Visit the Landes in 1 week

Visit the Landes, a destination with magnificent landscapes between sea, countryside and forest. In the southwest of France, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, this particularly sunny region invites you to a total change of scenery. Book your vacation to visit the Landes in 1 week, we show you the itinerary.

Day 1 and 2: The Great Lakes Region: Sanguinet Biscarrosse and Mimizan

No need to rush to the beach to cool off, the Landes offer a less crowded and equally pleasant option, being the region of the Great Lakes. There are 3 of them:

• Lake Sanguinet on the border of Gironde,
• Lake Biscarrosse-Parentis further south,
• Lake Aureilhan in Mimizan, the smallest of the three.

These natural and preserved areas have supervised beaches in summer, perfect for swimming. Dive into calm and clear water, the day is ideal for picnicking, and enjoying the many activities on offer. Canoe, kayak, paddle, boat or sail, glide on the water with family or friends for a shared pleasure. Sports enthusiasts can also take the hiking trails and cycle paths to pedal in the shade of the pine forests, which join the small villages of the Landes and the ocean. This is a great first step to relax, and start your visit to the Landes in 1 week.

Day 3: The Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park

Many have discovered it on foot or by bike during a walk in the heart of the forest, and easily spot this green triangle on the Landes map. But this natural space is much more than a gathering of beeches, hornbeams, hazelnuts, hawthorns and locusts since it contains an environment unique in Europe for its fauna and flora. Discover the Marquèze ecomuseum to start from Sabres, a steam locomotive takes you to the heart of a town with a 19th century atmosphere. Farm, bread oven, sheepfold, mill and traditional house can be visited from June to November, an unmissable event in the Landes de Gascogne regional park. Continue with a descent by kayak or canoe in the Leyre valley, a navigable wooded river for 90 km towards the Arcachon Basin. You may be lucky enough to reach one of the many villages in the forest :

• Solferino is atypical with its symmetrical architecture of farmhouses dating from Napoleon 3,
• Arjuzax has a 2,600-hectare nature reserve, with a pond and a small beach ideal for lazing around. Keep your eyes peeled, it is also the wintering site of the common cranes.
• Brocas is renowned for its Forge Museum which traces the town's industrial past with its old flour mill, blast furnaces and workshops.
• Morcenx is a village with inexhaustible powers with its miraculous springs which can be discovered on a hiking trail in the heart of the forest.
• Luxey is known for its Musiclarue summer festival held every year, and the exhibition of an emblematic work of art from the contemporary art forest, that of Hello Apollon. This unusual place brings together the creations of visual artists arranged in the heart of nature in the Landes de Gascogne regional park. Go for an unusual day in search of these scattered works.

Treasure hunt, adventure course, treetop adventure course, archery or horse riding, the Landes de Gascogne regional park has many surprises and fun and sporting activities in store for you at any time of the year.

Day 4: Mont-de-Marsan and Chalosse further south

Here you are in Mont-de-Marsan , the capital of sculpture where a museum is dedicated to it, that of Despiau Wlérick which brings together 1,800 figurative works of art dating from the 20th century. Some scattered around the village arouse curiosity and make tourists look up in search of these atypical decorations. Visit this unusual site and discover the Rozanoff museum of the air base in a completely different area. Here, it is the history of the air force that is told to you through cabins, suits, and aircraft equipment. More peaceful, the Jean Rameau park takes you away from it all on the banks of the river with its Japanese garden, its fern garden and its hydrangea garden. Before leaving, don't forget to visit the charming Saint-Roch market on Saturday morning, listed among the 100 most beautiful in France.

Further south, the Chalosse region, natural and hilly, contrasts with the characteristic landscapes of the Landes. Far from the pines and beaches, it is the meadows , forests and cornfields that dominate, perfect for beautiful hikes and mountain bike rides. Cross a region crossed by the Ardour which forms Barthes in some places, meadows in wetlands where birds like to nest. The particularity of the silt and its properties are used by thermal baths and thermal establishments for its many benefits, how about a little cure? Once relaxed, you can taste the delicious gastronomy offered in the Landes between foie gras, duck breasts, farm poultry and of course, Chalosse beef. How good it is to escape for a week in the Landes.

