Settling in New Aquitaine, in the heart of the vineyards, near the dunes

Lauren Pinel

Miles of beach, the proximity of the Pyrenees, acres of nature.... New Aquitaine opens its doors to you and invites you to come and settle in the region. Discover the region from all angles (employment, quality of life, housing, income...) Moving to New Aquitaine means living between dunes and vineyards!

Why New Aquitaine?

Our 'Living Well' tool is based on public data on regional on regional well-being. It is also supplemented by feedback from newcomers supported by the platform. Thus, it provides you with figures on 11 predefined criteria. According to Bien-VivreAccording to Bien-Vivre, New Aquitaine is attractive to many people on the move, especially those from the Paris region. Moving to New Aquitaine allows you to reconcile your professional and personal life. And in addition, to benefit from a pleasant living environment and a more serene life. The growth of its population, particularly marked on the coast, makes it one of the most attractive areas in France. The region is ahead of the Ile-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in terms of demographic dynamism.

The labour market, employment and income

The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has twelve departments. It is characterised by the preponderance of its agricultural and forestry employment (1st European agricultural region). It is positioned in the agri-food, aeronautics and space, wood and paper industries.

Its economy is therefore based on agriculture and viticulturewith the vineyards of Bordeaux and Cognac. Its industrial sector is notably very efficient. There are also powerful aeronautical, space and pharmaceutical industries.

Niort is the fourth largest financial centre in France. The city is known for its numerous mutual insurance companies. The Gironde, with Bordeaux, concentrates a majority of the active population and therefore of employment. The Atlantic Pyrenees, with the city of Pau, is not to be outdone. The department is closely followed by Charente Maritime, notably with the dynamic employment area of La Rochelle. Moreover, the regional council of New Aquitaine is the one that invests the most in innovation and research. The region's research potential is based on its 5 universities (Bordeaux, Limoges, La Rochelle, Pau and Poitiers) and its Grandes Écoles.

Quality of life

The environment

Having both the mountains and the ocean nearby is a luxury that many French people do not have, except for the people of Aquitaine! The proximity of the Pyrenees and the ocean offers the possibility to go for a picnic on the beach after a day's work. You can also put on your skis for a few hours of skiing in the Pyrenees. This makes life softer and contributes to the exceptional quality of life in New Aquitaine. Life is less stressful, more peaceful.

Aquitaine is the largest beach in Europe (with 250 km of sand). It is also the cradle of surfing in Europe, notably in Biarritz and Anglet. The Aquitaine coast has some of the most famous seaside resorts such as Arcachon, Biarritz or Royan.

And what would New Aquitaine be without telling you about its capital, Bordeaux? A large provincial city, it is attracting more and more new talent. Its pleasant living environment is combined with great professional opportunities.

In Charente-Maritime, you will be able to go from the Atlantic coast to the vineyards of the hinterland. Not forgetting its dynamic towns such as Royan, La Rochelle, or its small villages full of charm.

For a total disconnection, the Corrèze, the Dordogne or the Landes are territories that allow you to live close to nature and in an incredible living environment. The cities of Poitiers, Limoges and Niort allow you to live in medium-sized cities where the employment pool is also dynamic.

Education and health

The region is a major student centre, with several universities and grandes écoles*.

The 22 members of the Club des Grandes Écoles de Bordeaux Aquitaine are: Arts et Métiers Paristech Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, CESI Bordeaux, CESI Pau-Assat, EBABX, EISTI, ENM, ENSAP, ENSC, ENSCBP, ENSEIRB MATMECA, ENSGTI, ENSTBB, ESTIA, Groupe ESC Pau, IAE Bordeaux, IAE Pau-Bayonne, IPB, IEP, INSEEC, ISA BTP, KEDGE.

New Aquitaine is the third region in France in terms of education. In terms of health, the region is also well rated. This is due to the number of doctors present in relation to the number of inhabitants. Despite a marked difference between the different departments, the region has been able to find solutions to compensate for the low medical density. Examples include telemedicine and the delegation of certain consultations to pharmacists.

The community

The Aquitaine region produces products of exceptional quality: AOC meats, poultry, cheeses, vegetables. All of this cooked into delicious culinary specialities: the Aquitaine people have reason to be proud of their gastronomy. It is also the region of Jurançon, Bergerac, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion. Enough to delight wine lovers! It is around this gastronomy that you will be able to meet the neo-Aquitains.

First and foremost defined as inhabitants of the South West of France, they are epicureans and like to share.
Sport reinforces this feeling of belonging: rugby, football, water sports... Discover Sophie, Switch Up ambassador in La Rochelle . She will be delighted to welcome you in her beautiful city.

