Things to do in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France: The Best Museums

In its fully renovated setting, the Adrien Dubouché National Museum holds the largest collection of Limoges porcelain in the world. It also contains representative works from the key stages in the history of ceramics. The museum route follows a journey through time that starts in Antiquity and crosses continents and civilisations, leading visitors towards the most recent designs. Everyone can marvel at the virtuosity of the masterpieces on display in an area dedicated to manufacturing techniques. The Adrien Dubouché National Museum and its prestigious collections thus contribute to the international reputation of ceramic arts and the promotion of the exceptional know-how that has made Limoges so famous.

The author of Cyrano de Bergerac created a sumptuous theatrical decor for his dream home. The charming French and English gardens delight the visitor with their romantic walks. A veritable «poem in stone and vegetation», the Villa Arnaga has to be explored or reexplored :In 2014, you'll have the opportunity to admire the renewed gardens similar to the ones imagined by Edmond Rostand with their box wood embroideries, their topiary bushes, their plant vases, their mirror like pools. The "poets' corner " will surprise you with its lattice work. In a word a typical French garden with its perfectly geometrical design ! Open daily from April 1 to November 1. From April to June and September to November : 9:30 to 12:30 and 14h to 18h . In July and August : 10h -19h . In 2020, due to the Covid epidemic, our opening hours are modified. Please visit our website : arnaga.com

Set in the heart of the city, the Musée d'Aquitaine retraces the history of the region, from prehistory through to the present day. The museum exposes rich regional and extra-european collections of archeology, history and ethnography. This "Museum of civilization" presents each years several temporary exhibitions about history and cultures of the world. It offers to public a varied cultural programming: lectures, screenings, round tables, guided tours, concerts, meetings with foreign communities, educational workshops... Easily accessible from the tram B (stop Musée d'Aquitaine) or A (stop City Hall / Hôtel de Ville).

Embark on the Hermione adventure in Rochefort ! Explore France's largest replica of an old sailing boat. Find out more about this extraordinary adventure with a host of guided tours, events and activities. Get on board and discover the upper deck and go on the gun deck, learn more about traditional craftmanship, sailmaking, rigging,... Through panels, pictures and movies, you will discover history, shipbuilding and life on board.

UNIQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Visit a unique museum in France which is protecting a vast gallo-roman house vestiges, the Vésone Domus. Opened since 2003, in the heart of archaeological and plants park, Vesunna offers a 3000 m2 itinerary of permanent presentation of antique Perigueux. AN ARCHITECTURE BY JEAN NOUVEL Jean Nouvel the building project architect has completed a great number of works throughout the world. He is in particular the architect of the Quai Branly museum in Paris. A large umbrella, which is protecting the antic walls, floats above it. From the mezzanines, an impressive view opens onto the vestiges. Further on, the high glass walls reveal the landscaped gardens of the Vesone Tower and the IVth century rampart vestiges. The building is like a window onto the past which is buried under the modern city.

Come discover three centuries of history and fame of the great wines of Bordeaux! The vaulted cellars, built in 1720, trace the history of the wine trade, the work of coopers and the raising of wine in barrels in the tradition of 19th century breeders. At the end of your visit, our team invites you to share a convivial moment around the wines of Bordeaux.