In the 1st century, a modest village of Gallic huts stood at the mouth of the Canau River. This small port, called Port Maurice, was occupied by the Romans, who built stone houses. In the 6th century, a geological phenomenon caused a large quantity of sand to rise from the sea bed, invading the entire region. In the 12th century, the first feudal castle was built on the Boucs peninsula, only to be moved and replaced by a stronger one in the following century. At the time, Lacanau was a stopover on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. After the marshes were drained around 1855, the soils became suitable for forest vegetation and the dunes could be fixed by pine trees. In 1906, the first villas rose from the sands and the town gradually became a seaside resort, under the name of Lacanau-Océan. During the First World War, the Americans set up a seaplane base and flying school at Le Moutchic. Today, Lacanau is synonymous with surfing, as evidenced by the Lacanau-Pro, a prestigious international surfing competition (August). There are numerous facilities for practising sports and discovering the environment: kilometers of bike paths and footpaths, the Pitrot lake dedicated to water skiing, the lake that delights fishermen, windsurfers and even idlers. The resort also boasts facilities for golfers, horse-riders, tennis players, squash players, etc. The inhabitants of Lacanau are called Canaulais.

What to visit Lacanau?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Lacanau
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Lacanau travel inspiration

Pictures and images Lacanau

Lacanau accueille régulièrement des compétitions. Delpixart - iStockphoto.com
Surfeur sur les vagues de l'océan - Lacanau. BP Lamarque

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Send a reply