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Services and security

New Aquitaine is a region of transit between the Paris basin and the Iberian peninsula. This situation explains the development of major road axes. In addition, the Paris-Bordeaux-Toulouse-Spain high-speed line makes it possible to travel from Paris to Bordeaux in just 2 hours.

Services are developed in the major cities such as Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Pau, Limoges. It is also a region where you feel safe!

Housing

Already very popular with many urbanites, the Bordeaux metropolis seems to be attracting even more customers since the deconfinement.

Moreover, Bordeaux remains the preferred city for executives wishing to leave Paris, according to the 2018 edition of the Cadremploi study.

The Basque Country is also booming, having experienced an intense recovery. Local demand is also returning in the Landes. In Bergerac, in the Dordogne, demand has also exploded. But despite these increased demands following the confinements, property in New Aquitaine remains much more affordable than in the Paris region. The coast, Bordeaux and La Rochelle will still be more expensive than Limoges, Poitiers or towns less close to the sea.

Attracting more and more people on the move, the Aquitaine region combines many sought-after criteria and makes its charm work. Its environment, its dynamic employment area, but also its quality of life make it the ideal region to settle down in !

The 5 cities where to settle in New Aquitaine

If you've been seduced by New Aquitaine, all that's left to do is to move there. To help you find your ideal place to live, Switch Up has put together a selection of 5 cities where life is good in the region! Many cities in the region offer a very pleasant living environment and therefore allow you to settle serenely in New Aquitaine.

Bordeaux

Thecapital of the Gironde and Aquitaine regions, Bordeaux is attracting more and more newcomers. It is a city on a human scale, it is airy and allows you to breathe! Life here is gentler and more peaceful than in other large cities in France. It's a lively city, particularly dynamic, where you can discover beautiful exhibitions or go and watch a football or rugby match with friends. Student life is very pleasant. The sea is easily accessible from Bordeaux and the city is lined with green spaces. Strolls along the Garonne River, passing in front of the Hôtel de Vie, testify to the quality of life in Bordeaux.

Accessible in only 2 hours from Paris, Bordeaux is perfectly situated for work, but also for a weekend away! Sectors such as services recruit a large number of employees in Bordeaux. This is particularly true for personal services and digital professions.

Limoges

Limoges is a city on a human scale, characterised by its gentle way of life. Appreciated for its safety, the medium-sized city is known for its art and history. Visit its porcelain workshops and museums and stroll through the historic heart of the city, but also the surrounding area in a greener setting. It is a real little corner of paradise to live in with your family. Limoges also stands out from an economic point of view. Indeed, its unemployment rate is much lower than the national average. The cost of real estate is also lower than in its neighbours Poitiers and Bordeaux.

Poitiers

Poitiers is strategically located in the heart of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris and 1 hour from Bordeaux! The city offers newcomers a warm welcome, diversity and mobility. As for the environment, the air quality is enviable. What makes Poitiers so special are its parks, especially the Parc de Blossac, its gardens and its small animal park, which will delight the youngest.Real estate is affordable and the unemployment rate is below the national average. The ideal location and quality of life of this beautiful French city attracts many people on the move; workers, researchers and students. Poitiers is therefore "the place to be" to realize all your projects!

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Pau

Often praised for its quality of life, Pau is a city that offers the economic and cultural advantages of a big city. But without the inconvenience of traffic jams or the cost of housing. Its location is ideal, at the foot of the Pyrenees, near Spain and just over two hours from Bordeaux. Accommodation is always affordable. It is a dynamic city, and the centre is very pleasant, surrounded by green spaces. Described as a lively but also quiet city, Pau offers many different activities, especially sports, where you feel relatively safe.

The pace of this town is in the image of the Béarn region: peaceful, local, values. In terms of employment, the digital and sustainable development sectors are to be found. It is the cradle of major companies in the aeronautics, chemical and food industries.

La Rochelle

Living in La Rochelle means enjoying superb architecture and a town on a human scale. Everything is within walking distance, and there is of course the proximity of the sea and the good weather. The city centre is very attractive with its small shops, restaurants, and the feeling that people take time to live. The coastal paths and the walks and bike rides La Rochelle is the third largest city in France, with a population of over 1 million. La Rochelle is the 3rd city in the ranking of villages and cities where it is good to live. A major tourist destination, La Rochelle also stands out for its employment opportunities, its university, and its economic and commercial dynamism .

So, have you decided? The Aquitaine region is for you? Switch Upaccompanies you in your installation thanks to our local network of Ambassadors. Our Breton ambassadors will be delighted to welcome you, whether you are looking for administrative procedures, accommodation, schools, or to discover a new neighbourhood. Our Aquitaine ambassadors will be able to share their best practices with you, they are experts in the issue of moving to New Aquitaine.