ABOUT LANDES, AQUITAINE, FRANCE

Landes in 1790 was created from parts of Guyenne and Gascony.

In the 19th century much of Landes was boggy poorly drained moorland (lande in French). From time to time the dense brush that covered the rick soil, was burnt off, so that sheep (in 1850 there were about 1 million sheep) could be managed and hearded around by shepherds, who because of the waterlogged nature of the land, moved around using stilts (they could travel up 15 to 20 kilometres in a day!).

The use of land for sheep was abandoned when during the latter part of the 19th century large pine plantations were created across the department - to create a new economy based on the production of wood and resin, as well as to stop the erosion of the sandy soil by the sea.

Landes is in the region of Aquitaine and borders the departments of Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne , Gers and Pyrenees-Atlantiques, and has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean of 106 km sand beaches including high dunes (part of Silver Coast ). Landes is the second largest department of France (after the Gironde) and has the second longest coastline..

The Landes forest is the largest in France covering about 67% of the department, in its northern part, but also extended well into the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne (Borough of Nerac ).

But the Landes forest does not cover all of the departement. To the south, beyond the Adour , is the Chalosse, more hilly and green country, with agricultural land for farming cattle and ducks and corn and the vineyards of Tursan to the east.

Landes is epecially well known for the Côte d'Argent beach which is Europe's longest, and attracts many surfers to Mimizan and Hossegor each year.

Famous people with Landes in their blood in the Nobel Prize winning novelist François Mauriac who has set his novels in the Landes;

Three of the four historic Pilgrimage routes to St Jacques de Compostela cross Landes: Via Lemovicensis, Via Podiensis, Via Turonensis

PLACES TO SEE IN LANDES

Monastère de Sorde l'Abbaye

Place de l'Eglise
40300 Sorde l'Abbaye

The 17th century monastery of St. Jean was a stage to stop for pilgrims walking to St Jacques de Compostela. A UNESCO world heritage site.

Château de Gaujacq

2, route de Brassempouy
40330 Gaujacq

17th century chateau come palladian house. Lovely gardens. Historic interior

Château d'Amou

Chemin de Ronde
40330 AMOU

In southern Gascony, Chateau d'Amou, a beautiful historical monument, designed by Mansart, the architect of Versailles.

Maison de la Dame
352 rue du musée
40330 BRASSEMPOUY

Archaeological site of the Upper Paleolithic became famous due to the discovery of the " Lady of Brassempouy" a famous figurine made from mammoth ivory, carved 25,000 year ago.

Chapelle Notre dame des Cyclistes

Labastide d'Armagnac on the D626

A small chapel dedicated the cyclists including those made famous by the Tour de France

Mont de Marsan

40000 MONT DE MARSAN

Gascon City and Prefecture of Landes, Mont de Marsan is situated in the heart of the Landes - one hour from the Atlantic and one and half hours from the Pyrenees, and is at the heart of the largest forest in Europe.
Stronghold of the Middle Ages, the site of the present city at the confluence of the Twelve and Mido was chosen in 1133 by Pierre de Lobanner. You will visit today from this period, walls, houses Maubec Roman street, the dungeon Lacataye ...

Crossed by three rivers, the city was a major port of the first order until the middle of the 18th. Since becoming the Landes prefecture in 1790, the city is now full of neo classical buildings Administrative Prefecture, Courthouse, Hotel Post, Bank of France, and religious buildings or places of life ...

The city of three rivers now offers visitors a haven of peace and good living very attractive, it is also a town of Rugby, parties and festivals, such as the Madeleine Festival - with bulls running through the streets and Corrida or the Festival Flamenco. Its also an important air base, and is at the forefront of devolopments in new technology.

ATLANTIC BEACHES

Some of the best beaches on the Atlantic
include:
Hossegor - European Surfing Capital
Biscarosse

Cap Breton
Vieille Saint Girons

SAMPLING OF PROPERTIES IN LANDES

Attractive Manor House with Pool.
In the Chalosse area, 65 kms from Biarritz on the edge of a village with shops and schools, this beautiful 18th Century Manoir has a habitable space of 580m2 approximately, restored with care taken to conserve the original features,e.g.wooden staircase, carved wooden fireplaces, parquet floor, original doors and windows. Immediately habitable with all modern comforts.Some redecoration and some further repairs (some work to roof, mains drains connection etc.) The situation is commanding and peaceful and benefits from a beautiful view of the Pyrenees and surrounding countryside.Grounds of 4 acres with Pool and pool house. Suitable for horses. Large outbuilding, 600m2 overall. .
Reception Rooms: 5  Bedrooms: 7  Bathrooms: 4
Land - Acres: 3.95  Land - Hectares: 1.60
SAMPLE

MORE Landes Properties for Sale

and look at Domusfrance Properties in the Landes, Gers and Gascony