Nouvelle Aquitaine

Living and buying property in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

From the Atlantic coast to Périgord villages, the Limousin hills and the Basque Country, Nouvelle-Aquitaine brings together very different places. Bordeaux, Poitiers, Limoges, La Rochelle and Pau offer town bases, while smaller settlements and countryside broaden the choice.

Begin a property search with the setting you want: a city apartment, home near the ocean, older country house or base towards the mountains.

Explore the departments

Charente
River scenery, the vineyards around Cognac and pale-stone villages give the Charente much of its appeal. Angoulême provides a city base, while smaller towns and the countryside offer homes for buyers who would like a garden, space for guests or a village setting.

Charente-Maritime
La Rochelle, the islands of Ré and Oléron, Royan and the inland towns offer different ways to enjoy Charente-Maritime. The Atlantic coast is a natural attraction, while Saintes, Rochefort and the surrounding countryside broaden the choice for property buyers.

Corrèze
Stone houses, valleys and small historic towns give the Corrèze a distinctive setting for a home. Brive-la-Gaillarde, Tulle and Ussel offer three different bases from which to explore the department and its countryside.

Creuse
Rolling countryside, pasture and granite villages give the Creuse a strongly rural character. Guéret, Aubusson and La Souterraine are useful reference points for buyers whose plans centre on a house, its garden and the surrounding landscape.

Dordogne
The Dordogne and Vézère valleys, Périgord villages and the old streets of Périgueux give the department an appeal that extends beyond holidays. Bergerac, Sarlat and smaller market towns offer other starting points for a property search.

Gironde
Bordeaux, Arcachon Bay, the Médoc and the Entre-deux-Mers offer contrasting settings within the Gironde. A city apartment, a house near the bay and a village property in wine country serve quite different plans for life in south-west France.

Landes
Atlantic beaches, pine forests and the countryside of the Chalosse give the Landes several different settings. Mont-de-Marsan and Dax are reference points for a permanent move, while the coast attracts buyers planning holidays and time outdoors.

Lot-et-Garonne
The Lot and Garonne valleys, orchards and bastide towns give Lot-et-Garonne a settled rural character. Agen, Villeneuve-sur-Lot and Marmande provide different bases for buyers who would like a home in south-west France with towns and countryside both in view.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques
The Basque Country and Béarn provide two main introductions to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. From the coast around Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Pau and the Pyrenean valleys, the department offers very different settings for a home.

Deux-Sèvres
Niort, the Marais Poitevin, the Gâtine countryside and the northern towns give Deux-Sèvres several settings for a home. It is a department to explore for buyers who want small-town or rural life with space for a garden and their own projects.

Vienne
Poitiers, Châtellerault and the Vienne and Gartempe valleys offer different starting points for a property search. The department combines urban life with small towns and country houses, allowing buyers to choose between services close by and more space outdoors.

Haute-Vienne
Limoges is the main urban centre of Haute-Vienne, surrounded by hills, pasture and villages. Buyers can explore homes close to town services or focus on country houses with a garden and space for longer stays.

The Atlantic, from islands to the Basque coast

The Charente islands, Arcachon Bay, Landes coastline and Basque seaside towns offer different ways to enjoy the ocean. An apartment in a coastal town, a house with a garden and a base near a beach serve different plans. Decide how closely your visits or everyday routine should revolve around the sea.

Country houses with regional character

Charente, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne and the Limousin have different landscapes and buildings. Stone, courtyards, outbuildings and gardens may give a home its character. Choosing between a small-town address and a more secluded property depends on the space you will use, the stays you plan and the local life you want nearby.

Cities and smaller-town alternatives

Bordeaux offers a metropolitan search; Poitiers, Limoges, Niort, Angoulême and Pau provide other bases. Each has distinct neighbourhoods and surrounding residential communes. For a permanent move, connecting the home with work, services and interests makes the search more focused. For holidays, compare the complete journey to the individual area.

Poitou and the Charentes: towns as well as holiday homes

Around Poitiers, Niort and Angoulême, property searches are not limited to country retreats. Urban neighbourhoods, nearby communes and smaller towns offer choices for a permanent move. A historic centre, a house near a market and a residential garden support different routines.

The Charente and Charente-Maritime introduce pale stone buildings, courtyards and former rural properties. A house inland may suit buyers who want room for guests or a workshop, while the coast and islands give the sea a different place in each stay. It is worth considering these as distinct projects before trying to compare properties across them.

The Limousin: stone houses and inland landscapes

Creuse, Corrèze and Haute-Vienne reveal another side of the region. Limoges, Brive-la-Gaillarde, Tulle, Guéret and smaller towns provide reference points among hills, valleys and pasture. Gardens and outbuildings can be an important part of what buyers seek here.

A rural property does not imply one way of living. Some people want a family house for longer visits; others prefer a small-town setting with shops and local life nearby. Clarifying that distinction makes floor area and grounds more meaningful than they would be in a search guided by size alone.

Béarn and the Basque Country

In the south, Pyrénées-Atlantiques brings together places with their own identities. Around Pau, a permanent home can combine urban life with a Pyrenean backdrop. Valley properties may place the mountains more firmly at the centre of your plans. The Basque coast and inland towns introduce other building styles and local routines.

An apartment, village house and property with a garden each create a different relationship with the place. Markets, neighbourhoods and the surrounding countryside can help you choose an area for what it would offer during an ordinary week, rather than for a single idea of south-west France.

When planning viewings, allow time to discover these local settings. The most useful itinerary brings together properties within areas that share your priorities, leaving space to understand the town or village as well as the house.

Your property search

Explore the properties offered by Sextant and refine your search by location, property type and budget. Share your plans with a property consultant to discuss the homes that interest you and the viewings you would like to arrange.