The South coast of the Landes is a paradise for surfers and cyclists alike, extending along the Vélodyssée and the many cycle paths that criss-cross the forest. The South coast has lakes, golf courses, nature reserves and a majestic ocean bordered by a single beach of over 40 kilometres!
The inhabitants of Messanges are lucky: 5 km of beaches, a forest that covers three-quarters of the municipal territory, a pretty town centre, two lakes, crossed by kilometres of cycle paths and trails. All this for just under a thousand inhabitants! In the summer, this little paradise is shared with a few faithful visitors, who come to enjoy the campsites located in the middle of the forest, just a stone’s throw from the beach. But the spirit of Messanges remains unchanged, even at the height of the season: open air, peace and quiet, conviviality and sharing, as during the traditional sardinades, night markets, concerts, sports and cultural events, throughout the Messanges summer.
The town of Vieux-Boucau stretches along the shores of the marine lake, with sandy beaches and a “desert” island. Here too, everyday errands are done by bicycle thanks to an extensive network of cycle paths that link the centre of the town to places of interest such as the ponds in Messanges and Soustons, the Pinsolle golf course, the Landes forest or the seafront, featuring traditional houses built on the dune and the two beaches: the North beach known as “Sablères” and the Central beach, with its promenade. Vieux-Boucau is popular with surfers, but also with lovers of sea fishing, sporty holidays and lively evenings.
Soustons benefits from an exceptional environment with its seafront and its five lakes, each offering a different world: the marine lake, whose shores it shares with its neighbour Vieux-Boucau, Pinsolle and its 9-hole golf course , Blanc, Hardy and the vast lake of Soustons, against which the village is nestled. Sailing, rowing, stand-up paddle. Soustons is a paradise for water sports but also for nature walks. The town has deep roots in Landes culture, with gastronomy supported by traditional restaurants and numerous producers, and intense cultural and festive activity throughout the year.
Together with neighbouring towns Capbreton and Hossegor, Seignosse is at the heart of the South Coast of the Landes. It is undoubtedly the wildest of the three, with neighbourhoods scattered throughout the vast pine forest, the lakes of Blanc and Noir, an internationally renowned golf course, kilometres of shady paths and an unspoilt town centre which, even at the height of the season, always gives the feeling of being in the countryside. It is easy to forget, but the main asset of Seignosse remains its seafront, which has been largely preserved from any construction, and its beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see: Estagnots, Bourdaines, Penon, and Barracks. Their names are well known to surfers but also to lovers of tapas which can be enjoyed in the straw huts by the sea looking out to the setting sun.
Do we still need to introduce Hossegor, the European capital of surfing and a certain art of living, mixing an intimate relationship with nature and open-mindedness? Behind its 7 kilometres of beach lies a bubbling, creative city. The countless bars and restaurants, the Pédebert business park and factory outlets for board sports, the exotic and health-focused gastronomy and the many designer boutiques in the town centre are proof of this. Hossegor is also the capital of Landes-style chic, symbolised by its Sporting Casino, a Jaï Alaï, a golf course and hundreds of Basque-Landes-style villas which give it a unique charm. The most luxurious are located on the edge of the lake, a vast expanse of water that communicates with the ocean, with three supervised beaches, sailing schools and oyster shacks which provide a great backdrop for an evening stroll.
Capbreton stands out from all the other Landes towns thanks to its port, the only one in the area, which is accessed via the Hossegor canal. A fish market is held there every morning on the fishing square. Another must-see: the boom, this long wooden pontoon juts out into the ocean and marks the entrance to the port. Without doubt, it is the most photographed “monument” in the Landes, the view is sublime. On the seafront, Capbreton offers a wide range of choices: Notre-Dame beach, on the border with Hossegor, Estacade beach and Centrale beach, in front of the Casino, Prévent beach, in front of the Baya Hotel and Spa, Santocha beach, famous for its shorebreaks, Savane beach, with its famous blockhouses, Piste, Océanides and, to the south, the Pointe. Each one with a different atmosphere and different waves!
Further south is the family-oriented resort of Labenne, popular for its superb 3-kilometre beach, seaside cafés and restaurants, and its views of the Pyrenees mountains and the nearby Basque coast. Labenne is full of activities to enjoy family holidays: a zoo, a water park, an adventure course, a skate park, children’s playgrounds, a trail along the Boudigau canal for lovely walks or bike rides. Set back from the coast, the Marais d’Orx is home to nearly 250 species of migratory birds, birds of prey, waders and passerines, in a natural setting of nearly a thousand hectares. This freely accessible nature reserve can only be visited on foot, via a path lined with observatories.
Welcome to Seignanx, the last Landes territory before the Basque Country, dominated by pine and deciduous forests, featuring lakes, marshes, and the nearby ocean. Seignanx is a vibrant place all year round, with its generous and fragile nature, criss-crossed by tracks and trails to be explored on foot, by bike or on horseback, but above all, by taking your time. On the beach of Ondres, there is space and calm for everyone, a surf school, a stud farm and just the right amount of cafés, restaurants and shops. There are facilities for the whole family in the surroundings: playgrounds, mini-golf, a skate park, squash and Basque pelota courts, lakes for fishing and walking enthusiasts, two weekly markets in the high season and numerous activities, traditional celebrations, meals and cultural events. A simple and welcoming territory, where you feel at home right away.
This is where the long chain of dunes that links the mouth of the Adour to the entrance of the Bay of Arcachon, 130 km further on, ends (or begins, depending on where you start). La Digue beach, near the entrance to the port of Bayonne, is first on the list. It is supervised and accessible to people with reduced mobility in high season. A little further north, Métro beach is appreciated by those who love natural beaches: the dune is classified Natura2000 and free of any constructions except for a car park for swimmers. For children, you can count on the XXL leisure park : Planète Parcs. Be curious and also discover the surrounding countryside, marked by a strong agricultural and gastronomic tradition, with many restaurants, farms to visit and local markets, but also typical villages such as Biaudos, Saint-Laurent-de-Gosse, Saint-Barthélémy, Biarrotte, Saint-André and Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx.