Day 5: Dax and Surrounding Areas

Dax and in particular the Grand Dax is a pretty town with a strange legend that tells of a Roman legionary who threw his sick dog into the Ardour, before finding him 3 years later as lively as he had been in his youth. This story marks the beginning of the thermal baths and thermal mud, treatments offered in the town's adapted establishments. The hot water fountain , built on old Roman baths, is emblematic of Dax and pours water heated to 34 °C. Once the treatment is over, you can visit the town and its arenas where the main entrance is guarded by a magnificent sculpture of a bull's head , symbol of the games that take place there. The Dax arenas are the largest in the region and can be visited freely. The neo-Greek Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Gallo-Roman ramparts are also must-sees in Dax, take the time to discover them before exploring the surrounding area:

• The Saint Christus lake in Saint-Paul-Lès-Dax, with an area of 11 hectares, is ideal for walking or cycling,
• The windmill of Bénesse-Lès-Dax is the highest and most beautiful point in the surrounding area from where you can see nearly 13 castles,
• Les Barthes , marshy areas from the Ardour to observe Landes storks near Saas-et-Gourby, Mées or Candresse,
• Etsey Pond is an incredible natural site classified as Natura 2000 where you can fish and exercise on a fitness trail.

Have a great day, Dax and its surroundings are sites not to be missed during a week-long visit to the Landes.

The pretty town of Dax and its statue in the shape of a bull

Day 6: The region of Léon, Soustons, Moliets, Vieux Boucau

We are getting closer to the seaside for the end of this week of visits to the Landes, through typical Landes villages such as:

• Léon and its brick and half-timbered houses that line the charming alleys, as well as its historic washhouse not to be missed. Here the choice of activities is varied between the gourmet markets, the cycle paths that run along the pine forest and the beaches perfect for lazing around. A section of the Vélodyssée separates Léon from Soustons for a pleasant stroll in the salty sea spray. The city is also connected to Moliets by the Huchet current nicknamed the little Landes Amazon because of its tropical vegetation.
• Moliets is a charming, discreet and totally natural town with the Huchet stream extending over 600 hectares, and its pond ideal for fishing and walking.
• In Soustons you can lounge on the beach, but pack lightly as it is difficult to access with a remote car park. Another option for swimming is the marine lake at Port d'Albret whose beaches and paths lead to Vieux Boucau on the other side.
• Meaning Old Mouth, Vieux Boucau has 2 beaches, playgrounds and a restaurant area for a relaxing break in the shade of the trees. You can reach it from the city center by taking the mail walk which leads to the marine lake of the port of Albret.

There is no shortage of water activities between the lakes, ponds and beaches of the region. Have fun, the week is almost over.

Day 7: The region of Hossegor, Capbreton, Labenne

Unmissable, Hossegor represents the capital of surfing for all fans of this famous board sport. Clubs, schools, associations and shops, it is impossible to miss this notoriety as surfing is present on every street corner. Every year, many competitions are organized thanks to the 7 km of beaches of Hossegor and its mythical waves ideal for surfing. Let yourself be charmed by this seaside resort where the town is teeming with designer boutiques, a historic center formerly inhabited by fishermen. Golf is another activity that makes Hossegor a privileged destination, classified as one of the 50 most beautiful sites in Europe. Hiking and cycling, you can also tour the lake as you wish. Admire the Basque-Landes style villas and take a break in an oyster hut to savor delicious oysters with a glass of chilled white wine.

Less than 10 minutes from Hossegor, Capbreton has the only marina in the Landes . Admire the hulls of the boats rocking to the rhythm of the waves during a walk along the quays. Of course, the must-see in this small village is the fish market at the foot of the harbor master's office, where fishermen display their catch of the day directly at the bottom of the boats. Advice, recipes and cooking, you can be sure to leave with the best fish and tips for cooking it. Are you full? Digest by joining the jetty which offers a magnificent view of the village of Capbreton, before taking the dune path on the seafront. You may see surfers gliding on the waves or boats going out to sea to observe dolphins at sunset.

Labenne , like its neighbors, is a surfing enthusiast. Take advantage of being with surfing professionals to learn this water sport. Flexibility and balance, that's all you need to have fun in the hollow of the waves. The Orx nature reserve is another site adored by migratory birds in the Landes, accessible on a self-guided or guided tour. Have we already told you about the Vélodyssée ? It can be found in Labenne along the Boudigau canal which leads to the forest, before branching off north towards Capbreton, or south towards Ondres. Before pedaling, take advantage of the water activities on offer, including canoeing or paddleboarding on the Boudigau canal. With friends or family, there's no better way to have fun.

The week-long visit to the Landes is already over. We hope you enjoyed exploring this green region with its many colorful landscapes.

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