to produce many meat products, starting with the famous Bayonne ham. Many farms have also specialised in poultry production including yellow chicken Saint-Sever and poultry of Sèvres val (regional racesBarbezieux, Limousin, Gascony, Landes and Marans) and fat waterfowl (mule ducks and geese), primarily designed for the production of foie gras and confit. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the first European region for foie gras (more than half the French production). The label "Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest" occupies a large part of the region.
The region is the birthplace of many other breeds (regional donkey breeds: the Pyrenees and Poitou, regional equine: Poitevin mule, Landais and Pottock).
The area is also an important oyster production center, with oysters " de Claires" fromMarennes-Oléron (in the estuary of theSeudre) and those ofArcachon andCap Ferret and a stronghold of the mussel with mussels from Aiguillon Bay (nearLa Rochelle) and mussel Boyardville andPort-des-Barques.
Cognac, one of two regional famous brandies withArmagnac.
Viticulture is a key sector of the local economy, the region with the presence of some of the most prestigious French vineyards: vineyards of Bordeaux, Bergerac, Cognac (production ofCognac andPineau des Charentes) and partially, Armagnac (production ofArmagnac andFloc de Gascogne), Southwest vineyards in the valleys of the Garonne and Lot, vineyard slopes of the Pyrenees (jurançon,irouléguy) and vineyards of Haut-Poitou. The vineyards of the Limousin, formerly prolific now confidential, but continues to provide quality wines (vineyardsVerneuil-sur-Vienne and Correze vineyard, including giving the wine country and the Correze "vin paillé" ofQueyssac-les-Vignes).
The region plays a vital role for cereal crops (wheat), herbage and oil (corn, sunflower), which bloom in the valleys of the Adour, Charente and the Garonne. Large agricultural cooperatives are located in the area: Lur Berri, Maïsadour, or Natea Charentes Alliance.
Tobacco production remains important inLangon area aroundLa Réole,Auros,Monségur andBazas (Gironde) inBergerac, in Dordogne and in the Lot-et-Garonne. Mixed farming has led to the establishment of more localised cultures, but nevertheless considered: Périgord walnuts, Limousin apples, strawberries valleys of the Dordogne and Lot, Charentais melons hillsides, beans ("mojhettes") of val d'Arnoult and the Marais Poitevin, theMarmande tomatoes, peppers from Landes and the Basque Country, theEspelette pepper.
The timber industry consists of two main types of activities that mainly use the wood of the Landes forest and secondarily of the Dordogne, Creuse, Corrèze and Haute-Vienne. The primary processing industries (pulp, sawing, slicing, etc.) are very often the result of large companies to perform operations that require large investments. The secondary processing industries (paper / cardboard, furniture, woodwork and plywood, etc.) do not require as many resources. They are more dispersed geographically and in the hands of smaller-scale undertakings or craft.
The region is a major international center in the field of aeronautics and space industry. Together with the neighbouring regionOccitania, it belongs to theAerospace Valley world-class industry cluster. The regional aerospace sector is closely linked to the defence sector, leading to talk of industry "ASD" (aeronautics, space and defence).
The regionalaircraft industry is a world leader for business aircraft, high-tech batteries, high performance composite materials, landing gear systems and turbines for helicopters, the European leader for military aircraft, cockpit equipment and systems, ground tests and flight, launchers, solid propulsion, airborne radars and systems, weapons systems deterrence, atmospheric re-entry technology and national leader in the interior design of 'business aircraft, aircraft maintenance, UAV systems.
The main sites are located in the city of Bordeaux, but also in thePyrénées-Atlantiques and inVienne. Of these,Dassault Aviation has five establishments in Mérignac (final assembly and commissioning flight Rafale and Falcon),Martignas-sur-Jalle (wing civilian and military aircraft), Biarritz (composites and assembly of structures),Cazaux (integration and armament test) and Poitiers (production of military aircraft canopy).Thales Group has two sites near Bordeaux: Pessac (aircraft embedded systems: mission computers, airborne radars combat and surveillance, unmanned aerial systems) and Hailsham (design and development of cockpit systems for major aircraft manufacturers in the world ).Airbus Defence and Space (development and production ofAriane launchers and of ballistic missiles for theFrench nuclear force) is located inSaint-Médard-en-Jalles.Safran has two major production facilities in the region: Turbomeca (world leader in helicopter turbines) near Pau and Snecma (maintenance and repair of military engines) inChâtellerault.
