To the north, the Landes department. To the south, the Basque Country. In the middle, the Côte d’Argent! This month, the 4-star Landes campsite Lou P’tit Poun takes you on a tour of Europe’s largest pine forest and longest beach. Let’s go!
Les Landes, the forest by the ocean
From the Gironde estuary to the mouth of the Adour river, the Côte d’Argent is an immense straight beach stretching for almost 250 km, between the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the immense Landes forest, planted under Napoleon III to drain the marshes and fix the dunes.
From Biscarrosse lake to Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, via Mimizan, nicknamed the “pearl of the Côte d’Argent”, Saint-Girons and the mythical Huchet stream in Léon, the Côte d’Argent rolls out its immense fine-sand beaches against the backdrop of the Landes forest. From Moliets to Tarnos, the south coast of the Landes region offers miles of beaches and waves, countless trails for hiking or cycling in the shade of pines and holm oaks, and numerous lakes and ponds for swimming, fishing and sailing. There are plenty of places to stop off around the Moliets and La Prade lakes, in the Messanges forest, on the shores of the Port d’Albert marine lake or in Soustons, the town of five lakes…
Our journey along the south coast of the Landes region continues as we head for Seignosse, Hossegor and
Capbreton
at the gateway to the Basque Country. These are names that particularly resonate with surfers in search of perfect waves. For cycling enthusiasts, the Vélodyssée allows you to discover the Landes coast and all its riches at your own pace, as you pass through typical villages and small seaside resorts nestled behind the dunes, between ocean, lakes and forests.
Change of scenery on the Basque Coast
South of theAdour river, the Côte d’Argent joins the
Basque Country
between sea and mountains. It takes over from the straight Landes coast with a more varied topography: steep coasts, cliffs, rocky coves, bays full of nuances…
From the Adour estuary to the Bidassoa estuary, the Basque Coast boasts breathtaking panoramas, an elegant heritage, a festive culture and mouth-watering gastronomy. Only 15 minutes from Landes Sud Lou P’tit Poun campsite,
Bayonne
is the jewel in the crown of Basque urban heritage, with its white, red and green half-timbered houses (the colors of the Basque flag) lining the banks of the Nive river. The “city of 800 stairs” is also famous for its ham and chocolate. For gourmets and gourmet connoisseurs!
À
Biarritz
Biarritz, let yourself be seduced by the Grande Plage, the Rocher de la Vierge, the chic boutiques and the rich architectural heritage of this city of Art and History. It was Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, who launched the fashion for seaside holidays in Biarritz. From then on, the fishing village became the “Queen of beaches, beach of kings”.
Like Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has a strong fishing tradition. So the harbors are always full of color and animation. The view of the bay of St Jean de Luz from the Socoa harbour breakwater is magnificent! You will also have to go to
Anglet
Bidart, Guéthary, Ciboure and Hendaye. The coastal path that follows the cliffs of the Corniche Basque allows you to discover these smaller, but no less endearing, seaside resorts. We’ll have the chance to tell you all about it in future posts on the campsite blog. See you next month for a new article!