Les Landes

Presentation and geography

The Landes department is part of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. It is bordered by the Gironde to the north, the Pyrénées Atlantiques to the south, the Lot-et-Garonne and the Gers to the east, and of course the majestic Atlantic Ocean to the west.

The Landes in France and New Aquitaine

The Landes form a large triangle about 220 km long and a hundred wide, largely composed of an ocean... of forest! The Landes forest is one of the largest in Europe. It is mainly composed of maritime pines, which cover more than 65% of the department, particularly in the north, center and west. The Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park covers most of the forest massif. Managed by a joint union since 1970, its objective is to reconcile the exploitation of the forest, human tourism activities and the preservation of biodiversity. The Landes forest is fragile: it has been tested many times by storms and fires. The park's vocation is also to raise awareness among the population to respect this partly artificial but unique natural environment. A green lung to protect!

The majestic Landes forest, mainly composed of pines and shrub species

Les Landes is also the beach !

More than 106 km of generous and sunny coastline, on the edge of the magnificent Atlantic Ocean, for the happiness of all. The beaches of Landes are among the largest in Europe.

Every year, during the summer season, millions of people come to enjoy the assets of this diverse territory made of water, wind, sand, iodine... 37 wide and extensive coastal beaches to lay down your towel and relax, walk, do water activities such as surfing, kitesurfing, stand up paddle, kayaking... The Silver Coast is made for sports lovers!

The Landes also has lake beaches on the edge of gigantic bodies of water with leisure centres , natural reservoirs of biodiversity, ideal for a multitude of aquatic and nautical activities : canoeing in the wild currents (the Courant de Contis, the Courant d'Huchet) bordered by mangroves and oaks, windsurfing, sailing, electric boat trips, fishing and relaxation on the programme!

Cycling enthusiasts appreciate the Landes, as it is the third most popular activity after the beach and hiking. With more than 300 km of cycle paths and more than 1,700 km of cycle touring routes, the network is dense and offers good conditions for winding between sea and forest, enjoying the diverse landscapes on two wheels. Depending on the conditions of the trails, get on a mountain bike or a hybrid bike to get around, do some sport or simply go from one beach to another, to the market, to the lake...

Explore the wild currents near the lakes (here the Courant d'Huchet, photo @Lesley Williamson) or go for a bike ride!

The south and east of the region, beyond the Adour (a river of more than 300 km) and around Mont de Marsan, the Prefecture, are very different. Green and hilly, interspersed with farmland (corn and kiwi) and beef and duck farming, this is the Landes of gastronomy and good living ! It is a paradise for green tourism and wine tourism. You will discover the Bas Armagnac vineyards and their fortified towns, the Chalosse, the Tursan vineyards, the Orthe region. Festivals and traditions, here you are in the authentic Landes!

Characteristic and hilly landscapes of Chalosse

The Landes is finally Thermalism. It is the first thermal destination in France with Dax.

Since ancient times, the miraculous properties of the region's underground waters, loaded with trace elements and beneficial minerals, have been known. More than 70,000 spa guests visit the Landes each year to enjoy them for medical or pleasure purposes. The Dax region alone has no fewer than 17 establishments where you can enjoy complete thermal cures. There are also thermal waters in Eugénie-les-Bains, Préchacq-les-Bains and Saubusse, which is a small green resort ideal for relaxing in the middle of nature.

Dax, the leading French city for thermal spa treatments and relaxation

Climate of the Landes

The climate of the Landes is of course very influenced by the Atlantic Ocean which borders the entire department to the west. It is therefore oceanic and mild, rather rainy and windy in autumn and winter and hot, humid and stormy in summer.

Even if the average thermal amplitude between summer and winter is around fifteen degrees, we will note extreme meteorological phenomena such as:

• The -23° of Mont de Marsan during the winter of 1985;
• The over 40° of summer 2003;
• Violent storms and temperature variations over a day in summer;
• Violent storms in the fall and winter, such as the sadly memorable one in January 2009. It was called Klaus and had winds of 170 km/h and millions of fallen trees. An estimated 60% of the Landes forest massif was ravaged!

