The Landes department is known for its beaches, lakes, and its immense forest, the largest in Western Europe. It covers 60% of the Landes territory. It's so vast that it's easy to get lost... Where to go in the Landes forest? Here's a 3-day itinerary to visit this exceptional region.
DAY 1: The Dune du Pilat, a viewpoint over the Landes forest
At 103 m high, the Dune du Pilat offers a first glimpse of the immensity of the Landes forest. After climbing Europe's highest dune, a breathtaking panorama awaits you: the ocean on one side, the Landes de Gascogne forest on the other. The forest covers an area of approximately one million hectares and spans three departments: Les Landes, Gironde, and Lot-et-Garonne. Visiting the Dune du Pilat is free. However, parking is not free.
The two-thousand-year-old communal forest of La Teste-de-Buch boasts a unique ecological diversity in the Landes de Gascogne. For those who remember, it suffered terribly during the July 2022 fire. Today, with the partial reopening of the Grand Site de la Dune (access to the forest massif remains prohibited), nature guides welcome visitors at information points set up on the dune crest. There, you can discover the different facets of the dune and the forest thanks to a telescope and the guides' explanations.
DAY 2: Outdoor Activities in the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park
Hiking and Mountain Biking: Several marked mountain bike trails, of varying difficulty, take you into the heart of the Landes forest, starting from Dax, Amou, Mugron, Montfort-en-Chalosse, or Tartas. A "Mountain Bike Trails" hiking guide is available at the Landes Tourist Offices (price: €2).
A canoe trip in the Landes forest: rent a canoe and embark on a peaceful descent of the Palue, a small river that feeds Lake Léon and flows through the Landes forest. For 2 hours, in the shade of a gallery forest, discover the original Landes vegetation: pedunculate oak, glutinous alder, red willow...
Also read:
- 5 activities to do in the Landes forest (to get off the beaten path)
DAY 3: History and Traditions in the Landes Forest
The Marquèze Ecomuseum
A visit to the Ecomuseum: take the historic train to reach this ecomuseum located in Sabres, in the heart of the Landes forest. Discover the rural life of the Landais people in the 19th century and local forest traditions.
Workshops and demonstrations: participate in interactive workshops and attend demonstrations of traditional craftsmanship (pine resin harvesting, weaving, spinning, basketry, thatch work, etc.).
The villages of Haute-Lande
The village of Luxey: explore this forest village located in the heart of the regional natural park. Founded in 1859, the Luxey resin products workshop is a testament to a time when resin harvesting sustained most of the villages in the Landes de Gascogne. Also visit the Estupe Huc museum, dedicated to the history of fire fighting in Haute Lande. Luxey is also known for its music festival, the Musicalarue Festival, one of the oldest festivals in France.
The Forges Museum in Brocas: on the site of the old forges, about fifteen kilometers north of Mont-de-Marsan, discover the history and techniques of metallurgy in the Landes. Forest wood was transformed into charcoal to fuel the blast furnaces and produce "garluche," the local iron ore. Also discover: the ecowalk of the lagoons, natural remnants of the moorland before silviculture, from the time of the stilt-walking shepherds.
The Contemporary Art Forest: a forest walk itinerary, where monumental works imagined by visual artists are hidden, echoing the history and landscapes of the Landes de Gascogne. Possible departure from Brocas or Mont-de-Marsan. Discover where to go to see the artworks of the Landes forest!
Practical Tips
- Getting around: a car is recommended for getting around during your stay. The Landes forest is the largest artificial forest massif in Europe. It covers nearly one million hectares!
- Accommodation: opt for a gîte, a bed and breakfast, or a campsite to stay close to nature and experience an authentic stay in the Landes de Gascogne forest.
- Forest protection: the Landes forest is very vulnerable to fires. A single act of carelessness can destroy hundreds of hectares and cost lives. Do not light fires, do not smoke (even in a car), and do not litter.
photo@Albrecht Fietz/pixabay
