The Landes Forest

The Landes forest offers a unique experience of wild nature, calm and disconnection. Whether for a hike in the heart of nature, a bike ride on the Vélodyssée, or simply to recharge your batteries in the heart of the forest, it is an emblematic place on the French Atlantic coast. The proximity of the beaches (Moliets, Seignosse, Hossegor) allows you to combine nature, sport and the ocean in a single getaway.

History of the Landes forest

Originally, the Landes territory was a vast marshy and unhealthy area. It was in the 19th century, under the impetus of the 1857 law on the sanitation of the Landes, that the forest was planted. The aim was to drain the marshes and fix the coastal dunes. The maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster ) was chosen for its qualities of adaptation to sandy soils and for its economic profitability.

Today, the Landes Forest is the largest man-made forest in Europe, covering approximately 1 million hectares. It is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, mainly in the Landes department, but also covers parts of Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne.