For many years, Aquitaine has essentially owed its wealth to the famous vineyards of the Bordeaux country and to its vast pine forests. Despite the good results achieved in the aerospace, agri-foodstuffs and wood pulp industries, the scale of industrial development is still open to improvement. Fresh impetus has been given by the new TGV train. This relatively mountainous region, in the very heart of France, has always had to contend with the problem of its relative isolation. Agriculture is centred on beef cattle and the production of cheese.
Tourism plays an important role.
This region is endowed with rich agricultural resources such as cereal crops and vineyards which produce the famous Champagne. Ajaccio Corsica, an island, is a region in itself. Yet, the length of the coastline, the mildness of the climate and the exceptional beauty of the landscape lead tourism to constitute a substantial source of income for the islanders. All government departments, national headquarters of public authorities and the head offices of the main companies are located there. Prime resources in education and research are to be found in the Paris area.