Water sports
Les Landes is an ideal location for surfing enthusiasts. This sport has become a must in the region. And with good reason, the Landes coast enjoys ideal conditions. You can surf all along the Côte d'Argent, from Biscarrosse to Tarnos, via Hossegor and Capbreton. Throughout the year, several competitions and festivals enliven the department's beaches, including the Quiksilver Festival, the Open de France and the French Surfing Championships. If you'd like to try your hand at this sport, look no further than one of the surf schools with the "Surf in Landes" label (Qualité Tourisme), to ensure that you can enjoy surfing in complete safety. You can also learn to bodyboard or stand-up paddle at these schools. Surfing is not the only sport practised on the waves of the Landes coast. Less popular but still practised, kitesurfing - with a board attached to the feet and a sort of kite that you pilot - is practised on windy days. But this extreme sport must be learned from a professional. Numerous kitesurfing schools offer courses for individuals all along the coast, from Biscarrosse to Seignosse... Don't hesitate to get in touch with the Fédération Française de Vol Libre. And contrary to popular belief, you don't need to know how to surf!
The Landes also boasts a number of scuba diving spots. Just off the coast of Capbreton is the "Gouf de Capbreton". It sinks to a depth of over 3,000 metres! In the head of this underwater canyon, you can see many marine species. Discovering this abyss is, however, reserved for professionals. For amateurs, there are several sites in the vicinity, to suit all tastes and abilities.
Land of rugby
What would the South-West be without its emblematic sport, rugby? The Landes, surrounded by the emblematic clubs of Bordeaux-Bègles and Aviron Bayonnais, also has clubs belonging to the French elite. Mont-de-Marsan and its club Stade Montois, founded in 1908, have been playing in Pro D2 for several years alongside their Dax rivals, Union Dacquoise. Capbreton's stadium also regularly plays host to the French national team and the 7-a-side rugby team, who come to Capbreton for training camps. Rugby is so much a part of Landaise culture that there is even a chapel dedicated to rugby, the only one of its kind in France, the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Rugby in Larrivière-Saint-Savin. Inside, the chapel features stained-glass windows depicting a scrum or a touchline, while its walls are covered with 430 jerseys from all over the world.
In the heart of nature
What better way to discover our beautiful département than on foot? The region offers more than 3,500 km of signposted walking and hiking trails through varied and picturesque landscapes, whether on the coast, in the forest or in the countryside. There are also 4 fully-marked routes to Santiago de Compostela: la voie du littoral (150 km from Sanguinet to Tarnos, passing through the seaside resorts of the Landes), la voie de Tours (150 km through part of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park), la voie du Vézelay (90 km through the Armagnac region) and la voie du Puy (30 km from Aire-sur-l'Adour to Pimbo, where you can discover the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sainte-Quitterie Church). Be sure to ask before taking these routes, as some parts may be closed or have detour. Everything is more accessible on foot, and by bike too! There are almost 2,500 km of cycle routes in the Landes region (including 588 km of cycle paths or "voies vertes") criss-crossing different landscapes between land and sea, such as the Vélodyssée, a cycle route running along the Atlantic to the Basque coast, or the Scandibérique (the French section of EuroVelo 3 linking Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain). In the Landes region, the latter route comprises 177 km of greenways from Gabarret to Saint-Laurent-de-Gosse, via Mont-de-Marsan and Dax. Most of the route is car-free, and passes through the department's emblematic towns and villages, allowing you to enjoy the heritage, ocean and countryside in complete peace and quiet.
Traditional sports and games
One of the region's most emblematic sports is undoubtedly Basque pelota. You can recognize the pelotari (pelota player) by his outfit: white pants and shoes, and a polo shirt in the club colors. This all-round sport, visual and exciting, never ceases to seduce. And with good reason: it requires uncommon physical qualities and skill, a good sense of tactics and exemplary complementarity in doubles matches. The origins of Basque pelota go back to antiquity. It is even said that the Mayans played the sport. Called "pila" by the Romans, it became "jeu de paume" in the Middle Ages under Henry IV. The sport was then played with gloves. Seduced by the game, the Basques adapted it to their own way, with specific equipment and facilities. It was in the mid-18th century that they invented the rebound (by integrating rubber) and the wall, and then in 1857, Gaintchiki Harotcha created the chistera. With this object, he revolutionized pelota. It is said to have originated by chance, inspired by an oval-shaped wicker basket used to gather fruit. It was perfected over the centuries to reach its current structure. The sport, often associated with the Basque country, was also exported to the Landes region in the early 1900s. At that time, all forms of Basque pelota had one thing in common: the wall, or fronton. In fact, most Landes villages have their own. It's an essential element, often located in the middle of the village, a rallying point that often hosts events and festivals. The fronton is marked by a horizontal line one metre above the ground: this demarcation acts as a "net". You mustn't hit the ball under it, or you'll be fouled! In some cases, the fronton may be extended by a wall to the left, known as the jaï-alaï. This is the configuration used for cesta punta matches, which can be found in Hossegor, for example. Pala is also played on the pediments. This traditional sport is played with a flat, solid wooden racket (the pala) and has one rule: send the pelota against the fronton with a maximum rebound into the cancha (the playing area).
