What to do in the Landes in autumn? Top 10 best ideas!

Autumn appears at the start of the school year, the beaches empty and the sun hides to allow a season of warm colors to settle in. In the Landes, the end of summer is very popular for its still mild temperatures and the many activities still possible. In the southwest of France, in New Aquitaine, extend your vacation between beaches and forests, we tell you everything there is to do in the Landes in autumn.

Article opening photo: AdobeStock_J. Borruel

Article Summary

1. Go visit a museum in the Landes
2. A walk in the forest with its beautiful autumn colors
3. With your binoculars, watch the birds!
4. The delights of the Landes to taste in autumn...
5. We get on the bikes and off we go!
6. Visit towns and villages for fun!
7. A canoe trip is still possible!
8. A spa, a thermal treatment, it's the ideal season!
9. Learn to surf with the autumn waves!
10. A little green with friends?

1 Visit museums in low season in the Landes

Autumn can bring cool winds and a few drops of rain that encourage shelter. Take the opportunity to visit a museum! Between culture, discovery and exhibition, immerse yourself in the history of the Landes through museums that tell the story of the region. The Museum of Earthenware and Tableware introduces you to the work of ceramics with the Samadet brand which invites itself elegantly to your table. Arthous Abbey in Hastingues reveals 8 centuries of epic history between mosaics, prehistoric arts and scientific programming. Airplane lovers can escape to the Aviation Museum, a unique site which preserves magnificent collections presented by a veteran. With friends or family, spend a warm autumn day in a museum.

2 Walking on the beaches or in the forest

There's nothing like walking on a beach devoid of tourists after summer to recharge your batteries. Invested in a peaceful atmosphere after a hectic season, the sandbanks are pleasant to wander under the fresh salty breeze coming from the sea. The gentle rays of the sun warm slightly, an ideal temperature for being active on the beaches during a hike. Large beach of Seignosse, pretty beach of Souston or vast beach of Biscarosse, the options are varied to escape. Bordered by pine forests, you can continue your expedition among the trees of the Landes forest, one of the largest in Europe decorated with a majority of maritime pines. Watch the red and gold leaves sag on the trails, forming a colorful carpet that crunches beneath your feet.

3 Observe birds in autumn in the Landes

Autumn is the perfect season to observe birds in complete privacy. Freed from vacationers, the Landes regain their tranquility, much appreciated by the birds which fly away and flourish in complete freedom. Open until the end of October, the Testarouman leisure center located in the heart of the Pissos park is a magnificent site for admiring birds in their natural environment, on the banks of the Grande Leyre river. The Teich ornithological reserve, to the north of the Landes de Gascogne regional natural park, is a bird paradise. Nearly 300 species can be observed throughout the year, including common cranes. Admire the incessant ballet of animals in the mildness of autumn, the warm colors reflected on the water, offering a unique landscape for bird watching.

4 Enjoy Landes specialties in autumn

Autumn is generous in the Landes, where the “ gourmet autumn ” is organized each year, a festival which runs from the end of October to the beginning of November to discover the know-how of local producers and artisans. Foie gras, farm duck, Chalosse beef, sand carrot or nergi (a mini kiwi from Ardor), you will delight your taste buds from the start of the school year. Going to meet the producers, going to the markets, discovering the specialties in the restaurant, there are many ways to appreciate late-season products in the Landes. The only condition is to taste Armagnac, the local brandy which is the pride of the region. Take advantage, autumn is harvest season!

5 Take a bike ride in the Landes

With 600km of secure cycle paths and 1,700km of unmarked circuits, the Landes are a perfect destination to escape by bike. Mild sun, a slight breeze and warm colors, autumn is ideal for pedaling effortlessly along beaches, rivers or in the heart of forests. The Landes are the passage for many long-distance hiking trails, such as the Vélodyssée which you can join in Biscarrosse, the Scandibérique which passes through Mont-de-Marsan or the paths of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Get on your cycle and warm up your calves, the Landes also have coastal paths, greenways and routes between valleys and hillsides. Look up from your handlebars to appreciate the beautiful red and golden colors of the vineyards and forests, as well as the blue ocean lit by the soft rays of light.

6 Visit the charming villages of Landes during autumn

The late season is very popular with hikers who love the freshness of autumn and its gentle warmth that envelops you. Take advantage of a peaceful season after summer to discover the charming villages that dot the Landes region. Cafes and restaurants are not yet closed, allowing gourmet stops during your journey. Appreciate Mézos and its typical Landes architecture revealed by the rays of light. In Mimizan, the shops and markets continue at the start of the school year, a little relaxing break before exploring the beaches and breathing in the scents of the aromatic garden. The bastide of Armagnac is surprising with its large square lined with arcades. Hossegor, Mont-de-Marsan, Hastingues or Uza, put on your shoes for an autumn visit through the villages.

7 Paddle a canoe in the Landes in autumn

Who said autumn was synonymous with freshness? On the contrary, the end of summer offers mild temperatures ideal for escaping by canoe for a day. Don't worry about getting wet, the sun is still there and will warm you during your getaway on the water . Between lakes and rivers, there is plenty to do for a moment of relaxation with family or friends. Paddle rhythmically under the warm-colored trees which give a unique and warm setting to your canoe trip. In the Landes, it is in particular on the Leyre that you can go down aboard your boat.

8 Take a cure in a wellness area in autumn

The Landes are renowned for its spa towns and its regenerating cures . Recharge your batteries before the start of the school year, escape to one of the wellness towns of the south to enjoy the care and services of adapted centers. Rheumatism, osteoarthritis or allergies, treat yourself after summer in one of the 5 spa resorts in Landes. In Eugénie-les-Bains, combine cure and pleasure with gastronomy cooked by star chef Michel Guérard. Préchacq-lès-Bains, on the banks of the Ardor, allows for pretty bucolic walks in nature which calms down and turns yellow and red in the fall. Dax, Saubusse or Grand Dax, you have the choice for a well-being break before heading back to school.

9 Learn to surf in the fall

You can't escape board sports when you get closer to the Landes. An integral part of the identity of the Landais, surfing is practiced throughout the year. Autumn still remains the ideal season to get started. It's not too hot, the vacationers have deserted and the colors are magnificent on the beaches. Put on your wetsuit to face the waves, accompanied by a passionate instructor. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, surf schools know how to adapt to your level for a fun session on your board. Who knows, maybe you will be tempted to register for the year?

Vieux Boucau surf school

10 Play golf in the Landes in autumn

Amateur or initiated, the Landes is the perfect region for hitting the ball with a club on a green green after summer. Under the gentle rays of autumn, discover around ten golf courses and driving ranges between sand, pine and ocean, an ideal setting for a day outdoors. Between 9, 18 or 27 holes, it's up to you to choose the course you prefer to take care of your swing. The bright colors and the light breeze of the autumn months make this sport pleasant in the off-season, when the Landais are the only ones practicing. From Biscarrosse to Hossegor along the beaches or in the lands of Eugénie-les-Bains or Mont-de-Marsan, there are numerous golf courses in the Landes.

The magnificent golf course of Moliet-et-maa

Finally, you will love fall! Peaceful atmosphere, warm colors and gentle heat, autumn is an ideal season to extend your vacation. It's up to you, you now have something to keep you busy in the Landes in autumn.

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