17 kilometres of fine sandy beaches, three ocean beaches and a lakeside beach define Vielle-Saint-Girons. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the Atlantic coast and the lake: the beaches and dune are the main attractions by the sea, while Plage de Vielle on the lake is sheltered from the wind and shallow. It is supervised in summer. There are also forest trails, water activities and local history – different highlights you can combine to shape your stay.
The coast and the lake offer different highlights
At Plage de la Lette Blanche, a wooden path leads to the top of the dune, which offers a sweeping view. Beach conditions can change with the weather and tides. Saint-Girons Plage is accessible by bicycle via the Vélodyssée; there are also forest trails there for walks. If you would rather spend your days by the lake, Plage de Vielle offers a different setting from the ocean beaches. Check before your trip whether the lakeside bathing area will be supervised during the summer.
The landscape around the water is varied, too: the Réserve naturelle du Courant d'Huchet covers the communes of Léon, Moliets-et-Maa and Vielle-Saint-Girons. The Courant d'Huchet connects Étang de Léon with the Atlantic Ocean. Various types of fishing are permitted year-round on the banks of Lac de Léon; fishing is done from the shore. Check the current regulations before fishing.
Water activities and forest trails
For water activities, Au fil de l'eau offers pedal boats with or without slides, rowboats, stand-up paddleboards and electric boats that do not require a licence. There are also canoe trips on the River Palue and across a lake and its marshland. The guided circuits are listed as lasting one, two or three hours. Since availability may vary by season, check before making plans. The three time options give you a specific choice of how long to spend on such a trip; they do not refer to the walking time of a hike.
If you prefer exploring on foot, try the Circuit des Tucs: an easy, 8.9-kilometre circular hike through the Landes forest. This gives you two clearly different ways to explore: a hike with a specified distance and canoe circuits with specified durations. On the coast, you can also combine a visit to Saint-Girons Plage with a walk along its forest trails.
Local history in Saint-Girons
The Sauveté of Saint-Girons dates from the 11th or 12th century; two of its four boundary pillars have survived. The Puits Crouzet is another historic landmark. It can be seen beneath a glass pyramid with interior lighting, and a short explanatory text provides additional information on site. The display may change during maintenance work.
The first “puits filtrant” in Saint-Girons was built in 1856 using a technique invented by engineer Henri Crouzet. The coastal route of the Way of St James is another part of the area's history: the route known as the “voie littorale” runs from Soulac to Bayonne and passes through Saint-Girons. The Sauveté, the well and the route offer different points of interest if you would like to explore local history as well as spend time at the beach or in the forest.
Plan your stay around your interests
When choosing a destination as part of your trip planning, start by deciding what matters most to you: ocean beaches and dunes, the lakeside bathing area, water activities, a forest hike or historical sites. The activities also differ in their conditions: supervision at Plage de Vielle is provided in summer, watercraft availability may vary by season, and fishing is subject to regulations. Taking these differences into account when planning will help you choose activities that suit your interests.
Discover more destinations: Lüe, Garrosse, Lit-Et-Mixe, Castelnau-Chalosse, Maillas, Mées, Bonnegarde, Saint-Étienne-D'orthe.
For the full travel overview: Landes.