On your walks, you may pass a fronton where a game of pala is being played between friends! And if you'd like to see a real Basque pelota match, ask at the tourist offices, as many matches are played during the summer season (Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains, Hossegor, Morcenx-la-Nouvelle...).
In the air
Why not take to the skies to discover the region's charms? Depending on what you're looking for, the Landes region offers a wide range of activities in the skies. For speed lovers, the sites of Biscarrosse, Mimizan and Chalosse offer first flights in a plane, glider, helicopter or microlight. You can even go paramotoring at Bénesse-Maremne. Supervised by professionals, these activities are open to everyone, so you can marvel at the scenery as you take to the air! For those who prefer a quieter trip, why not treat yourself to a hot-air balloon ride! You'll watch the balloon being inflated, and then enjoy a unique view of the Pyrenees and La Rhune from the middle of the department's valleys. Last but not least, the Landes also has plenty to offer thrill-seekers. You can go skydiving, whether for the first time or to try it again. Several structures await you in the area, and industry professionals are on hand to supervise you. All you have to do is jump with complete peace of mind!
Relaxation
The Landes region offers its visitors a wide range of leisure and relaxation activities. Often, people even come on vacation just for that! The region boasts a number of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy sites, including spa towns such as Saubusse and Dax. The Grand Dax spa area is the largest in the region. No fewer than a dozen establishments are ready to welcome you. You'll find everything you need for a holiday combining tourism and fitness. Each one offers targeted services in a unique setting renowned for its quality. Still on the subject of water, the Landes region also abounds in swimming spots. There are numerous beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, where you can either jump into the waves or relax on the sand. But the region also boasts numerous natural and marine lakes, offering all kinds of activities such as paddling, kayaking, sailing and boat trips.
Finally, for lovers of gentle sports, the Landes offers a wide choice of addresses where you can practice yoga and pilates, in the studio, on the beach or even on the water! Some fifty establishments throughout the region invite you to join them for a wellness session, with your feet in the sand, at sunrise or balancing on a board on the lake, where you can also discover the benefits of relaxation and meditation.
Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela
Crossing the Landes on the Route de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle means immersing yourself in a region steeped in serenity, nature and heritage. Located on the Route de Tours, one of France's four major pilgrimage routes, this section of the pilgrimage offers a unique experience, between pine forests, Gascon villages and stages steeped in history, conducive to reflection and discovery. Emblematic stops include Mont-de-Marsan, Saint-Sever and Labastide-d'Armagnac, whose medieval architecture recalls the soul of the pilgrimage. Gîtes, Romanesque churches, abbeys and even former commanderies line the route, bearing witness to centuries of devotion. But beyond the religious heritage, the Landes route is also a plunge into local culture: Southwestern gastronomy, lilting accents and Gascon traditions accompany walkers at every stage. Don't worry, the itinerary is well-marked and dotted with gîtes d'étape, chambres d'hôtes and accueillils jacquaires. The Chemin des Landes will touch you with its simplicity and beauty, and lead you to discover a generous terroir.
By bike
A paradise for cycle tourists, the Landes département is criss-crossed by two major European cycle routes: the Vélodyssée (EuroVelo 1) along the Atlantic coast, and the Scandibérique (EuroVelo 3) through the hinterland.
The Vélodyssée covers some 160 km of the Landes region from north to south. The route is almost entirely on safe cycle paths, often shaded by maritime pines. It's one of the most pleasant routes in France for cycling with family or friends. From Biscarosse to Capbreton, via Mimizan, Contis, Vieux-Boucau and Hossegor, you'll ride along long sandy beaches, lakes and vast pine forests, in a relaxed atmosphere of surfing and local gastronomy. And don't worry, there's a well-developed range of accommodation and services for cyclists, including rest areas, bike-friendly campsites and repair facilities.
As for the Scandibérique, which links Norway to Spain, it crosses the Landes diagonally. From Luxey to Peyrehorade, via Dax, it follows a route through the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park. Less frequented than the Vélodyssée, it's seductive for its authenticity, its calm and the richness of its local heritage.
Whether you're looking for wide-open spaces, nature, peace and quiet or the seaside, with its two major European cycle routes, the Landes is an ideal destination for cycling in France. Note that several secondary links connecting the two routes allow you to put together customized tours.
