Welcome to Landes
You cannot stand the sensation of being bored to death by your daily routine and for one day more? Don't think it over, we have the perfect solution for nature and relaxati0on lovers like you. Here we introduce you to the French department of Landes, a natural environment full of vegetation and beauty from one end to another.
Part of the so-called New Aquitaine region since the 1st of January 2016, this department in the south-west of France borders the Gironde, Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and has the Atlantic Ocean to the West.
Without doubt, a basic destination to enjoy the heart of nature while you get lost in its forest landscapes, its beaches and its activities prepared for the most adventurous ones.
What to see in Landes?
This is the ideal excursion if you are looking for a natural environment in which to immerse your mind and body to soak up the essence of total disconnection in France.
Besides all the cultural and sport activities you can do, in Landes you will enjoy the capital Mont-de-Marsan, a French town located in the south of France, and crossed by the confluence of the Douze and Midou rivers.
This emblematic place is the paradise of thermal waters as it is home to five thermal resorts: the thermal baths of Dax, the small thermal resort of Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, that of Eugénie-les-Bains, the beautiful village of Préchacq-les-Bains and the thermal resort of Saubusse-les-Bains. All of them with charm and an irresistible taste of tourist relaxation.
Landes is well known because it is home to the longest beach in Europe, the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast), which every year attracts hundreds of surfers who travel to Mimizan and Soorts-Hossegor, one of the best places in the world for surfing, which we will talk about later.
What curiosities are there?
This department is divided into four basic touristic regions: the coastal area, the forest area, the canton of Dax through which the Adour river passes and Landes-Armagnac.
The coastal area contains three small, completely natural regions surrounded by the lakes Sanguinet, Biscarrosse-Parentis and Aureilhan as well as a large number of tourist facilities such as the harbour of Capbreton.
The Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, in the heart of the forest of the area, with its immense sand dunes beneath the expanse of pine trees called Douz de Cazalis, stands out; a natural site like no other and the walled towns of Labastide d'Armagnac and Saint-Justin.
It is a very interesting destination both for holidaymakers and history lovers, as Landes was one of the departments created at the time of the French Revolution and the origin of its name goes back to the dry heaths of the 19th century, when large pine plantations also began to be developed in the Pays de Buch area, resulting in a wash of the landscape and the soil with lush and very green vegetation.
Book online your ideal rural house in Landes
Where can you sleep?
Don't waste any time thinking whether you will have to hurry to find accommodation in the Landes. On the contrary, there are plenty of options! From holiday rentals of all kinds to cozy cottages where you can enjoy a completely rural atmosphere, to campsites on the beach that will make you fall in love more and more with this part of France.
A perhaps lesser known place to stay can be its capital Mont-de-Marsan, however, here there are many activity programmes to do with your partner, your family or your friends, such as museums visits, parks and gardens for the more curious and both land and water sports as well as varied leisure activities aimed at provide you with pure pleasure and disconnection.
On the other hand, Soorts-Hossegor attracts many tourists as it is a town with a clear sporting character, which produces large groups of people interested in sports such as surfing or golf, as well as in the tranquillity of enjoying its wonderful beaches that are embraced by the ocean. In this area you have campsites at the beach or, if you prefer, more modest rural houses that you can find according to your preferences and at a very affordable price.
Dax is another of the most attractive destinations for accommodation, as it has all the types of accommodation mentioned above as well as to being an essential attraction in the area of thermal resorts. All the peace and quiet of the world within your arm’s reach.
What to do in the area?
The enormous amount of activities you can do is countless, but some of the most outstanding ones are the following:
To learn all about the local traditions, one of the best things you can do is to visit Sabres and its past through an abundant and exciting historical-cultural heritage. Once there, you will find one of the first eco-museums in France: the Ecomuseum of the Grand Marquèze Lande within the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park. And there is also a small train available for a trip to the countryside if you are very tired!
It should go amiss that there is also a pavilion in these areas that offers constant exhibitions that show historical objects as well as temporary exhibitions and workshops to learn about the past and the history of this straight-out-of-a-book region.
The Graine de forêt in the city of Garein is also a must for tourists. Only 20 km from the capital, it is a playful and educational discovery centre with an interactive museum dedicated to the characteristic forests of the area to be enjoyed by children, but also by adults.
What typical foods are recommended?
The first dish you have to try is the characteristic true Landaise salad, whose main ingredient is duck, but it is seasoned with several other elements that will not leave you indifferent.
Guinea fowl is also a dish not to be missed, as it consists of roasting a hen that is not at all common in other European gastronomies and is also reminiscent of the meat of game birds, so juicy that you will not be able to resist its texture and taste! Besides, it is a very grateful dish because it has many ways of being cooked and being presented.
The foie gras carpaccio with olives is also well known, fresh and salty dish to delight your palate, whether for dinner, lunch or even as a snack!
And, of course, regarding desserts, we highlight the Millas, a typical cake of the Landaise cuisine made of traditional French clafoutis, flan and biscuit cake, for those with a sweet tooth who don't want to miss out on a good sweet!
Where are the festivities?
Already taken as a form of expression for their participants, Landes’ fairs offer great banquets to enjoy their gastronomy, and live music something you can't miss in a good festival, the famous Landes sports competitions, parades and even wine-making exhibits to take a break and hydrate. And not only that, since here you will also be able to attend free shows and popular dances to delight your senses.
The biggest fair in Landes, the Dax Fair, has millions of visitors a year because it is a friendly and colourful atmosphere between France and Spain. It has thousands of activities, magnificent places to discover, bullfighting shows and even fireworks to end an unforgettable evening. There are activities for all tastes and ages!
Les Fêtes de la Madeleine are held during one week in the capital at the hottest time of the year attracting thousands of other tourists, but also locals who wish to enjoy all together as a family with live concerts, Landaise gastronomy and classic bullfighting.
There are 800 different festivities held every year in the Landes region, but it is undoubtedly the small local festivals that bring the Landes to life, such as Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse or Hagetmau.
We guarantee you a complete holiday for all tastes, colours and flavours!