The best season to go on holiday in the Landes depends on what you want to do there ! Holidaymakers enjoy the beaches and the attractions of the seaside resorts in summer. However, the late seasons and spring are also ideal for beautiful walks in the pine forests. Take advantage of the Landes as winter approaches to discover the traditions linked to gastronomy (foie gras in the fat markets, duck and canning specialties) and the distillation of Armagnac!

Capbreton on a stormy day, the sky can darken or clear quickly at the ocean's edge

History of the Landes

Under the Ancien Régime, the Landes territory was part of the province of Gascony. The department as we know it today was created on March 4, 1790. It is very heterogeneous in size, between Chalosse and Tursan, which are more oriented towards neighboring Béarn, the north of the Landes forest, which is closer to the Gironde, and the south, with Basque influences.

The date that radically changed the physiognomy of the moors and gave them their current appearance is the law of June 19, 1857 called "Law of sanitation and cultivation of the moors of Gascony". Napoleon III wanted to clean up the moors. This led to the systematization of a policy of planting pines, exploited for their resin and wood. The shepherds gave way to the resin collectors. The economy and landscape of the Landes were then radically modified for 70% of the territory and the enrichment of the moors could begin.

Today, the Landes still lives from a forestry economy and its derived industries, even if the golden age of this economy is far away. Competition from emerging countries has passed by. Production is now mainly intended for the manufacture of paneling, parquet floors, and paper pulp (Papèteries de Gascogne in Mimizan). Agricultural production is important in the Landes, particularly corn around the Adour, but also vines, asparagus, etc. Poultry production is also very developed with the breeding of ducks, chickens and geese. Note the significant cattle production in Chalosse.

But the wealth of the Landes is also and above all tourism, whether thermal, seaside or green, with more than 7,500,000 overnight stays per year! A tourism that rushes to the seaside resorts of Biscarrosse, Mimizan, Hossegor or Capbreton, or to the spa towns of Dax, Saubusse, Préchacq les Bains or Eugénie les Bains. But, today, a very important green and gastronomic tourism is also developing, which tastes the riches of the Landes table and its traditions!

Pontenx-les-Forges, at the heart of the industrial past of the Landes

The Landes forest alone is a testimony to the department's past and its desire to open up and develop.

Discover the Landes, through 4 major tourist regions

Prepare your stay, choose your vacation spot and get an overview of the historical, architectural and natural riches of each of these regions:

• The Landes Côte Nord, Biscarrosse, Mimizan and the Regional Natural Park, a region of beaches, lakes, dunes and forests, bordered by the Gironde to the north.

• Les Landes Côte Sud : Vieux Boucau, Seignosse, Hossegor, Capbreton... These are a paradise for holidaymakers and surfers. Here too, lakes, long sandy beaches, forests, hiking trails and cycle paths share the panorama. A little extra : a little Basque accent in the architecture when you get closer to the Basque Country.

• Mont de Marsan and Armagnac, the prefecture of Landes, its festivals and traditions, its good life, the lower Armagnac and its fortified towns.

• Dax, Chalosse, Tursan, Adour , crossroads between Béarn, the Basque Country and the Landes forest. On the program: lands of green hills and panoramas of the Pyrenees, poultry, beef and agricultural farms , lands of Course Landaise, gastronomy, thermalism...

The map of the tourist regions of the Landes (click to enlarge!)

Tourist Sites

Remains dating back to prehistoric times have been found in the subsoil of some villages. They attest to the occupation of the Landes by our ancestors, well before our era. Cultural tourism enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the tourist sites, museums and regional eco-museums, which perfectly describe and concern different eras and local customs. A wine-growing region, the Landes also offers a visit to the cellars and châteaux which offer wines perfectly suited to accompany Landes gastronomy.

Labastide d'Armagnac, a charming authentic village in the Landes inland

Local products...

