Discover Landes: lakes, trails and culture
Accommodation in Landes
Green trails and nature rules
The green trails of Landes follow former railway lines, forming long, linear routes with gentle gradients. They are intended for walking, mountain biking and horse riding; motorised traffic is prohibited. As route regulations may be updated, check the latest guidance before setting out. The Parc naturel régional des Landes de Gascogne offers unspoilt places to explore on foot, by bicycle, canoe or horseback. Camping out, wild camping and lighting fires are prohibited in the Parc naturel régional des Landes de Gascogne and the Site Inscrit des Vallées de la Leyre. Visitor rules may change; check them locally before setting off.
Lakes and water sports
Large freshwater lakes, bordered by sandy beaches and pine forests, are another defining feature of Landes. Swimming, water sports and fishing are available at the lakes. Canoeing is offered on waterways, lakes and rivers, including the Leyre through the Landes forest. The waters of Landes also offer a wide range of activities: sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, kitesurfing, jet skiing and land sailing. If you are planning a themed stay, you can distinguish these water-based options from the longer, linear trails: here, the focus is on activities on lakes and rivers; there, on travelling along former railway lines.
Architectural heritage and museums
Traditional houses in Landes often feature timber framing, wattle-and-daub infill and roofs of canal tiles. They are often grouped together in an airial, a forest clearing. Open seasonally, the Musée des Forges is devoted to the lives and work of the working population of the Landes département in the 19th century, iron-casting techniques and a collection of cast-iron objects. The Écomusée de Marquèze also explores this period, recreating the living environment of the Grande Lande in the 19th century. The two offer different perspectives: one on working life and iron casting, the other on a recreated way of life. A contemporary contrast is provided by the Maison de la céramique in Samadet, with its permanent collection of 165 contemporary works and creative workshops for children. In Dax, Gallo-Roman and Art Deco heritage come together on guided cultural tours.
Spa towns and regional cuisine
Thermal spa facilities are spread across 19 establishments in five spa towns. This means the theme is not limited to a single place and can be planned as a distinct focus for your trip. Landes also offers several different culinary highlights: regional cuisine includes foie gras, duck magret, Armagnac, Landes asparagus and pastis. These dishes and products add a regional taste perspective to the nature and culture themes, without requiring you to limit your stay to just one focus.
Choose the right focus
When choosing a hotel, it may help to start by asking which themes you want your trip to revolve around: trails and nature, lakes and water sports, architectural heritage and museums, spa towns or regional cuisine. If you would like to combine several of these interests, compare the location of a hotel you are considering with the places you plan to visit.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Labenne-Océan, Estibeaux, Saint-Lon-les-Mines, Angoumé, Saint-Gein, Cauneille, Pey, Saint-Laurent-de-Gosse, Maurrin, Duhort-Bachen, Garein, Retjons, Audon, Oeyreluy, Brassempouy, Poyanne, Montsoué, Gamarde-les-Bains, Pimbo, Louer, Carcen-Ponson, Mées, Losse, Luglon, Eugénie-Les-Bains, Mimbaste, Luxey, Clermont, Bonnegarde, Lauret, Audignon, Le Frêche, Bas-Mauco, Garrosse, Hinx, Bénesse-Maremne, Saint-Loubouer, Uchacq-et-Parentis, Pouydesseaux, Aurice, Bordères-et-Lamensans, Pécorade, Belhade, Arthez-d'Armagnac, Pissos, Bahus-Soubiran, Benquet, Monget, Serreslous-et-Arribans, Coudures, Maillas, Hontanx, Laluque, Léon, Linxe, Lit-Et-Mixe, Lucbardez-Et-Bargues, Mauvezin-D'armagnac, Messanges, Mezos, Mimizan, Mimizan-Plage, Moustey, Ondres, Onesse-Et-Laharie, Parentis-En-Born, Parleboscq, Peyrehorade, Pontenx-Les-Forges, Port-De-Lanne, Pouillon, Rimbez Et Baudiets, Saint-Gor, Saint-Julien-En-Born, Saint-Vincent-De-Paul, Sainte-Eulalie-En-Born, Heugas, Seignosse, Soustons, Tarnos, Tosse, Vielle-Saint-Girons, Vieux-Boucau-Les-Bains, Grenade Sur L'adour, Mano, Mugron, Sabres, Saint-Justin, Lacquy, Escource, Bélus, Betbezer-D'armagnac, Lencouacq, Ozourt, Nassiet, Bénesse-Lès-Dax, Miramont-Sensacq, Labrit, Mauries, Montgaillard, Uza, Dax, Magescq, Ossages, Sort-En-Chalosse, Saint-Paul-Lès-Dax, Saint-Paul-En-Born, Préchacq-Les-Bains, Mont-De-Marsan, Moliets-Et-Maa, Castets, Amou, Labenne, Castelnau-Chalosse, Hagetmau, Soorts-Hossegor, Tilh, Biarrotte, Lüe, Solférino, Roquefort, Gourbera, Josse, Saubusse, Brocas, Lesperon, Baigts, Saint-Cricq-Chalosse, Ygos-Saint-Saturnin, Montfort-En-Chalosse, Sore, Saint-Michel-Escalus, Saint-Étienne-D'orthe, Créon-D'armagnac, Sanguinet, Ousse-Suzan, Bascons, Morcenx, Beylongue, Villeneuve-De-Marsan, Cazères-Sur-L'adour, Misson, Ychoux, Saint-Julien-D'armagnac, Orist, Tartas, Saint-Vincent-De-Tyrosse, Narrosse, Saint-Pandelon, Pomarez, Saint-Geours-De-Maremne, Saint-André-De-Seignanx, Saint-Pierre-Du-Mont, Lévignacq, Liposthey, Angresse, Pontonx-Sur-L'adour, Commensacq, Doazit, Sorde-Lʼabbaye, Labastide-D'armagnac, Orthevielle, Marpaps, Aire-Sur-L'adour, Gastes, Saint-Avit, Habas, Caupenne, Saint-Jean-De-Marsacq, Labouheyre, Arengosse, Saugnac-Et-Cambran, Saint-Perdon, Gaujacq, Saubion, Vielle-Tursan, Labatut, Samadet, Saubrigues, Saint-Sever, Saint-Barthélemy, Gabarret, Saint Martin De Seignanx, Taller, Orx, Maylis, Toulouzette, Saugnacq-Et-Muret, Arjuzanx, Aureilhan, Azur, Bias, Biscarrosse, Biscarrosse-Plage, Capbreton, Cassen, Cauna, Contis-Plage, Herm, Trensacq, Peyre, Vielle-Soubiran, Laglorieuse, Hastingues.
For the broader travel overview: Aquitaine.
