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Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is in the south-west of France. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and is close to Spain. It is the largest region of metropolitan France.
Key points of the sheet
- The region has 12 départements, for example Gironde and Landes. Bordeaux is the prefecture (préfecture). The other main cities are Limoges, Poitiers, Pau, La Rochelle, Bayonne and Périgueux.
- The region has about 6.2 million inhabitants. The population is growing fast, especially in the départements by the sea.
- The key sectors are aeronautics, agriculture, the food industry, tourism, digital, forestry and wood, and energy.
- The unemployment rate is lower than the national average. But it varies a lot from one département to another.
Words to know
- region of metropolitan France (région métropolitaine française)
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region of metropolitan France.
- départements
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine has 12 départements, for example Gironde and Dordogne.
- prefecture (préfecture)
- Bordeaux is the prefecture of the region.
- départements by the sea (départements du bord de mer)
- These départements are attractive. The population is growing there in particular.
- unemployment rate (taux de chômage)
- In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it is lower than the national average, but it varies a lot between départements.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Where is Nouvelle-Aquitaine located?
In French, the language of the exam: Où est située la Nouvelle-Aquitaine ?
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is located in the south-west of France.
How many départements does Nouvelle-Aquitaine have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de départements compte la Nouvelle-Aquitaine ?
Nouvelle-Aquitaine has 12 départements.
What is the unemployment rate like in Nouvelle-Aquitaine?
In French, the language of the exam: Comment est le taux de chômage en Nouvelle-Aquitaine ?
The unemployment rate is lower than the national average, but it varies a lot between départements.
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More in this topic (The regions of France)
Source
Sheet “Nouvelle-Aquitaine” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.