The Landes is a real land of gastronomy. Food lovers know this and do not hesitate to walk the markets and visit small producers to fill their basket with the delights of the Landes. Landes cuisine is full of maritime flavors, with seafood such as oysters of course, but also fresh fish and shellfish. Enough to stock up on iodized dishes, especially in winter when the trace elements contained in seafood are very good for the body!

Raising poultry, such as chickens, ducks and geese, allows the preparation of delicious and gastronomic dishes, sometimes simple and fortifying, to accompany with why not, the fantastic Landes asparagus from the sands, soft and melting... Let yourself be surprised by the exceptional culinary products, which delight guests for festive meals. The foie gras from the Landes is renowned thanks to the conditions of poultry farming in nature and with first choice feed.

Delights of the land or the sea, take your pick! There is something to satisfy every appetite in the Landes

Accommodation on holiday in the Landes

The department enjoys a very good reception capacity, due to its tourist craze, but also its geographical position. This makes it a convenient business center, at the crossroads of several major cities such as Bordeaux, Bayonne and Toulouse. While the majority of accommodation is located near the coast, you will also find beautiful residences in localities where thermal baths are available.

There is something for all tastes and budgets !

• Campsites represent more than half of the accommodation offered (more than 60%). There are several ranges of comfort, from the simple tent pitch to the superb 5-star campsites with all the comfort you could want. Find very high-quality collective facilities and entertainment to fill your vacation with beautiful memories.
• Holiday cottages and rentals are also very popular and increasingly numerous: they appeal to families and those who like to have space or be as comfortable as in their holiday home.
• Bed and breakfasts and hotels of all ranges are also an option in the Landes.
• In recent years, a great range of prestigious and charming accommodation or unusual rentals has emerged.

Sports and leisure in the Landes

Many activities will be offered to you to discover the riches of the Landes. You will not be bored...

Are you sporty ? Water sports and swimming are the first joys that visitors to the Landes explore. Easy, accessible and free, the beaches of the Landes are limitless to your imagination for doing sports ! Come run and walk with your feet in the water or on the sand... Bring or rent equipment for surfing (with no less than 37 surf spots identified on the coast), body boarding, kitesurfing, diving, sand yachting, sailing, wake boarding, water skiing, stand up paddle. On the lakes, go boating, go fishing, rent a pedal boat or a canoe, a kayak to go down the coastal currents.

The second most popular activity in the Landes is hiking. With more than 3,500 kilometers of marked trails, whether on the coastal forest tracks or those of the inland Landes, there is plenty to explore the length and breadth of the department on foot. But also... by bike! It is a must-do, along the coasts to enjoy the sunset and sunrise to go from one seaside resort to another.

For extreme sensations, think about outdoor sports and leisure activities in summer. They offer inflatable water facilities or water trampoline parks that everyone enjoys. You can also do activities like archery, tree climbing, golf, horse riding, etc.

Canoeing in the Landes

Stand up paddle or catamaran on Lake Mimizan?

Tree climbing or archery, take your pick!

Famous Landais people

They left their mark on this territory, discover the famous Landes people.

Policy :

• Henri Emmanuelli;
• Alain Juppé.
  

Gastronomy :

• Maite;
• Helen Darroze;
• Alain Ducasse.

Rugby :

• André and Guy Boniface;
• Thomas Castaignède;
• Pierre Albaladejo;
• Richard Dourthe;
• Raphael Ibanez;
• Olivier Magne;
• Fabien Pelous;
• Guy Camberabero.

Soccer :

• Joel Bats.
  

Golf :

• John Van de Velde.
  

Media :

• Tania Young.

Recommended practical works to supplement your knowledge

To improve your knowledge, before or during your stay:

• Aquitaine Green Guide, "published by "Michelin Travel Editions";
• The Aquitaine Routard Guide;
• Bordeaux Landes Blue Guide;
• The Little Smart Landes;
• The various publications and documentation from the Landes Tourist Offices...

Happy holidays in the Landes!