The Turbomeca Arrielturboshaft engine, manufactured inBordes (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
The pharmaceutical and parachemical industry is particularly well represented in the city of Bordeaux:Sanofi has three sites on the outskirts of Bordeaux,Ambarès-et-Lagrave (production)Floirac (IT) andSaint-Loubès (logistics); Meda Pharma Group is located in Mérignac; TheMerck Group operates a production unit inMartillac. Finally, CEVA Animal Health inLibourne.
InAgen, there is the UPSA Company (scientific pharmacology Union applied), sold to the US group Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in 1994. Two factories and a logistics platform allow the market to deliver the full range of analgesics from aspirin and paracetamol to morphine. Since 1994, the US group has invested regularly in its two Agenais units that deliver half of their export production.
Limoges, long specialised in manufacturing and luxury (shoes, porcelain ...), is now a major cluster in the field of ceramics research (European Ceramics Pole). Legrand, French industrial group historically based in Limoges in the Limousin, is a world leader in products and systems for electrical installations and information networks. Ester Technology Park, is a business and research center that develops north of the city on several areas: ceramics; materials and surface treatments; electronics, optics and telecommunications; Health biotechnology; water and environment; Engineering in association with theUniversity of Limoges.
Niort has developed over many years a financial sector based economy (insurance).
The oil and gas industry is also represented in the region, with theLacq gas field near Pau, which was France's main source of natural gas in the 1970s.
Tourism is an important sector in a region with significant assets, starting with a mild and sunny climate, famous vineyards (wine tourism) and many heritage sites, some of international renown. Its wide ocean frontage, stormed by thousands of vacationers - and surfers - every summer is characterised by sandy beaches that often stretch to the horizon. Indirect consequence of increasingly popular for water sports, many surf-related brands (mainly clothing and equipment) are present in the region, earning him the nickname "Glissicon Valley"[citation needed] in reference toSilicon Valley:Rip Curl,Billabong,Quiksilver,O'Neill.
The "Surf culture" very present on the coast, here inLacanau, is the reason of the establishment in the area of brands related to this sector (Rip Curl,Billabong)
In the northern part of the coast, the Charente archipelago consists mainly islands ofRé,Oléron andAix, where alternate sheltered coves and beaches opening onto the open sea. The aunisiennes coast, nearLa Rochelle, greet some family seaside resorts such asChâtelaillon-Plage orFouras. Further south, in the heart of the Côte de Beauté (Coast of Beauty),Royan is one of three major seaside resorts in the region. She has five beaches, not to mention those of neighbouring towns and the Côte Sauvage (Wild Coast) of the peninsula of Arvert, Mecca of surfing and board sports.
Beyond the Gironde estuary begins the Côte d’Argent (Silver Coast), large expanse of almost straight sand bordered by pine trees and large lakes Landes, punctuated by small resorts such asSoulac-sur-Mer,Vendays-Montalivet (famous for its naturist center)Hourtin,Lacanau,Biscarrosse,Mimizan,Hossegor orCapbreton. TheBassin d'Arcachon, which forms an indentation between Gironde and Landes coast, focuses onArcachon, another seaside resort, nestled in the heart of the pine forest. It faces theCap Ferret, beaten by the waves of the ocean. In continuation of the Côte d'Argent, the Basque coast is structured aroundBiarritz, Mecca of seaside tourism,Saint-Jean-de-Luz andHendaye, and is famous for its eroded cliffs and powerful rollers which make it a favourite spot for surfers.
^"BORDEAUX−MERIGNAC (33)"(PDF).Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records (in French). Meteo France. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 1 April 2022. Retrieved14 July 2022."BORDEAUX−MERIGNAC (33)"(PDF).Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records (in French). Meteo France.Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved14 July 2022.
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